• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1163-1169
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• 2007

Effects of Sotosaja hwan on Blood Glucose, Hyperlipidemia, Polyol Pathway and Antioxidative Mechanism in ob/ob Mouse Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Etiological studies of diabetes and its complications showed that oxidative stress might play a major role. Therefore, many efforts have been tried to regulate free oxygen radicals for treating diabetes and its complications. Sotosaja-hwan has been known to be effective for the antiaging and composed of four crude herbs. In male ob/ob mouse in severe obesity, hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia, which are features of NIDDM, the hyperglycemic activites and mechanisms of Sotosaja-hwan were examined. Mice were grouped and treated for 5 weeks as follows. Both the lean (C57/BL6J black mice) and diabetic (ob/ob mice) control groups received standard chow. The experimental groups were fed with a diet of chow supplemented with 30 and 90 mg Sotosaja-hwan per 1 kg of body weight for 14 days. The effects of Sotosaja-hwan extract on the ob/ob mice were observed by measuring the serum levels of glucose, insulin, lipid components, and the kidney levels of superoxide anion radical $({\cdot}O_2)$, MDA+HAE, GSH/GSSG ratio, and also the enzyme activities involved in polyol pathway. Sotosaja-hwan lowered the levels of serum glucose and insulin in a dose dependent manner. Total cholesterol, triglyceride and free fatty acid levels were decreased, while the HDL-cholesterol level was increased, in Sotosaja-hwan treated groups. Renal aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities were increased in the ob/ob mice, whereas those were inhibited in the Sotosaja-hwan-administered groups. Sotosaja-hwan inhibited the generation of ${\cdot}O_2$ in the kidney. Finally, MDA+HAE levels was increased and GSH/GSSG ratio was decreased in the ob/ob mice, whereas those were improved in the Sotosaja-hwan-administered groups. Sotosaja-hwan showed the antidiabetic and anti hyperlipidemic activities by regulating the activities of polyol pathway enzymes, scavenging reactive oxygen species and reducing the MDA+HAE levels in the ob/ob mice.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2005

Somatic cell nuclear transfer in cattle has limited efficiency in terms of production of live offspring due to high incidence of fetal failure after embryo transfer to recipients. Such low efficiency of cloning could possibly arise from abnormal and poorly developed placenta. In the present study the placental proteome in late pregnancy established from in vitro fertilization (IVF) and nuclear transfer (NT) was analysed. Proteome alternation was tested using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI- TOF). Comparing placenta from NT embryos to those from IVF counterparts, significant changes in expression level were found in 18 proteins. Of these proteins 12 were not expressed in NT placenta but expressed in IVF counterpart, whereas the expression of the other 6 proteins was limited only in NT placenta. Among these proteins, cytokeratin 8 and vimentin are considered to be involved in regulation of post-implantation development. In particular, cytokeratin 8 and vimentin may be used as makers for placental development during pregnancy because their expression levels changed considerably in NT placental tissue compared with its IVF counterpart. Data from 2-DE suggest that protein expression was disorientated in late pregnancy from NT, but this distortion was eliminated with progression of pregnancy. These findings demonstrate abnormal placental development during late pregnancy from NT and suggest that alterations of specific placental protein expression may be involved in abnormal function of placenta.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 1999

The production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are known to be modulated by a variety of factors. Recent study showed that endotoxin-induced NO synthesis and iNOS expression were greatly enhanced by elevation of extracellular glucose concentration in murine macrophages. Although this was suggested to be due to the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) via sorbitol pathway, there was lack of evidence for this speculation. This study was performed to delineate the underlying intracellular mechanisms of glucose-enhancing effect on endotoxin-induced NO production in Raw264.7 macrophages. The levels of NO release induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) significantly increased by the treatment of glucose in a concentration dependent manner and also, this effect was observed in LPS-preprimed cells. Concurrent incubation of cells with PKC inhibitors, H-7 or chelerythrine, and LPS resulted in the diminution of NO production regardless of glucose concentration but this was not in the case of LPS-prepriming, that is, chelerythrine showed a minimal effect on the glucose- enhancing effect. PMA, a PKC activator, did not show any significant effect on glucose-associated NO production. Modulation of sorbitol pathway with zopolrestat, an aldose reductase inhibitor, did not affect LPS-induced NO production and iNOS expression under high glucose condition. And also, sodium pyruvate, which is expected to normalize cytosolic $NADH/NAD^+$ ratio, did not show any significant effect at concentrations of up to 10 mM. Glucosamine marginally increased the endotoxin-induced nitrite release in both control and high glucose treated group. 6-diazo-5-oxonorleucine (L-DON) and azaserine, glutamine: fructose- 6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT) inhibitors, significantly diminished the augmentation effect of high glucose on endotoxin-induced NO production. On the other hand, negative modulation of GFAT inhibitors was not reversed by the treatment of glucosamine, suggesting the minimal involvement, if any, of glucosamine pathway in glucose-enhancing effect. In summary, these results strongly suggest that the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway and the activation of PKC via sorbitol pathway do not contribute to the augmenting effect of high glucose on endotoxin induced NO production in macrophage-like Raw264.7 cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.351-359
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• 2009

Etiological studies of diabetes and its complications showed that oxidative stress might play a major role, Therefore, many efforts have been tried to regulate free oxygen radicals for treating diabetes and its complications. Mori Fructus extract has been known to be effective for the antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and antiobesitic prescription, and composed of four crude herbs, The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Mori Fructus extract in male ob/ob mouse with severe obesity, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia. Mice were grouped and treated for 5 weeks as follows. Both the lean (C57BL/6J black mice) and diabetic (ob/ob mice) control groups received standard chow. The experimental groups were fed with a diet of chow supplemented with 7.5, 15 and 30 mg Mori Fructus extract per 1 kg of body weight for 14 days. The effects of Mori Fructus extract on the ob/ob mice were observed by measuring the serum levels of glucose, insulin, lipid components, and the kidney levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), MDA+HAE, GSH and also the enzyme activities involved in polyol pathway. Western blotting was performed using anti-AGE, anti-RAGE respectively. Mori Fructus extract lowered the levels of serum glucose and insulin in a dose dependent manner. Total cholesterol, triglyceride and free fatty acid levels were decreased, while the HDL-cholesterol level was increased, in Mori Fructus extract treated groups. Renal aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities were increased in the ob/ob mice, whereas those were inhibited in the Mori Fructus extract-administered groups. Mori Fructus extract inhibited the generation of ROS in the kidney. MDA+HAE level was increased and the GSH level was decreased in the ob/ob mice, whereas those were improved in the Mori Fructus extract-administered groups. Mori Fructus extract inhibited the expression of AGE, RAGE in the ob/ob mice. The results suggested that Mori Fructus exerted the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activities by regulating the activities of polyol pathway enzymes, scavenging the ROS, decreasing the MDA+HAE level, increasing the GSH level and inhibiting the expression of AGE, RAGE in the ob/ob mice.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.237-248
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• 2007

Objectives : Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Etiological studies of diabetes and its complications showed that oxidative stress might play a major role. Therefore, many efforts have been tried to regulate free oxygen radicals for treating diabetes and its complications. Iksujisundan has been known to be effective for the treatment of diabetes. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of Iksujisundan on renal function, peroxynitrite(ONOO-) scavenging activity and polyol pathway in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods : The crushed Iksujisundan was extracted 3 times, each time with 3 volumes of methyl alcohol at 60$^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. The extract was filtered and evaporated under a reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to yield 87.8g. Iksujisundan extract was orally administreted at 100 mg per 1 kg of body weight for 20 days to the diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin(60mg/kg). The effects of Iksujisundan extract on the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were observed by measuring the serum level of glucose, insulin, lipid components, creatinine and BUN, and also the kidney levels of superoxide anion radical(${\cdot}$O2-), nitric oxide(NO) and ONOO-, and also the enzyme activities involved in the polyol pathway. Results : The effects of Iksujisundan on the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with regards to body weight, blood glucose and indulin levels, creatinine and BUN levels, total cholesterol and triglyceride lavels, and HDL-cholesterol levels were all shown to be good enough to prevent and cure the diabetes and its complications. Iksujisundan inhibited the generation of ${\cdot}$O2-,NO and ONOO- in the kidney of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Renal aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities were increased in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were reversed toward natural activities. Conclusions : Iksujisundan might inhibit the development of diabetes and its complications by scavenging reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, thereby by reducing oxidative stresses and also by regulating the activities of polyol pathway enzymes, all of which could help to recover kidney function.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.671-678
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• 2007

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Etiological studies of diabetes and its complications showed that oxidative stress might play a major role. Therefore, many efforts have been tried to regulate free oxygen radicals for treating diabetes and its complications. Gamigukihwandong-hwan has been known to be effective for the treatment of diabetes. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of Gamigukihwandong-hwan on renal function, peroxynitrite (ONOO$^-$) scavenging activity and polyol pathway in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The crushed Gamigukihwandong-hwan was extracted 3 times, each time with 3 volumes of methyl alcohol at 60$^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. The extract was filtered and evaporated under a reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to yield 74.95 g. Gamigukihwandong-hwan extract was oral-administered 100 mg per 1 kg of body weight for 20 days to the diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). The effects of Gamigukihwandong-hwan extract on the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were observed by measuring the serum level of glucose, insulin, lipid components, creatinine and BUN, and also the kidney levels of superoxide anion radical (${\cdot}O_2^-$), nitric oxide (NO) and ONOO$^-$, and also the enzyme activities involved in polyol pathway. The Effects of Gamigukihwandong-hwan on the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with regards to body weight, blood glucose and insulin levels, creatinine and BUN levels, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and HDL-cholesterol levels were all shown to be good enough to cure and prevent the diabetes and its complications. Gamigukihwandong-hwan inhibited the generation of ${\cdot}O_2^-$, NO and ONOO$^-$ in the kidney of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Renal aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities were increased in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, whereas the ones in the Gamigukihwandong-hwan administered group among the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were reversed toward the natural activities. Gamigukihwandong-hwan might inhibit the development of diabetic nephropathy by scavenging reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, thereby by reducing oxidative stresses and also by regulating the activities of polyol pathway enzymes, all of which could help to recover the function of kidney.