• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.1560-1567
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• 2008

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of green tea products (GTP) on bone metabolism marker in ovariectomized (OVX) rats fed high cholesterol diet. Forty Sprague-Dawley female rats, 10 weeks of age ($279{\pm}2g$), were divided into 4 groups and fed on the experimental diets for 6 weeks: sham operated control (Sham-C) and OVX-control (OVX-C) groups treated high cholesterol diet. OVX-GTP 5% (OVX-G5) and OVX-GTP 20% (OVX-G20) groups were treated with high cholesterol diet containing 5% GTP and 20% GTP, respectively. Food efficient ratio was significantly (p<0.05) lower in OVX-G20 than in the other OVX groups. Bone mineral density of femur was not significantly different among the experimental groups in the order of Sham-C>OVX-G5 and OVX-G20>OVX-C. Alkaline phosphatase activities on serum was lower in the GTP supplement groups than in the OVX-C. Estradiol levels of serum were higher in the GTP supplement groups than in the OVX-C. Osteocalcin levels of serum was the lowest in the OVX-G20. Deoxypyridinoline crosslink values of urine, indicator of bone absorption, was the lowest in the OVX-G20 group. The GTP supplemented groups had a lower bone resorption ratio than in the OVX-C group. From the above results, these findings suggest the possibility of using GTP as a functional food materials related to bone metabolism in menopause.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.823-830
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• 2001

Background: Paraplegia is a serious complication of thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic operations, which is related to ischemic injury of the spinal cord induced by low perfusion pressure during cross clamping of the aorta. Ischemic preconditioning of heart or brain with reversible sublethal ischemic injury induces resistance to subsequent lethal ischemia. The aim of this study is to investigate whether ischemic tolerance could be induced by the preconditioning of the spinal cord using swine model. Material and Method: The animals were randomly assigned to three groups: sham group(n=3), control group(n=6) and pre-conditioning group(n=8). In the sham group, we performed the left thoracotomy only without any ischemic injury. In the preconditioning group, the swine received reversible spinal cord ischemic injury by aortic clamping for 20 minutes, whereas control group had no previous aortic cross- clamping. Forty-eight hours later, the aorta was clamped for 30 minutes in both groups. Neurological examination was done 24 hours later, then the animals were euthanized for histopathology and malonedialdehyde(MDA) spectrophotometry assay of the spinal cord. Result: Statistically significant difference in neurological outcome was observed between the control and preconditioning groups at 24 hours after ischemic injury. The incidence of paraplegia and severe paresis was 100% in the control group, and 62.5% in the preconditing group(p=0.028). There was no statistically significant difference in histopathology and MDA assay of the ischemic spinal cord between these two groups with borderline statistical difference in MDA assay(p=0.0745). Conclusion: In the present swine study, ischemic preconditioning could induce tolerance against 30 minute ischemic insult of the spinal cord, although the animals did not completely recover(stand-up or walk). We expect that combining this preconditioning with other currently existing protection methods might lead to a synergistic effect, which warrants further investigation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.637-647
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• 1999

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury is one of the major contributing causes of early graft failure in lung transplantation. It has been suggested that triiodothyronine (T3) may ameliorate ischemia-reperfusion injury to various organs in vivo and in vitro. Predicting its beneficial effect for ischemic lung injury, we set out to demonstrate it by administering T3 into the in situ canine ischemia-reperfusion model. Material and Method: Sixteen adult mongrel dogs were randomly allocated into group A and B. T3 $(3.6\mug/kg)$ was administered before the initiation of single lung ischemia in group B, whereas the same amount of saline was administered in group A. Ischemia was induced in the left lung by clamping the left hilum for 100 minutes. After reperfusion, various hemodynamic parameters and blood gases were analyzed for 4 hours while intermittently clamping the right hilum in order to allow observation of the injured left lung function. Result: Arterial oxygen partial pressure $(PaO_2)$ decreased 30 minutes after reperfusion and recovered gradually thereafter in both groups. In group B the decrease of $PaO_2$ was less marked than in group A. The recovery of $PaO_2$ was faster in group B than in group A. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant from 30 minutes after reperfusion $(125\pm34$ mmHg and $252\pm44$ mmHg, p<0.05) until the end of the experiment $(178\pm42$mmHg and $330\pm37$ mmHg, p<0.05). The differences in the arterial carbon dioxide pressure, airway pressure and lung compliance showed no statistical significance. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level, measured from the tissue obtained 240 minutes after reperfusion, was lower in group B $(0.40\pm0.04\mu$M) than in group A $(0.53\pm0.05\mu$M, p<0.05). The ATP level of group B $(0.69\pm0.07\mu$M/g) was significantly higher than that of group A $(0.48\pm0.07\mu$M/g, p<0.05). The microscopic exami nation revealed varying degrees of injury such as perivascular neutrophil infiltration, capillary hemorrhage and interstitial congestion. There were no differences in the microscopic findings between the two groups. CONCLUSION T3 has beneficial effects on the ischemic canine lung injury including preservation of oxygenation capacity, less production of lipid peroxidation products and a higher level of tissue ATP. These results suggest that T3 is effective in pulmonary allograft preservation.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.246-251
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• 2003

Angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) belongs to the class of zinc protease and plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure. In this experiment, we investigated the inhibitory activities of ninety four plant extracts on ACE. The extracts were prepared by water and refluxing with 70% and 100% methanol. Among the extracts, two plant extracts such as Cassia tora, Persicaria cochinchinensis Kitagawa showed more than 60% inhibitory activities, and Foeniculum vulgare Gaertner, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgl, Caragana sinica (Buchoz) Rehder, Inula britannica var. chinensis showed $45.2{\sim}49.7%$ inhibitory activities. Twenty eight plant extracts such as Hemerocallis fulva L, Camptotheca acuminata Decne, Inula britannica var. chinensis, Xanthium strumarium, Polygonatum odoratum, Phellodendron amurense Rupr, Coix lachryma-jobi var. mayuen, Prunus ansu, Hibiscus mutabilis L, Thchosanthes kirilowii, Helianthus annuus, Juglans sinensis showed $30.3{\sim}39.7%$ Inhibitory activities. These results suggest that plant extracts which contain high ACE inhibitory activities may be useful as anti-hypertension agents and to the treatment of hypertension.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.1337-1347
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• 2009

Purpose:Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a simple sulfur-containing amino acid. It is abundantly present in tissues such as brain, retina, heart, and skeletal muscles. Current studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of taurine, but limited data are available for such effects during neonatal period. The aim of this study was to determine whether taurine could reduce hypoxic-ischemic (HI) cerebral injury via anti-apoptosis mechanism. Methods:Embryonic cortical neurons isolated from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 18 days gestation were cultured in vitro. The cells were divided into hypoxia group, taurine-treated group before hypoxic insult, and taurine-treated group after HI insult. In the in vivo model, left carotid artery ligation was performed in 7-day-old SD rat pups. The pups were exposed to hypoxia, administered an injection of 30 mg/kg of taurine, and killed at 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after the hypoxic insult. We compared the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 among the 3 groups by using real- time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting. Results:The cells in the taurine-treated group before hypoxic insult, although similar in appearance to those in the normoxia group, were lesser in number. In the taurine-treated group, Bcl-2 expression increased, whereas Bax and caspase-3 expressions reduced. Conclusion:Taurine exerts neuroprotective effects onperinatal HI brain injury due to its anti-apoptotic effect. The neuroprotective effect was maximal at 1-2 weeks after the hypoxic injury.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.281-286
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• 2010

Recent evidence has revealed that the intratesticular injection of hypertonic saline(20%) resulted in a chemically castrated state such as nadir testosterone levels in rats. To confirm the efficacy of this simple saline-injection method further, we investigated the changes in the gross and microscopic anatomy of testis. Our study comprised three groups; intact(control) group, orchidectomy group and saline-injection (experimental) group. Single dose of hypertonic saline (sterilized, $750{\mu}{\ell}/testis$) were directly administered into both testis of adult rats (about 300 g BW). Bilateral orchidectomy was performed at the same day of saline injection. Following 30 days post-injection, reproductive tissues were surgically removed, weighed and fixed for histological examination. The body weights were not changed in both orchidectomy group and saline-injection group when compared to those in intact group. The wet weights of testis were significantly decreased in saline-injection group when compared to those in intact group. The wet weights of epididymis and seminal vesicle and prostate were significantly decreased in orchidectomy group and saline-injection group when compared to those in intact group. Macroscopically, the testes exerted slight atrophy and the tunica albuginea seemed to be intact in saline injection group. Histologically, however, larger parts of testicular tissue underwent necrosis and were barely recognizable after hematoxylin-eosin staining. In the same section, only the opposite part of the injection site was stained showing abnormal state of cell layers mostly fibrosis and infiltrated leukocytes. Sloughing of immature germ cells from the basement membrane along with shedding cells in the intraluminal space was notable in most seminiferous tubules from the saline injected testis. The present study confirmed that the direct injection of hypertonic saline into testis can induce a castration-like, testosterone-depriving effects on accessory sex organs. Our findings suggest that the efficacy of this less expensive and minimally invasive method seems to be almost even with that of conventional orchidectomy and chemical castration, though more in-depth evaluation should be supported.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.236-245
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• 2016

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of wheat germ oil (WGO) on RAW 264.7 cells. It was shown that WGO had no cytotoxicity against the treated cells or negative effect on their proliferation. WGO suppressed nitric oxide (NO) secretion considerably and had inhibitory effects on the production of LPS-induced NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β). In particular, the IL-6 and TNF-α inhibition activities were over 90% at 100 μg/ml concentration of the oil. WGO also inhibited the LPS-induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and reduced the expression of phosphorylated ERK and JNK. Moreover, the croton-oil-induced edema in mouse ears was reduced by WGO, and no mortalities occurred in mice administered 5,000 mg/kg body weight of WGO over a 2-week observation period. In conclusion, these results provide evidence for the anti-inflammatory effect of WGO that likely occurs via modulation of NF-κB and the JNK/ERK MAPK signaling pathway.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2014

In this study, our aim was to investigate the changes in ginsenosides and polyphenols in red ginseng extract fermented by Lactobacillus acidophilus and to manufacture fresh cheese using fermented red ginseng extract. Red ginseng extract (3%, w/v) was fermented by L. acidophilus for 24 h. On performing lactic acid bacteria counts, we determined that L. acidophilus reached its maximum growth phase after 16 h; this was followed by decrease in growth. During fermentation, the levels of ginsenosides Rg3 (20S) and Rg3 (20R) as well as protopanaxadiol (20R), F1, and compound K increased, while those of s Rb2, Rd, Rf, and Rg1 decreased. The pH, titratable acidity, and viable cell counts in fresh cheese prepared using fermented red ginseng extract were measured during the storage period. The pH decreased over time, while titratable acidity and viable cell counts increased with increase in the duration of the storage period. Sensory tests showed that the overall sensory properties of fresh cheese prepared using 1% fermented red ginseng extract were similar to those of the control groups. This result suggests that L. acidophilus-fermented red ginseng has potential for development as a new bioactive material.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.348-352
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• 2007

Inflammation is a complex process resulting from a variety of mechanisms. Combined inhibition of the activities of enzymes involved in the process may therefore be considered more important in anti-inflammatory property of plant extracts than any single contribution. In this study, the inhibitory effects of the ethanol extracts of thirty plant foods on the activities of secretory phospholipase $A_{2}$ ($sPLA_{2}$), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) were examined. Several legumes, mungbean sprout and some leaf vegetables inhibited the activity of $sPLA_2$, upstream enzyme of inflammation pathway. Only soybean sprout and mungbean sprout significantly inhibited 12-LOX activity. Although most of extracts inhibited the activities of both COX-1 and COX-2, water dropwort and amaranth showed selectivity for the inhibition of COX-2 over COX-1. Especially, mungbean showed anti-inflammatory property at both upstream and downstream of inflammation pathway with relatively low $IC_{50}$ values for $sPLA_{2}$ and COX-2 enzymes. Mungbean sprout exhibited inhibitory effects on all enzymes related to early and late inflammation and soybean sprout suppressed 12-LOX and COX-2 simultaneously, although the activities of these plants were showed at relatively high concentration. Therefore, mungbean, mungbean sprout, and soybean sprout appear to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects by combined inhibition of inflammatory enzymes.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2012

Helicobacter pylori is an important factor of chronic gastritis, digestive ulcer, and stomach cancer. CagL, a virulence factor of H. pylori, is well-known as a pilus protein which acts as adhesion to host cell and a component of Type 4 secretion system. In this study, we evaluated the protective response of recombinant CagL protein (rCagL) using Mongolian gerbil animal model for H. pylori infection. The cagL gene was cloned from 26695 H. pylori followed by over-expression and purification of the protein in E. coli. Mongolian gerbils were immunized with rCagL protein mixed with aluminum adjuvant via intramuscular injections once a week during 4 weeks. At a week after the last immunization, the Mongolian gerbils were administrated with H. pylori 7.13 strain into the stomach and sacrificed to measure antibody titer on rCagL by ELISA and bacterial colonization in the stomach, and to examine the histopathological changes and cytokine expression at 6 week after challenge. Antibody titers on recombinant protein were significantly increased from a week after the first immunization. There was no significant change of the number of bacterial colony between control group and immunized group. The relative stomach weight was significantly decreased in immunized group, but the significant change of histopathological assessment was not observed in the stomach. Cytokine expression such as IL-$1{\beta}$ and KC also was not significantly different between control and immunized groups. These results indicate that rCagL could effectively induce the formation of the specific IgG antibodies. However, bacterial colonization and histopathological lesions could not be inhibited by the immunization in the stomach, indicating not enough protection against H. pylori infection. We consider that along with CagL other adequate antigens could be needed stimulating immune response and inducing protective effects against gastric disease, and also a better adjuvant could be considered.