• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2017

Side stream cigarette smoke (SSCS) is known to be as harmful and hazardous to human health as is active smoking. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the exposure to SSCS and its stimulatory and subacute effects on the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A methionine and choline-deficient plus high fat (MCDHF) diet was administered to C57BL/6 mice for 6 weeks. During the first three weeks of MCDHF diet feeding, each diet group was exposed to SSCS (0, 20, $40{\mu}g/L$) or fresh air for 2 hrs per day and 5 days per week. Additional experiments were performed by increasing the concentration (0, 30, $60{\mu}g/L$) and exposure time (6 hours per day) of SSCS. According to histopathologic analysis and serum levels of Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), there were no differences in hepatic fat deposition, fibrosis, apoptosis or liver damage in MCDHF-fed mice based on SSCS exposure. There were also no differences in the expression of inflammation-, oxidative stress- or fibrosis-related genes between MCDHF-fed mice with or without SSCS exposure. Therefore, it is concluded that SSCS with current exposure amounts does not have additive detrimental effects on the early stage of NASH.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.455-460
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• 2009

Foods of plant origin, especially fruits and vegetables, have attracted attention because of their potential benefits to human health. In this report, Rubi Fructus (RF), the dried unripe fruit of Rubus coreanus Miq (Rosaceae) and ellagic acid (EA) purified from RF were used to test their potential hepatoprotective effect against acetaminophen (AAP)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. RF extract (RFext) and EA reduced the elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum and the content of lipid peroxide in liver by AAP administration, while the increment of the cellular glutathione (GSH) content and the induction of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) which were decreased by AAP administration. RFext and EA from RFext did not affect the two major form of cytochrome P450s, cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2), but downregulated the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) related to the conversion of AAP to N-acetyl-P-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). These results suggest that RFext and EA from RF exhibit a hepatoprotective effect not only by increasing antioxidant activities but also by down-regulating CYP3A4 in the AAP-intoxicated rat.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.935-944
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• 2013

Essential oils have been shown to favorably effect in vitro ruminal fermentation, but there are few in vivo studies that have examined animal responses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of thyme (THY) and cinnamon (CIN) essential oils on feed intake, growth performance, ruminal fermentation and blood metabolites in feedlot calves fed high-concentrate diets. Twelve growing Holstein calves ($213{\pm}17kg$ initial BW) were used in a completely randomized design and received their respective dietary treatments for 45 d. Treatments were: 1-control (no additive), 2-THY (5 g/d/calf) and 3-CIN (5 g/d/calf). Calves were fed ad libitum diets consisting of 15% forage and 85% concentrate, and adapted to the finishing diet by gradually increasing the concentrate ratio with feeding a series of transition diets 5 wk before the experiment started. Supplementation of THY or CIN did not affect DMI and ADG, and feed efficiency was similar between treatment groups. There were no effects of additives on ruminal pH and rumen concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and total VFA; whereas molar proportion of acetate and ratio of acetate to propionate decreased, and the molar proportion of propionate increased with THY and CIN supplementation. Rumen molar concentration of butyrate was significantly increased by adding CIN compared to control; but no change was observed with THY compared with control group. No effects of THY, or CIN were observed on valerate, isobutyrate or isovalerate proportions. Plasma concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, urea-N, ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were not changed by feeding THY or CIN. Results from this study suggest that supplementing a feedlot finishing diet with THY or CIN essential oil might be useful as ruminal fermentation modifiers in beef production systems, but has minor impacts on blood metabolites.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1562-1568
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of indigenous herbal supplements on growth, blood metabolites and carcass characteristics in the late fattening period of Hanwoo steers. In a 6 month feeding trial, thirty Hanwoo steers ($647{\pm}32$ kg) were allotted to one of 5 treatment groups, control (basal diet contained lasalocid), licorice, clove, turmeric and silymarin, with six steers per pen. All groups received ad libitum concentrate and 1 kg rice straw/animal/d throughout the feeding trial. Blood samples were collected at the beginning, middle, and the end of the experiment and the steers were slaughtered at the end. Blood glucose, triglyceride, total protein, and albumin concentrations were higher in the turmeric treatment compared with other treatments. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations were highest (p<0.003 and p = 0.071, respectively) in steers treated with silymarin. Alanine aminotransferase activity was lower (p<0.06) for licorice and silymarin compared with the control group. There were no alterations in serum aspartate aminotransferase and gamma glutamyltransferase activities as a consequence of herb treatments (p = 0.203 and 0.135, respectively). Final body weight, body weight gain, average dairy gain and dry matter intake were not significantly different among treatments. Yield grade, marbling score and quality grade were higher for silymarin group than those of the control group (p<0.05). Therefore, the results suggest that silymarin can be used an effective dietary supplement as an alternative to antibiotic feed additive and a productivity enhancer, providing safe and more consumer acceptable alternative to synthetic compounds during the late fattening period of steers.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.239-244
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• 2003

Recently, we reported (J Korean Soc Food Sci Nutr, 31(3): 516-520, 2002) that Semisulcospira libertina (Marsh Snail) pretreatment has a hepatoprotective effect on $CCl_4$-induced liver damage in rats. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible mechanisms of hepatoprotection by S. libertina (SL) on liver injury induced by acetaminophen (AA). Male ICR mice were pretreated with dehydrated powder of SL once daily for three consecutive days, given a single toxic dose of AA (450 mg/kg) and liver function determined 24 h later. Liver damage was assessed by quantifying serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) activities, and by measuring hepatic lipid peroxidation. To confirm possible mechanism(s), the content of hepatic glutathione (GSH) and gene expression of tumor necrosis factor a (TNF $\alpha$) mRNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) were also measured. Pretreatment with SL dramatically lowered AA-elevated ALT, AST and SDH activities. SL pretreatment decreased AA-produced lipid peroxidation by 11% and restored the AA-depleted hepatic GSH by 27%. Furthermore, SL markedly suppressed the expression of TNF $\alpha$ mRNA induced by AA. Our findings revealed that the possible hepatoprotective mechanisms of SL could be attributed, at least in part, to the glutathione-mediated detoxification as well as the regulation of TNF $\alpha$ mRNA expression.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2011

The present study investigated the physiological evaluation of cloned mini-pigs in a transportable isolator. Transportable isolator was designed and manufactured by our research team for transporting gnotobiotic pig. Until now, no previous reports are available regarding the physiological activities and harmful effects when pigs were transported in this isolator. Five cloned mini-pigs of 1~2 year (s) old female with a body weight between 80~90 kg were used. The effects of transportable isolator on stress-related hormone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels, and heart rate were evaluated. In addition, it was also examined the effects of transportable isolator on blood chemistry factors (alanine aminotransferase: ALT, aspartate aminotransferase: AST, blood urea nitrogen: BUN, glucose, and creatinine). Blood was sampled just before the beginning of transport (T0), at the end of transport (30min after the transport; T1), and 30 min after the end of transport (T2). At the same time, heart rate was also evaluated. As a result, heart rate had no significant (p>0.05) differences at the various-time points of study (T0, T1, T2). However, heart rate was slightly higher than normal range in T1 and T2. The ACTH level was higher than normal range. Whereas, the cortisol level was lower than normal range. There were no statistical significant differences both ACTH and cortisol level between different time groups. Also, there were no significant differences in blood chemistry factors. Therefore, our present study shows that transportable isolator has no harmful effect on stress and physiological condition in cloned mini-pigs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.202-210
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary purple sweet potato(Ipomoea batatas) powder on serum lipid levels and antioxidative enzymes in normal and pretective effect on hepatotoxicity rats induced by carbon tetrachlolide. Four groups of rats (3-week-old inbred Sprague-Dawley male rats) were normal rats fed control diet(C), induced hepatotoxicity rats fed control diet(EC), normal rats fed purple sweet potato diet(P), and induced hepatotoxicity rats fed purple potato sweet diet(EP). Rats were induced by single injection of 50% carbon tetrachlolide(0.1 mL/100 g B.W., i.p.). The rats were fed ad libitum each of the experimental diet for 5 weeks. After 5 weeks the rats were sacrificed and activities of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation products were determined in their liver homogenates. But serum concentrations of lipid was not significant in all groups. Serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT/GPT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST/GOT) of the EC and EP groups were heigher than the C and P groups. The hepatic glucose 6-phosphatase(G6Pase) activity of the group fed purple potato diet(P) was lower than the other groups(p<0.05). However, The glutathione peroxidase(GPx) activities was not statistically different between the groups. Renal glutathione S-transferase(GST) activity of the EC and EP groups were lower than the C and P groups(p<0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that purple sweet potato is believed to be possible protective effect on hepatotoxicity rats induced by carbon tetrachlolide.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.259-272
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• 2018

This study aims to investigate the protective effects of kefir against myocardial infarction induced by isoproterenol (ISO). The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, each group consisting of 8 rats. The control group, the kefir group (5 mL/kg/d kefir administered to rats as intra-gastric gavage for 60 d), the ISO group (100 mg/kg ISO was administered to rats, s.c. on 61. and 62. d), and kefir+ISO group (5 mL/kg/d kefir was administered to rats intra gastric gavage for 60 days prior to ISO, 100 mg/kg in two doses on day 61 and 62). 12 h after the last ISO dose, all rats were decapitated and their blood samples were collected. Cardiac tissue was reserved for histopathological examination. creatine kinase (CK), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), triglycerides, total cholesterol,very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and glucose were measured by autoanalyzer, whole blood malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and plasma advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) levels were measured spectrophotometrically. It was determined that in the group of kefir+ISO, the levels of AST (p<0.001), CK (p<0.001), LDH (p<0.001), MDA (p<0.001) and AOPP (p<0.001) were decreased, while the GSH (p<0.05) increased, compared to ISO group. There were no significant changes in lipid profile and glucose levels between these two groups. In conclusion, by examining cardiac enzymes and histopathological changes in cardiac tissue, it can be concluded that the administration of kefir in myocardial infarction induced by ISO can protect the heart with its antioxidant characteristic and minimize the toxic damage created by ISO.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the effects of liquid culture of Agaricus blazei Murill on the weight gains, food efficiency ratios, serum protein and mineral levels, and serum enzyme activities in growing male rats. Sprague-Dawley rats (7 weeks old) were given four different types of diets for a succeeding period of 6 weeks, respectively: a normal diet group, a control diet group (normal diet + 15％ lard + 0.5％ cholesterol), a 30％ or 40％ A. blazei diet groups (control diet + 30％ or 40％ A. blazei in water) according to the levels of A. blazei supplementation. The body weight gains, food efficiency ratios, and the liver of the rats fed control diet, 30％ or 40％ A. blazei diets were significantly increased compared to rats fed the normal diet, but those of rats fed the 30％ and 40％ A. blazei diets were similar to those of rats fed the control diet. The concentrations of total protein, albumin, glucose, and hematocrit value in serum of rats fed the control diet, 30％ or 40％ A. blazei diets were similar to those of rats fed the normal diet. The concentrations of urea and creatinine in serum of rats fed the 30％ or 40％ A. blazei diets were similar to those of rats fed the control diet. but the urea of rats fed the 30％ and 40％ A. blazei diets were significantly decreased compared to rats fed the normal diet. The concentrations of Ca, P, Fe and Mg, and $Ca^{++}$, $K^+$, $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ of rats fed the control diet, 30％ or 40％ A. blazei diets were similar to those of rats fed the normal diet. There were no differences in the activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, $\gamma$-glutamyltranspeptidase and alkaline phosphatase in the serum among the experimental groups. In conclusion, the rats fed the A. blazei maintained normal protein and mineral levels, and enzyme activities of serum. But the A. blazei feeding could not decrease the body and liver weights in the rats fed high cholesterol diets.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2016

Sulfasalzine is a widely administered drug against inflammatory-based disorders in human. However several cases of liver injury are associated with its administration. There is no stabilized safe protective agent against sulfasalazine-induced liver injury. Current investigation was designed to evaluate if N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and dithioteritol (DTT) as thiol reducing agents and/or vitamins C and E as antioxidants have any protective effects against sulfasalazine-induced hepatic injury in an ex vivo model of isolated rat liver. Rat liver was canulated and perfused via portal vein in a closed recirculating system. Different concentrations of sulfasalazine and/or thiol reductants and antioxidants were administered and markers of organ injury were monitored at different time intervals. It was found that 5 mM of sulfasalazine caused marked liver injury as judged by rise in liver perfusate level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p < 0.05). A significant amount of lipid peroxidation and hepatic glutathione depletion were detected in drug-treated livers, accompanied with significant histopathological changes of the organ. Administration of NAC ($500{\mu}M$), DTT (${400\mu}M$), Vitamin C ($200{\mu}M$), or vitamin E ($200{\mu}M$) significantly alleviated sulfasalazine-induced hepatic injury in isolated perfused rat liver. The data obtained from current investigation indicate potential therapeutic properties of thiol reductants and antioxidants against sulfasalazine-induced liver injury.