• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.212-218
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• 2005

Hepatoprotective effects of the extract of Kochiae fructus (KF), a traditional oriental medicinal plant, were evaluated against carbon tetrachloride($CCl_4$)-induced liver damage in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, $CCl_4,\;CCl_4$ plus methanol extract of KF (KFM-$CCl_4$), and $CCl_4$ plus butanol extract of KF (KFB-$CCl_4$) groups. KFM and KFB were orally administered once a day (200 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days. A mixture of 0.2 mL/100 g body weight of $CCl_4$ in olive oil was injected at 30 minutes after the final administration of KFM and KFB. The KFB pretreatment resulted in a significant decrease in the serum transaminase and lactic dehydrogenase levels in the $CCl_4$-treated rats. The $CCl_4$ treatment significantly lowered the activities of glutathione, glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). However, pretreatment with KFM and KFB resulted in a significant increase in the glutathione, GR and GST levels. KFB increased the activities of SOD, catalase and GSH-Px, but KFM did not alter them. Pretreatment with KFM and KFB resulted in a significant decrease in the production of aminopyrine N-demethylase in the $CCl_4$-treated rats. KF extract would appear to contribute to alleviate the adveISe effect of $CCl_4$ treatment by enhancing the hepatic antioxidant defense system.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3 s.71
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• pp.57-69
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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 have shown that oxidative stress might play a major role. Therefore, many methods have been tried to regulate free oxygen radicals for treating diabetes and its complications. Ojung-hwan, composed of five crude herbs, has been considered effective for treating symptoms of aging. In male ob/ob mouse of severe obesity, hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia, which are features of NIDDM, the hyperglycemic activities and mechanisms of Ojung-hwan were examined. Methods : 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 a diet of chow supplemented with 30 and 90 mg Ojung-hwan per 1 kg of body weight for 14 days. The effects of Ojung-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. Results : Ojung-hwan lowered the levels of serum glucose and insulin in a dose-dependent manner. Total cholesterol, triglyceride and free fatty acid levels decreased, while the HDL-cholesterol level increased, in Ojung-hwan treated groups. Renal aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities increased in the ob/ob mice, whereas they were inhibited in the Ojung-hwan treated groups. Ojung-hwan inhibited the generation of ${\cdot}\;O{_2}{^-}$ in the kidney. Finally, MDA+HAE levels increased and GSH/GSSG ratio decreased in the ob/ob mice, whereas they improved in the Ojung-hwan treated groups. Conclusions : Ojung-hwan showed antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activities by regulating theactivities of polyol pathway enzymes, scavenging reactive oxygen species and reducing the MDA+HAE levels in the ob/ob mice.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.727-733
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of arsenic ($As^{III}$) on lipid peroxidation, glutathione content and antioxidant enzymes in growing pigs. Ninety-six Duroc-Landrace-Yorkshire crossbred growing pigs (48 barrows and 48 gilts, respectively) were randomly assigned to four groups and each group was randomly assigned to three pens (four barrows and four gilts). The four groups received the same corn-soybean basal diet which was supplemented with 0, 10, 20, 30 mg/kg As respectively. Arsenic was added to the diet in the form of $As_2O_3$. The experiment lasted for seventy-eight days after a seven-day adaptation period. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, glutathione (GSH) contents and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were analyzed in serum, livers and kidneys of pigs. The results showed that pigs treated with 30 mg As/kg diet had a decreased average daily gain (ADG) (p<0.05) and an increased feed/gain ratio (F/G) (p<0.05) compared to the controls. The levels of MDA significantly increased (p<0.05), and the contents of GSH and the activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, GR and GST significantly decreased (p<0.05) in the pigs fed 30 mg As/kg diet. The results indicated that the mechanism of arsenic-induced oxidative stress in growing pigs involved lipid peroxidation, depletion of glutathione and decreased activities of some enzymes, such as SOD, CAT, GPx, GR and GST, which are associated with free radical metabolism.

• 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.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1543-1551
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• 2020

Panax ginseng has a wide range of activities including a neuroprotective effect, skin protective effects, enhanced DNA repairing, anti-diabetic activity, and protective effects against vascular inflammation. In the present study, we sought to discover the inhibitory effects of a mixture of natural products containing Panax ginseng, Ziziphus jujube, Rubi fructus, Artemisiae asiaticae and Scutellaria baicalensis (PZRAS) on osteoclastogenesis and bone remodeling, as neither the effects of a mixture containing Panax ginseng extract, nor its molecular mechanism on bone inflammation, have been clarified yet. PZRAS upregulated the levels of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GSH-R) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, treatment with PZRAS decreased the production of IL-1β and TNF-α. PZRAS also inhibited osteoclast differentiation through inhibiting osteoclastspecific genes like MMP-2, 9, cathepsin K, and TRAP in RANKL-treated RAW264.7 cells. Additionally, PZRAS has inhibitory functions on the RANKL-stimulated activation of ERK and JNK, which lead to a decrease in the expression of NFATc1 and c-Fos. In an in vivo study, bone resorption induced by LPS was recovered by treatment with PZRAS in bone volume per tissue volume (BV/TV) compared to control. Furthermore, the ratio of eroded bone surface of femurs was significantly increased in LPS-treated mice compared to vehicle group, but this ratio was significantly reversed in PZRAS-treated mice. These results suggest that PZRAS could prevent or treat disorders with abnormal bone loss.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.213-223
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• 2004

This work aimed to study the effectiveness of cellular oxidative parameter (malondial-dehyde, protein carbonyl, and 8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine). The experimental groups were aluminum treated rats and control rats. Aluminum treatd rats were given intraperitoneally aluminum nitrate nonahydrate ($Al^{3+}$, 0.2 mmol/kg) daily for 30 days except Sunday. Control rats were injected 1 ml of saline. After the dose, rats were decapitated and hippocampus and cerebral cortex were removed. The measured parameters were tissue malondialdehyde (MDA, index of lipid peroxidation), protein carbonyl (index of protein oxidation), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxy-guanosine (8-OHdG, index of DNA oxidation), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels as well as glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase. AI concentrations in the tissues were also measured. All results were corrected by tissue protein levels. The results were as followed; 1. The concentrations of AI in the cortex and hippocampus were significantly higher in the AI-treated rats than in the control rats. 2. Antioxidative enzyme's activity, catalase and GR, were significantly higher in the AI-treated rats than the control rats. GSH levels were also higher in the AI-treated rats. 3. MDA, protein carbonyl, and 8-OHdG concentration of AI-treated rats were significantly higher than those of control rats. 4. The concentrations of antioxidants, and oxidative stress parameter were correlated with the concentrations of AI in hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Catalase and GR activity were also correlated with the concentration of AI. Based on these results, it can be suggested that intraperitoneally injected AI was accumulated in the brain and induced the increase of antioxidant levels and antioxidative enzyme activity. Also, the oxidative products of cellular macromolecules are significantly related to tissue AI concentration. Therefore MDA, protein carbonyl, and 8-OHdG are useful markers for oxidative stress on cellular macromolecules.

• 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.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.289-297
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• 2006

This study examined the effect of hesperidin supplementation with an ethanol diet on lipid and antioxidant metabolism in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups (n=10), and were assigned to one of two dietary categories: $E_8$, ethanol diet (50 g/L) for 8 wks; $E_8H_4$, ethanol diet for the first 4 wks and hesperidin (0.02%, w/w) supplemented ethanol diet for the last 4 wks. The plasma and hepatic lipids, hepatic cholesterol regulating enzyme activity, hepatic antioxidant enzyme activity and lipid peroxidation were determined. Supplementation with hesperidin for the last 4 wks during the 8 wks period of the ethanol diet, significantly increased the ADH activity. In conjunction with the chronic administration of ethanol, hesperidin supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in the hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations compared to the $E_8$ group. The hepatic HMG-CoA reductase and ACAT activities were significantly lower in the hesperidin-supplemented group. When comparing hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities, SOD, GSH-Px, and G6PD activities and GSH level were significantly higher in the $E_8H_4$ group than in the E8 group. Plasma TBARS levels were significantly lower in rats fed ethanol with hesperidin compared to the rats fed only ethanol; however, the hepatic TBARS levels were not significantly different between the groups. Accordingly, the additional hesperidin supplement with an ethanol diet might be effective for improving the hepatic lipid metabolism and antioxidant defense system.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.191-202
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• 2004

Objectives : This study was designed to elucidate the synergistic cytotoxic mechanisms of the co-treatment of Gagamjengac-tang (GGJAT) and As₂O₃ in human lung cancer cell line, H-157. Methods : The combination of GGJAT and As₂O₃ synergistically augmented the cytotoxicity of GGJAT and As₂O₃ in H­157 cells. The cytotoxicity by the combination of these two drugs was revealed as apoptosis which was characterized by chromatin condensation and fragmentation in DAPI staining. Results : Antioxidant NAC completely blocked the apoptotic death of H-157 cells by GGJAT and As₂O₃. The apoptotic cytotoxicity of GGJAT and As₂O₃ was accompanied by the induction of DR4 and DR5 in RT-PCR. In addition, antioxidant enzymes such as SOD1, GSH synthetase and GSH reductase were also increased in H-157 cells treated with GGJAT and As₂O₃. However, of note, p53, Fas, FasL and TRAIL were not detected in H-157 cells treated with GGJAT and As₂O₃ by RT-PCR. Conclusions : These results suggest that the synergistic cytotoxicity of the co-treatment of H-457 cells treated with GGJAT and As₂O₃ may cause induction of death receptors DR4 and DR5 as well as reactive oxygen species.