• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.25-31
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• 1997

The effects of Trichosanthes kirilowii Max. subfractions, which has long been used as a wild vegetable and folk medicine, on insulin activity and acute toxicity were investigated. Diabetes melitus was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by the injection of streptozotocin(STZ) into the tail vein at a dose of 45mg/kg. The hexane fraction of the plant was subfractioned by silica gel column chromatography and were administered orally for 14 days and the normal and STZ-control group were orally administered with tween 80. The body weight gain was monitored and plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid HDL-cholesterol were determined. The plasma activities of aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were analysed. The subjraction A of hexane fraction lowered plasma glucose levels significantly and increased insulin activity compared to that of STZ-control. The activities of AST and ALT were decreased by administration of subfractions A and C of hexane fraction. The intakes of the hexane fraction of Trichosanthes kirilowii Max. did not showed the acute toxicity. It is suggested from the results that the subfraction A of the hexane fraction of Trichosanthes kirilowii Max. showed a hypoglycemic effect on diabetic rats and that the subfraction may be beneficial for insulin secreation.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.337-344
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of vibration on primary (e.g. plasma cortisol), secondary (e.g. plasma glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), $Na^+$, $K^+$ and $Cl^-$) and tertiary (e.g. mortality) stress responses in cultured catfish, Silurus asotus. For this purpose, three groups (one control group and two stress groups) were set up. The control group was exposed to vibration corresponding to 48 decibel (dB) volt (V) (produced using electric vibrators) for 15 minutes per hour every day, and the two stress groups were exposed to vibrations corresponding to 58 and 68 dB (V) (produced using the same electric vibrators), equally, for 15 minutes per hour every day. Blood was sampled at day 0 (before starting vibration stress tests), and at days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 (after starting vibration stress tests). According to the results, the catfish physiologically showed ''typical'' stress responses when they were exposed to chronic vibration. This indicates that such chronic vibration caused substantial stress to catfish; especially, persistently elevated plasma AST and ALT levels observed caused adverse effects to them. In conclusion, chronic vibration could significantly affect hematological characteristics in catfish.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.144-149
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of high dietary methionine (Met) consumption on plasma and hepatic oxidative stress and dyslipidemia in chronic ethanol fed rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male Wistar rats were fed control or ethanol-containing liquid diets supplemented without (E group) or with DL-Met at 0.6% (EM1 group) or 0.8% (EM2 group) for five weeks. Plasma aminothiols, lipids, malondialdehyde (MDA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase were measured. Hepatic folate, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) were measured. RESULTS: DL-Met supplementation was found to increase plasma levels of homocysteine (Hcy), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and MDA compared to rats fed ethanol alone and decrease plasma ALT. However, DL-Met supplementation did not significantly change plasma levels of HDL-cholesterol, cysteine, cysteinylglycine, and glutathione. In addition, DL-Met supplementation increased hepatic levels of folate, SAM, SAH, and SAM:SAH ratio. Our data showed that DL-Met supplementation can increase plasma oxidative stress and atherogenic effects by elevating plasma Hcy, TG, and TC in ethanol-fed rats. CONCLUSION: The present results demonstrate that Met supplementation increases plasma oxidative stress and atherogenic effects by inducing dyslipidemia and hyperhomocysteinemia in ethanol-fed rats.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.17-23
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• 2007

To consider potentially new sources which have hypoglycemic effect and accelerating alcohol detoxification, this study was designed to investigate the effect of Crataegus fructus and Morns alba L. in alcohol-treated rats. I compared the body weight, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) of rats administered both alcohol and extract of experimental plants to rats treated with alcohol alone. Administration of extracts of C. fructus and M alba, respectively, resulted in a significant reduction in the blood glucose level and the activities of ADH of liver compared to the control rats, and administration of extract of M. alba showed significantly lower on bodyweight gain in the rats than in other treated rats. In contrast, the activities of ALDH of liver were increased. The activities of AST and ALT between the only alcohol-treated rats and the alcohol and experimental plants-treated rats were no significant difference. The results suggest that C. fructus and M alba have a hypoglycemic effect, and reduce liver damage by accelerating acetaldehyde metabolism in alcoholic rats, so the combined effect of C. fructus and M alba may be considered as an alternative remedy for hangovers, alcohol-induced overweight and alcohol-induced diabetes.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.262-268
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• 2014

Rutaecarpine is one of the major alkaloids present in the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa. In this study, rutaecarpine was evaluated, both in vitro and in vivo, for its hepatoprotective properties against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic fibrosis. The results showed that rutaecarpine inhibited TAA-induced cytotoxicity, reduced the expression of the fibrogenic cytokine transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$), and induced the expression of bcl-2. To evaluate its in vivo effects, animal models with TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis were utilized. Levels of liver tissue injury-associated enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were monitored. $TGF-{\beta}1$ and the ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}$-SMA) were measured as markers of the protective effects on hepatic fibrosis. The AST and ALT levels in blood were greatly enhanced by TAA and completely blunted by rutaecarpine. Rutaecarpine led to the down-regulation of $TGF-{\beta}$ and Bax mRNA expression, as well as the up-regulation of Bcl-2 and $Bcl-X_L$ mRNA levels. In conclusion, rutaecarpine inhibited TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis and apoptosis by inducing the expression of Bcl-2 while blocking $TGF-{\beta}1$ in our TAA-intoxicated model.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.238-243
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• 2006

The methanol extract of waxy brown rice fermented with Agrocybe cylindracea was prepared. The extract was then freeze dried and fed to rats at the level of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 g/kg body weight for 14 days, followed by the treatment with carbon tetrachloride for three consecutive days to induce hepatotoxicity. After sacrificing the rats, the enzyme activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase (${\gamma}$-GTP) in serum was determined. Biochemical analysis on serum for albumin, total protein, triglyceride, and total as well as HDL-cholesterol were carried out along with a histopathological study of liver tissues. Based on these data, we suggest that the waxy brown rice cultured with A. cylindracea may exert hepatoprotective activity against hepatotoxicity caused by chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.79-83
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• 2010

Herbal hepatotoxicity is a one of the most often encountered controversial issues in medical society. Some believe herbs are totally safe while others regard treatment with herbs as a very common cause of hepatotoxicity. But there are no comparative clinical hepatotoxicity studies between herbal and conventional medicines. We investigated incidence of patients with abnormal liver function who were treated with herbal or conventional medicine at Dongguk University International Hospital. Each group consisted of 300 patients, who were admitted for longer than 30 days during the year 2008. We compared albumin, total bilirubin, AST (aspartate aminotransferase), and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) levels, and excludes patients who had abnormal liver function test or liver-related disease when admitted. As a result, incidence of total bilirubin, AST, and ALT elevation in the CT (conventional treatment) group was more frequent than in the TKM (traditional Korean medicine) group (p<0.05) during admission. Albumin level also decreased more frequently in the CT group than in the TKM group (p<0.05). According to these results, herbal medicine is not more hepatotoxic than conventional medicine, and not a main cause of liver injury in inpatients.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.140-149
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• 2016

This study intended to compare the effects of the sugar-Omija extract tea (SO) and LuoHanGuo-Omija extract tea (LO) to blood glucose levels and metabolism among streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and to prove the positive effects of LuoHanGuo extract as a sugar substitute. According to the results, the rate of blood glucose increase and the blood glucose level was reduced, and the weight was increased. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol was decreased, and albumin, total protein, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was increased in the STZ/LO group as compared to the STZ group. Compared to the STZ/SO group, the rate of blood glucose increase and glucose tolerance was decreased. AST, ALT, and total cholesterol was decreased, and HDL-C level was high. In conclusion, the LO displayed hypoglycemic effect, prevented weight loss caused by diabetes, recovered liver function, and improved lipid metabolism. In addition, such positive effects were obviously shown during comparison with the experimental group treated with the SO. Therefore, the LO were considered as favorable food supplements that can be safely taken by persons with diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and heart disease; they have to control their sugar intake as well as their diet.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.202-207
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• 2002

The hepato-protective activity of the GODEX (Hepadif-s capsule) has been studied in the rats against $CCl_4$-ethanol induced liver toxicity. The rats were oral1y treated with $CCl_4$ (corn oil/ $CCl_4$ 1:1, 1 mg/kg). And one week passes, $CCl_4$(0.4 mg/kg) administered two times a week for 7 weeks. The drugs have been administered every two days for 4 weeks after $CCl_4$ injection. The experimental groups have consisted of the GODEX (250 mg/kg), Hepadif (200 mg/kg), DDB complex (DDB 50 mg/kg and garlic oil powder 50 mg/kg), DDB (50 mg/kg), and vehicle control respectively. There was a significant decrement on the serum level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin in all treated groups. Specially, ALT level of GODEX and Hepadif only treated groups was decreased c1early. Also, serum albumin level was significantly enhanced in GODEX treated group compared with control and DDB treated groups. In histological results, hepatocellular vacuolar degeneration, lobular restructure and necrosis of bile duct were severely showed in control. But other treated groups showed centerilobular degeneration and mild hyper-plasia. Hepadif or DDB has a effects of the recovery on serum parameters and structure ill liver injury. When it was compared GODEX to Hepadif alone or DDB complex or DDB, it suggested to have the best activity of the liver recovery.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.526-534
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• 2013

This study was conducted to examine the effects of Opuntia ficus-indica complex (OF) on the lipid metabolism, bile acid in feces, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, aspatate aminotransferase (AST) activity, composition of urine and expression of cholesterol related mRNA in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Thirty two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into non-diabetic control (NC), diabetic control (DC), diabetic OF of 2% (OF-2) and diabetic OF of 5% (OF-5), then each group was fed for 3 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) were decreased significantly (p<0.05) in OF-5 group compared to DC, but high density lipoprotein (HDL) was not changed. AST and ALT were also reduced and bile acid excretion was improved. Composition of urine in OF-5 was almost same in NC. The expression of cholesterol $7{\alpha}$-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA-R), Low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) mRNA indicated that feeding OF have the effects of cholesterol decreation in plasma by synthesis of bile acid from cholesterol. These results provide experimental evidence about improved lipid metabolism of the OF feeding in the STZ-induced diabetic rats.