• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.232-239
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• 2005

An aqueous extract of oriental herbal composition named Onchengyeum and curcumin, an antioxidant isolated from turmeric (Curcuma Zonga L.) reduced hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCI_4$). Improved liver function was observed by measuring the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CRE), total cholesterol (T-CHO), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-CHO), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-CHO), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and total bilirubin (BIL) in serum. Hepatic parameters monitored were levels of cholesterol (CHO), triglyceride (TG), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and activities of cytochrome P450 (CYP), NADPH-CYP reductase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The histopathological examination showed that the treatment of Onchengyeum and curcumin relieved the ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes which had been generated by $CCI_4$. The results suggested that hepatoprotective effects of Onchengyeum and curcumin possibly are due to their promising antioxidative activity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.207-215
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• 2006

Sachungwhan reduced hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride($CCl_4$). Improved liver function was observed by measuring the activities of aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), creatinine(CRE), total cholesterol(TCHO), triglyceride(TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-CHO), high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-CHO), total protein(TP), albumin(ALB) and total bilirubin(BIL) in serum. Hepatic parameters monitored were levels of cholesterol(CHO), triglyceride(TG), malondialdehyde(MDA), content of cytochrome P450(CYP), level of glutathione(GSH), and activities of NADPH-CYP reductase, superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT), glutathione S-transferase(GST), glutathione reductase(GR), glutathione peroxidase(GPx). The histopathological examination showed that the treatment of Sachungwhan relieved the ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes which had been generated by $CCl_4$. The results suggested that hepatoprotective effects of Sachungwhan possibly are due to their promising antioxidative activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.750-756
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• 1994

The effect of onion juice on ethanol -induced lipid peroxidation were studied were studied in rats. The contents of thiobarbituric acid (TBA) -reactants increased significantly in liver thanol(4ml/kg/day) administered -rats. The activities of serum alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase increased by ethanol administration compared with control group, but alterations of antioxidant enzymes activities in liver of ethanol administered rats were not significant vs control group. The glutathione contents in liver decreased by ethanol , whereas the glutathione level increased in ethanol and onion juice group compared with ethanol group. The contents of hepatic TBA-reactants and serum aminotrasnferase activity in ethanol group were reduced by onion juice administration. In these results, increased hepatic TBA-reactants of liver in ethanol group might be due to decreased glutathione contents in liver. Reduced glutathione (GSH) plays an important roles in the liver in several detoxification and the reduction of lipid peroxides. So the protective effects of onion juice on ethanol-induced increment of TBA-reactants may be due to the increament of lgutathions content. The glutathione depletion by ethanol was an important factor of ethanol-induced cell damage, and the prevention of onion juice to the glutathione depletion reduced by ethanol may be an important factor on the protection from ethanol-induced lipid perpxidation in rats.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.2 s.133
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• pp.161-165
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• 2003

Ethanol extract from Thesium chinense Tunczaninov (TCTE) was tested for breast cancer chemopreventive activity by measuring 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) - induced cytochrome P450 1A1 activity, induction of quinone reductase and glutathione S-transferase, and glutathione level. TCTE significantly inhibited cytochrome P45O 1A1 activity at the concentration of 90 and 150 mg/ml. TCTE induced quinone reductase activity in a dose-dependent manner in a concentration range of 3-150 mg/ml. In addition glutathione S-transferase activity and glutathione level were increased with TCTE in cultured murine hepatoma Hepa1c1c7 cells. These results suggest that TCTE has breast cancer chemopreventive potential by inhibiting cytochrome P45O 1A1 activity, inducing quinone reductase and glutathione S-transferase activities, and increasing GSH level.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.116-135
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate effects of spent composts of Se-enriched mushrooms as the dietary Se source on muscular Se deposition and plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the finishing Hanwoo steer. Twenty Hanwoo steers were used in the experiment and they were divided into four groups in a randomized complete block design with five replicates. Treatments were four levels (0.1, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9ppm as fed basis) of dietary Se from the combination with spent composts of Se-enriched mushrooms and/or Se non-enriched mushrooms, in which each treatment was formulated with corn and corn gluten meal and so forth. Treatment diets were fed to Hanwoo steers for 90 days until the slaughter. Dry matter intakes had no significant differences among treatments and there were no significant differences for performances such as total BW gain and ADG among treatments. The Se concentration in blood was linearly increased with increasing dietary selenium levels and reached a plateau level after 8 weeks (p<0.001). Plasma GSH-Px activities had the similar trends to blood Se concentrations by showing that the increased dietary Se level significantly increased plasma GSH-Px activities of both total and Se-dependent (p<0.001). Muscle Se contents of Se-supplemented groups were linearly increased by 1.35 ~ 1.68 folds compared with the control group (0.1ppm; 0.273㎍/dry g) and especially those of the hind legs for 0.9ppm treatment showed the highest Se content as shown 0.457㎍ per dry gram (p<0.01) corresponding to approximately 70% increase of the control group. Se retention rate in the muscle of dietary Se originated from spent composts of Se-enriched mushrooms was estimated of maximum approximately 30% and dietary Se content showed the significant correlation with plasma GSH-Px activities and muscle Se contents (p<0.01). Accordingly, Se present in spent composts of Se-enriched mushroom as the dietary Se source not only had great bioavailabilities showing higher blood Se concentration and plasma GSH-Px activities, but also increased Se deposition in the muscle for Hanwoo beef cattle.

• Nano
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1850128.1-1850128.10
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• 2018

Glutathione (GSH), the protective agent and reducing agent, has been widely used to prepare gold nanoclusters (GSH-Au NCs) with stable fluorescence properties and negative charge of the surface. Meanwhile, polyethyleneimine (PEI) was used as the modification agent to synthesize magnetic ferroferric oxide nanoparticles ($Fe_3O_4$) with fantastic dispersibility and positive charge of the surface. Based on the electrostatic adsorption force, magnetic nano-$Fe_3O_4@GSH-Au$ NCs core-shell microspheres composed of magnetic $Fe_3O_4$ nanoparticles modified by PEI as the core and GSH-Au NCs as the shell were assembled. The prepared $Fe_3O_4@GSH-Au$ NCs microspheres harbored a uniform size (88.6 nm), high magnetization (29.2 emu/g) and excellent fluorescence. Due to the coordination bond action between Au atom and sulfhydryl (-SH), amino ($-NH_2$), carboxyl (-COOH) in sweat, $Fe_3O_4@GSH-Au$ NCs could combine with latent fingerprints. In addition, $Fe_3O_4@GSH-Au$ NCs with good fluorescence and magnetism could detect fingerprints on various objects. Significantly, the powders were not easy to suspend in the air, which avoided the damage to the health of forensic experts and the fingerprints by only powder contacting. Above all, $Fe_3O_4@GSH-Au$ NCs was successfully applied to the latent fingerprint visualization, which has great potential in forensic science.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.258-266
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• 2020

Background: Oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis is a key pathological process in ischemic heart disease. Glutathione reductase (GR) reduces glutathione disulfide to glutathione (GSH) to alleviate oxidative stress. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) prevents the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes; however, the role of GR in this process is unclear. Therefore, the effects of GRb1 on GR were investigated in this study. Methods: The antiapoptotic effects of GRb1 were evaluated in H9C2 cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and Western blotting. The antioxidative effects were measured by a reactive oxygen species assay, and GSH levels and GR activity were examined in the presence and absence of the GR inhibitor 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the binding of GRb1 to GR. The direct influence of GRb1 on GR was confirmed by recombinant human GR protein. Results: GRb1 pretreatment caused dose-dependent inhibition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cell apoptosis, at a level comparable to that of the positive control N-acetyl-L-cysteine. The binding energy between GRb1 and GR was positive (-6.426 kcal/mol), and the binding was stable. GRb1 significantl reduced reactive oxygen species production and increased GSH level and GR activity without altering GR protein expression in H9C2 cells. Moreover, GRb1 enhanced the recombinant human GR protein activity in vitro, with a half-maximal effective concentration of ≈2.317 μM. Conversely, 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea co-treatment significantly abolished the GRb1's apoptotic and antioxidative effects of GRb1 in H9C2 cells. Conclusion: GRb1 is a potential natural GR agonist that protects against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of H9C2 cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.74-84
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• 2011

Objectives: Palmul-tang (hachimotsu-to in Japanese and bawu-tang in Chinese) is a mixture of eight herbs. It is traditionally used for the treatment of anemia, anorexia, general weakness, and female infertility in China, Japan, and Korea. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of Palmul-tang water extract (PTE) against ethanol-induced acute gastric injury in rats. Material and Methods: Acute gastric lesions were induced by intragastric administration of 5mL/kg body weight of absolute ethanol to each rat. Control group rats were given PBS orally and the ethanol group (EtOH group) received absolute ethanol (5mL/kg) by oral gavage. The positive control group and the PTE group were given oral doses of omeprazole (50mg/kg) or PTE (400mg/kg), respectively, 2 h prior to the administration of absolute ethanol. The stomach of each animal was excised and examined for gastric mucosal lesions. To confirm the protective effects of PTE, we evaluated the degree of lipid peroxidation, the level of reduced glutathione (GSH), and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase in the stomach. Results: PTE reduced ethanol-induced hemorrhage and hyperemia in the gastric mucosa. PTE reduced the increase in lipid peroxidation associated with ethanol-induced acute gastric lesions and increased mucosal GSH content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Conclusion: These results indicate that PTE protects gastric mucosa against ethanol-induced acute gastric injury by increasing antioxidant status. We suggest that PTE could be developed as an effective drug for the treatment of acute gastric injury.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.592-598
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Increased mass of adipose tissue in obese persons is caused by excessive adipogenesis, which is elaborately controlled by an array of transcription factors. Inhibition of adipogenesis by diverse plant-derived substances has been explored. The aim of the current study was to examine the effects of the aqueous methanol extract of laver (Porphyra yezoensis) on adipogenesis and apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and to investigate the mechanism underlying the effect of the laver extract. MATERIALS/METHODS: 3T3-L1 cells were treated with various concentrations of laver extract in differentiation medium. Lipid accumulation, expression of adipogenic proteins, including CCAAT enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$, fatty acid binding protein 4, and fatty acid synthase, cell viability, apoptosis, and the total content and the ratio of reduced to oxidized forms of glutathione (GSH/GSSG) were analyzed. RESULTS: Treatment with laver extract resulted in a significant decrease in lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which showed correlation with a reduction in expression of adipogenic proteins. Treatment with laver extract also resulted in a decrease in the viability of preadipocytes and an increase in the apoptosis of mature adipocytes. Treatment with laver extract led to exacerbated depletion of cellular glutathione and abolished the transient increase in GSH/GSSG ratio during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. CONCLUSION: Results of our study demonstrated that treatment with the laver extract caused inhibition of adipogenesis, a decrease in proliferation of preadipocytes, and an increase in the apoptosis of mature adipocytes. It appears that these effects were caused by increasing oxidative stress, as demonstrated by the depletion and oxidation of the cellular glutathione pool in the extract-treated adipocytes. Our results suggest that a prooxidant role of laver extract is associated with its antiadipogenic and proapoptotic effects.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.272-277
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the antioxidant activities and hepatoprotective effects of Schisandra chinensis Baillon extract (SCE) against tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative hepatic damage in rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were pretreated with SCE (300, 600, and 1,200 mg/kg BW) or saline once daily for 14 consecutive days. On day 14, each animal, except those belonging to the normal control group, were injected with t-BHP (0.8 mmol/kg BW/i.p.), and all of the rats were sacrificed 16 h after t-BHP injection. RESULTS: Although no significant differences in AST and ALT levels were observed among the TC and SCE groups, the high-dose SCE group showed a decreasing tendency compared to the TC group. However, erythrocyte SOD activity showed a significant increase in the low-dose SCE group compared with the TC group. On the other hand, no significant differences in hepatic total glutathione (GSH) level, glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were observed among the TC and SCE groups. Hepatic histopathological evaluation revealed that pretreatment with SCE resulted in reduced t-BHP-induced incidence of lesions, such as neutrophil infiltration, swelling of liver cells, and necrosis. In particular, treatment with a high dose of SCE resulted in induction of phase II antioxidant/detoxifying enzyme expression, such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC). CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, we conclude that SCE exerts protective effects against t-BHP induced oxidative hepatic damage through the reduction of neutrophil infiltration, swelling of liver cells, and necrosis. In addition, SCE regulates the gene expression of phase II antioxidant/detoxifying enzymes independent of hepatic antioxidant enzyme activity.