• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.353-365
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• 2011

The present study investigates the possible regulatory role of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) in antioxidant defense and methylglyoxal (MG) detoxification systems of wheat seedlings exposed to salt stress (150 and 300 mM NaCl, 4 days). Seedlings were pre-treated for 24 h with 1 mM sodium nitroprusside, a NO donor, and then subjected to salt stress. The ascorbate (AsA) content decreased significantly with increased salt stress. The amount of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and the GSH/GSSG ratio increased with an increase in the level of salt stress. The glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity increased significantly with severe salt stress (300 mM). The ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities did not show significant changes in response to salt stress. The glutathione reductase (GR), glyoxalase I (Gly I), and glyoxalase II (Gly II) activities decreased upon the imposition of salt stress, especially at 300 mM NaCl, with a concomitant increase in the $H_2O_2$ and lipid peroxidation levels. Exogenous NO pretreatment of the seedlings had little influence on the nonenzymatic and enzymatic components compared to the seedlings of the untreated control. Further investigation revealed that NO pre-treatment had a synergistic effect; that is, the pre-treatment increased the AsA and GSH content and the GSH/GSSG ratio, as well as the activities of MDHAR, DHAR, GR, GST, GPX, Gly I, and Gly II in most of the seedlings subjected to salt stress. These results suggest that the exogenous application of NO rendered the plants more tolerant to salinity-induced oxidative damage by enhancing their antioxidant defense and MG detoxification systems.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.304-308
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• 2005

The effects of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) on various oxidative stress responses in liver, kidney and gill tissues of freshwater bagrid catfish Pseudobagrus fulvidraco were investigated under laboratory conditions. Bagrid catfish were intraperitoneally injected with sunflower seed oil containing nominal concentrations of 0, 300 or 900mg DEHP per kilogram of body weight for 3 days and the effects after last injection were assessed in liver, kidney and gill tissues of the exposed organisms. The oxidative stress responses of fish were evaluated by analyzing the level of glutathione (GSH), as well as the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR). After exposure to the DEHP, there were significant decrease in GR, GPx activity and GSH content in liver of fish exposed to 900 mg DEHP per kilogram of body weight compared to the control group. Compared with the control group, significant decreases in renal GPx and GR activity were observed in the DEHP treatment groups (900 mg $kg^{-1}$ bw). However, no significant difference was observed in any oxidative stress responses in gills between the DEHP-treated and the untreated group of fish. The findings of the present investigation show that DEHP induce oxidative stress and the liver was the most affected organ followed by the kidney and gills. Furthermore, the changes of GPx and GR activities may be important indicators of oxidative stress responses but additional study is required to confirm the oxidative stress of DEHP.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.742-749
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• 2010

We investigated the antioxidant efficacy of quercetin (0% Diet 1, 0.25% Diet 2, and 0.5% Diet 3) pretreatment for 30 and 60 days in response to cadmium (Cd) toxicity in the olive flounder, and measured the plasma lysozyme activity to understand the immune effects of quercetin. The lysozyme activity with Diets 2 and 3 was higher than with Diet 1. Based on this result, to examine the immune ability and antioxidant role of quercetin, we exposed olive flounder fed quercetin to Cd and then measured the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)) and lipid peroxidation (LPO). With Diets 2 and 3, the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes and the $H_2O_2$ concentration were lower than with Diet 1. In addition, the LPO levels were lower than with Diet 1, which protected the cell membrane. Therefore, quercetin removed the reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by Cd, indicating that quercetin has antioxidant ability. In addition to its antioxidant ability, quercetin has immune effects.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.673-681
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• 2009

Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial disease. Particularly, diabetic nephropathy is a serious complication for diabetic patients, yet the precise mechanisms that underline the initial stage of diabetic renal inflammation remain unknown. However, oxidative stress induced by hyperglycemia in diabetes is implicated in diabetic renal disease. We hypothesized that dietary supplementation of antioxidants either VCE (0.5% VC + 0.5% VE) or Comb (0.5% VC + 0.5% VE + 2.5% N-acetylcysteine) improves acute diabetic renal inflammation through modulation of blood glucose levels and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses. Experimental animals (5.5 weeks old female ICR) used were treated with alloxan (180 mg/kg) once. When fasting blood glucose levels were higher than 250 mg/dL, mice were divided into 3 groups fed different levels of antioxidant supplementation, DM (diabetic mice fed AIN 93G purified rodent diet); VCE (diabetic mice fed 0.5% vitamin C and 0.5% vitamin E supplemented diet); Comb (diabetic mice fed 0.5% vitamin C, 0.5% vitamin E and 2.5% N-acetylcysteine supplemented diet), for 10 days and then sacrificed. Body weights were measured once a week and blood glucose levels were monitored twice a week. Lipid peroxidation products, thiobarbituric acid reacting substances were measured in kidney. NF-${\kappa}B$ activation was indirectly demonstrated by pI${\kappa}B$-${\alpna}$ and expressions of selective inflammatory and oxidative stress markers including antioxidant enzymes were also determined. Dietary antioxidant supplementation improved levels of blood glucose as well as kidney lipid peroxi-dation. Dietary antioxidant supplementation improved NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and protein expression of HO-1, but not mRNA expression levels in diabetic mice fed Comb diet. In contrast, the mRNA and protein expression of CuZnSOD was decreased in diabetic mice fed Comb diet. However, antioxidant supplementation did not improve mRNA and protein expressions of IL-$1{\beta}$ and MnSOD in diabetic mice. These findings demonstrate that acute diabetic renal inflammation was associated with altered inflammatory and antioxidant responses and suggest that antioxidant cocktail supplementation may have beneficial effects on early stage of diabetic nephropathy through modulation of blood glucose levels and antioxidant enzyme expressions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food and Cookery Science Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.69-69
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• 2003

This study was undertaken in order to investigate the effects of Dioscorea daemona stem on the inflammatory reactions and antioxidant system in vivo. The methanolic extract of Dioscorea daemona stem, administered by gavage at the dose of 0.2 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg, showed anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic (typeIV) effects in different test models. We also showed that plasma antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation and HDL cholesterol levels are affected by administration (0.2 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg body weight, for 3 weeks) of Dioscorea daemona stem extract in rats. (omitted)

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.360-365
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• 2004

Rehmannia glutinosa shows a high level of resistance to the non-selective herbicide paraquat. To characterize the antioxidant enzyme system of R. glutinosa, we comparatively examined the responses of antioxidant enzymes to UV, wounding and a general elicitor yeast extract in R. glutinosa and soybean. The levels of enzyme activities of the two plant species were drastically different between those per fresh weight (general activity) and per protein (specific activity) bases. The general activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR) were lower, but that of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was higher in R. glutinosa than in soybean. The specific activities of the enzymes, however, were about two- to seven-fold higher in R. glutinosa than in soybean, except that of CAT, which was about 12-fold higher in soybean. The general and specific enzyme activities of R. glutinosa relative to those of soybean showed a consistent increase in responses to the stresses only in SOD. The specific activities of SOD and APX were higher in R. glutinosa in all stress treatments. The results might suggest a relatively higher contribution of SOD and APX to the stress tolerance.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.830-837
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• 2016

Juvenile Anoplopoma fimbria (mean length $15.6{\pm}1.4cm$, mean weight $68.7{\pm}4.3g$) were exposed to 4 months with the different levels of salinity [100 (35.0), 90 (31.5), 80 (28.0), 70 (24.5), 60 (21.0), 50 (17.5), and 40 (14.0) % (psu)] for 4 months. Hematological parameters such as red blood cell (RBC) counts, hematocrit (Ht), and hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were substantially decreased under salinities of 50% psu or lower. Of the measured inorganic plasma constituents, magnesium was notably decreased, whereas there was no effect on calcium. Among organic plasma components, glucose and cholesterol were significantly increased, and total protein was decreased. Among enzyme plasma components, glutamic oxalate transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly increased under salinities of 50% psu or lower. Antioxidant responses such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione (GSH) were significantly decreased at salinities of 50% psu or lower. The results of this study indicate that salinity affects the blood parameters, plasma constituents, and antioxidant responses of A. fimbria.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.924-933
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• 1999

This study investigated the effects of vitamin E supplementation on immune responses and antioxidant status in healthy Korean old and young women. Blood samples were obtained from 15 healthy old women (over 60 years old) and from 15 healthy young women(20 years old) before and 4 weeks after vitamin E( tocopherol acetate) supplementation(400IU/day). Daily nutrient intakes were calculated, and plasma vitamin E concentration, numbers and percentages of white blood cell and their subpopulation, percentages of lymphocytes and subpopulation, NK cell percentages, plasma immunoglobulin A, G, M and C3 concentration, proliferation of PMN with mitogen were measured. Also plasma TBARS concentration and radical scavenger activity of erythrocytes were investigated. Plasma vitamin E concentrations were significantly increased after supplementation in both groups. In elderly women, vitamin E supplementation restored the per centages of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils which had been out of normal ranges before supple mentation. And after vitamin E supplementation, helper T cell percentages significantly increased in elderly. Plasma immunoglobulin and complement C3 concentrations were not affected by vitamin E supplementation in both groups. PMN proliferations with mitogen were significantly lower in old women than in young women, and there was no effect of vitamin E supplementation. Vitamin E supplementation significantly decreased plasma TBARS concentrations in old and young women. RSA of erythrocytes was increased in both groups, but the statistical significant was only found in young women group. Therefore, these results suggest that the moderate vitamin E supplementation in old women improves immune responses, especially nonspecific immunity and cell mediated immunity, via protection of oxidant stress.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.237-246
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• 2015

Heavy metal pollution in soil, such as lead contamination, has become an area of interest in Korea because of urbanization and atmospheric deposition from neighboring countries. Therefore, in this research, eco-physiological responses such as chlorophyll contents, antioxidant enzyme activity, photosynthetic rate, biomass and phytoaccumulation abilities were investigated for 4 commonly used native roadside tree species to suggest suitable tree species to cope with lead contamination. The target species, Ginkgo biloba, Prunus yedoensis, Zelkova serrata and Chionanthus retusus showed lead toxicity by significant changes of chlorophyll contents and antioxidant enzyme activities on treatments over 200 mg Pb/kg. However, biomass and photosynthetic rates only showed significant responses of plants in the highest level (5,000 mg/kg) treatment. Especially, G. biloba did not show any significant changes of antioxidant enzyme activity, photosynthetic rate, and biomass even in the highest level treatment. In low level - environmentally realistic treatments, G. biloba and P. yedoensis showed the highest phytoaccumulation rate of lead from soil. Selecting and planting species like G. biloba which have good phytoaccumulation abilities and resistance to lead contamination by further research will be required to deal with emerging lead contamination.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.235-235
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• 2017

Chromium (Cr) toxicity is hazardous to the seed germination, growth, and development of plants. ${\gamma}$-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-protein amino acid and is involved in stress tolerance in plants. To investigate the effects of GABA in alleviating Cr toxicity, we treated eight-d-old mustard (Brassica juncea L.) seedlings with Cr (0.15 mM and 0.3 mM $K_2CrO_4$, 5 days) alone and in combination with GABA ($125{\mu}M$) in a semi-hydroponic medium. The roots and shoots of the seedlings accumulated Cr in a dose-dependent manner, which led to an increase in oxidative damage [lipid peroxidation; hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) content; superoxide ($O{_2}^{{\cdot}-}$) generation; lipoxygenase (LOX) activity], MG content, and disrupted antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems. Chromium stress also reduced growth, leaf relative water content (RWC), and chlorophyll (chl) content but increased phytochelatin (PC) and proline (Pro) content. Furthermore, supplementing the Cr-treated seedlings with GABA reduced Cr uptake and upregulated the non-enzymatic antioxidants (ascorbate, AsA; glutathione, GSH) and the activities of the enzymatic antioxidants including ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glyoxalase I (Gly I), and glyoxalase II (Gly II), and finally reduced oxidative damage. Adding GABA also increased leaf RWC and chl content, decreased Pro and PC content, and restored plant growth. These findings shed light on the effect of GABA in improving the physiological mechanisms of mustard seedlings in response to Cr stress.