• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.157-163
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• 2012

Objective: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are multifunctional enzymes that play a crucial role in the detoxification of both the endogenous products of oxidative stress and exogenous carcinogens. Recent studies investigating the association between genetic polymorphisms in GSTs and the risk of adult brain tumors have reported conflicting results. The rationale of this pooled analysis was to determine whether the presence of a GST variant increases adult glioma susceptibility by combining data from multiple studies. Methods: In our meta-analysis, 12 studies were identified by a search of the MEDLINE, HIGHWIRE, SCIENCEDIRECT and EMBASE databases. Of those 12, 11 evaluated GSTM1, nine evaluated GSTT1 and seven evaluated GSTP1 Ile105Val. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed using ${\chi}^2$-based Q statistic and the $I^2$ statistic. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the association between GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms and the risk of adult gliomas. Results: The quantitative synthesis showed no significant evidence to indicate an association exists between the presence of a GSTM1, GSTT1 or GSTP1 Ile105Val haplotype polymorphism and the risk of adult gliomas (OR, 1.008, 1.246, 1.061 respectively; 95% CI, 0.901-1.129, 0.963-1.611, 0.653-1.724 respectively). Conclusions: Overall, this study did not suggest any strong relationship between GST variants or related enzyme polymorphisms and an increased risk of adult gliomas. Some caveats include absence of specific raw information on ethnic groups or smoking history on glioma cases in published articles; therefore, well-designed studies with a clear stratified analysis on potential confounding factors are needed to confirm these results.

• 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.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.565-570
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• 1999

The alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) gene from Bacillus stearothermopilus was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. The amplified DNA was inserted into the expression vector pGEX-KG, and expressed it as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase (GST) in E. coli. The recombinant ADH was produced by induction with 1 mM isopropyl-${\beta}$-D-thiogalactopyranoside at $37^{\circ}C$ and purified by glutathione affinity chromatography. The recombinant ADH exhibited high substrate specificity for ethanol. The activity of the recombinant ADH proceeded optimally at pH 9.0 and $70^{\circ}C$. The recombinant ADH was highly stable against high temperature. This thermostable alcohol dehydrogenase can be used for the enzymatic determination of alcohol and for the industrial production of alcohol.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.139-145
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• 2008

We located a group of healthy young males (aged $20{\sim}30$) who had been taking a high dose (more than 5 g) of vitamin C daily for more than one year. We observed that this vitamin C group had plasma levels of vitamin C that were more than three times that of the control group. The control group had not taken any additional vitamin C except for that included in their diets. But the vitamin C group showed significantly lower amounts of Cu/ZnSOD, catalase and glutathione-s-transferase and lower activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in erythrocyte lysates than the control group. However, there was no difference in the plasma levels of lipid peroxides between the two groups. These results suggest that vitamin C offsets its own contribution to anti-oxidant activity by repressing the expression of anti-oxidant enzymes and also excludes the possibility that vitamin C acts as a pro-oxidant in vivo.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.254-262
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• 2006

This study had been done for the investigation of the effect of Vitis vinifera extract(V), Schisandra chinensis extract (S), Taraxacum officinale extract (T), Gardenia jasminoides extract (G), Angelica acutiloba extract (A) and Paeonia japonica extract (P), and their mixtures on the antioxidant and ethanol oxidation system which was induced by Lieber-DeCarli ethanol liquid diet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into eight groups: ethanol diet (ED), normal diet (ND), ED+V (100 mg/kg/day), ED+S, ED+T, ED+G, ED+A and ED+P (300 mg/kg/day). We studied the effect on alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) after herbal extracts administration for 6 weeks in rats induced by Lieber-DeCarli ethanol liquid diet. The differences in ADH and ALDH activity of the rats treated with herbal extracts and ED group were not significant. Phase I enzyme activity was found to be significantly higher in the ED+V than the ED group. Phase II enzymes (glutathione-S-transferase, phenol sulfatransferase) activities were found to be higher in the herbal extracts than the ED group. Herbal extracts not only reduced ethanol-induced elevation of level malondialdehyde but also protected against ethanol-induced decrease of reduced glutathione, gluthione reducatse, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. Therefore, they can be utilized as a health functional food or new drug candidate for fatty liver and hepatotoxicity which was induced by chronic alcohol consumption.

• 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.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.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.382-395
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• 2007

The herb, Cajanus indicus L, is well known for its hepatoprotective action. A 43 kD protein has been isolated, purified and partially sequenced from the leaves of this herb. A number of in vivo and in vitro studies carried out in our laboratory suggest that this protein might be a major component responsible for the hepatoprotective action of the herb. Our successive studies have been designed to evaluate the potential efficacy of this protein in protecting the hepatic as well as renal tissues from the sodium fluoride (NaF) induced oxidative stress. The experimental groups of mice were exposed to NaF at a dose of 600 ppm through drinking water for one week. This exposure significantly altered the activities of the antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) and the cellular metabolites such as reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), total thiols, lipid peroxidation end products in liver and kidney compared to the normal mice. Intraperitoneal administration of the protein at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight for seven days followed by NaF treatment (600 ppm for next seven days) normalized the activities of the hepato-renal antioxidant enzymes, the level of cellular metabolites and lipid peroxidation end products. Post treatment with the protein for four days showed that it could help recovering the damages after NaF administration. Time-course study suggests that the protein could stimulate the recovery of both the organs faster than natural process. Effects of a known antioxidant, vitamin E, and a non-relevant protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA) have been included in the study to validate the experimental data. Combining all, result suggests that NaF could induce severe oxidative stress both in the liver and kidney tissues in mice and the protein possessed the ability to attenuate that hepato-renal toxic effect of NaF probably via its antioxidant activity.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.301-309
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• 2007

Paecilomyces tenuipes (PT), one of the Ascomycetes family, has been used for medicinal purposes due to its broad pharmacological activities. The present study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of PT water extracts against $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. When the extract of PT was directly added into the culture medium at 1, 2, and 5 mg/ml, the extracts not only reduce the $CCl_4$-induced elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase, and lipid peroxide, but also protect cultured hepatocytes from $CCl_4$-induced reduction of reduced glutathione, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase. In addition, the effects of PT water extracts on cytochrome P450 enzymes were relatively marginal, indicating that the hepatoprotective effects of PT extract against $CCl_4$-induced toxicity might not be due to the inhibition of $CCl_4$ activation. In conclusion, the PT extracts were effective in protecting against $CCl_4$ induced hepatotoxicity in hepatocyte cultures, at least in part, by scavenging free radicals, and by modulating enzyme systems involved in cellular oxidative stress.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5071-5074
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• 2016

Background: Azoxymethane (AOM) is a well-known colon cancer-inducing agent in experimental animals via mechanisms that include oxidative stress in rat colon and liver tissue. Few studies have investigated AOM-induced oxidative stress in rat liver tissue. Red seaweeds of the genera Hypnea Bryodies and Melanothamnus Somalensis are rich in polyphenolic compounds that may suppress cancer through antioxidant properties, yet limited research has been carried out to investigate their anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant influence against AOM-induced oxidative stress in rat liver. Objective: This study aims to determine protective effects of red seaweed (Hypnea Bryodies and Melanothamnus Somalensis) extracts against AOM-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. Materials and Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats received intraperitoneal injections of AOM, 15 mg/kg body weight, once a week for two consecutive weeks and then orally administered red seaweed (100 mg/kg body-weight) extracts for sixteen weeks. At the end of the experiment all animals were overnight fasted then sacrificed and blood and liver tissues were collected. Results: AOM treatment significantly decreased serum liver markers and induced hepatic oxidative stress as evidenced by increased liver tissue homogenate levels of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde, decreased total antioxidant capacity and glutathione, and inhibition of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase). Both red seaweed extracts abolished the AOM-associated oxidative stress and protected against liver injury as evidenced by increased serum levels of liver function markers. In addition, histological findings confirmed protective effects of the two red seaweed extracts against AOM-induced liver injury. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that red seaweed (Hypnea Bryodies and Melanothamnus Somalensis) extracts counteracted oxidative stress-induced hepatotoxicity in a rat model of colon cancer.