• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.118-128
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Glutathione s-transferase (GST) is involved in the formation of a multigene family comprising phase II detoxification enzymes, involved in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species. This study evaluated whether daily supplementation with kale juice could modulate levels of plasma antioxidant vitamins and oxidative stress-related parameters. We further examined whether this modulation was affected by combined GSTM1 and T1 polymorphisms. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Totally, 84 subclinical hypertensive patients having systolic blood pressure (BP) over 130 mmHg or diastolic BP over 85 mmHg, received 300 mL of kale juice daily for 6 weeks. Blood samples were drawn before start of study and after completion of 6 weeks. RESULTS: After supplementation, we observed significant decrease in DNA damage and increase in erythrocyte catalase activity in all genotypes. Plasma level of vitamin C was significantly increased in the wild/null and double null genotypes. The plasma levels of ${\beta}-carotene$, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity, and nitric oxide were increased only in the wild/null genotype after kale juice supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of kale juice was significantly greater in the GSTM1 null genotype and wild/null genotype groups, suggesting possibility of personalized nutritional prescriptions based on personal genetics.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2006

Breast cancer may be the consequence of free radical damage, which is partially caused by the excessive intake of dietary fat and imbalances in antioxidant scavenger system;. In this experiment, we examined! the effects of dietary peroxidizability index (PI) values on hepatic thiobmbituric acid reaction substances (TBARS) and antioxidant enzyme activities in rats treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[$\alpha$]anthracene (DMBA). Female Sprague-Dawley rats were used and 7,12-DMBA (20 mg/kg body weight) was gastrically intubated at seven weeks of age in order to induce mammary tumors (MT). The levels of dietary PI were 36, 81, 126 and 217 (LPI, MLPI, MHPI and HPI), while dietary polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio was maintained at the same level (1.0). Fat used in the experiment was mixed with soybean oil, com oil, palm oil, perilla oil, sesame oil, fish oil, and beef tallow. Experimental diets were given for the following 20 weeks. We measured tumor numbers and weights, and then assayed the hepatic TBARS levels and antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR). The incidence of Mr was the lowest in the MHPI group. The hepatic TBARS level was significantly raised with increasing dietary PI value. The hepatic SOD and GR activities were differed significantly by dietary PI value. The hepatic SOD activity was negatively correlated with dietary PI value and GR activity was the highest in the rats fed the MHPI diet. When the dietary P/S ratio is kept at 1.0, adequate dietary PI value (PI value of 126) may reduce the incidence and growth of Mr, but this benefit may be lost with higher dietary PI value. These results suggest that the awareness of dietary PI values may help to decrease breast cancer incidence and growth.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: It has been shown that vitamin A supplementation has different effects on skeletal health and the antioxidant system. Deficiency or excess of this vitamin can lead to health problems. Vitamin A can work as either an antioxidant or prooxidant depending on its concentration. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of different doses of vitamin A supplementation on the antioxidant system in rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Forty Spargue-Dawley male rats were divided into four groups according to the dose of vitamin A received: 0 (A0), 4,000 (A1), 8,000 (A2), and 20,000 (A3) IU retinyl palmitate/kg diet. After a feeding period of 4 wks, lipid peroxide levels, glutathione concentration, antioxidant enzyme activities, and vitamins A and E concentrations were measured. Histopathological changes were observed in rat liver tissue using an optical microscope and transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: Lipid peroxide levels in plasma were significantly decreased in the A1 and A2 groups compared to the A0 rats. Erythrocyte catalase and hepatic superoxide dismutase activities of the A2 group were significantly higher than those of the A0 group. Hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly lower in the A3 group compared to the other groups. Total glutathione concentrations were significantly higher in the A1 and A2 groups than in the A0 group. Histological examination of liver tissue showed that excessive supplementation of vitamin A might lead to lipid droplet accumulation and nuclear membrane deformation. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that appropriate supplementation of vitamin A might have a beneficial effect on the antioxidant system in rats.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2023

Ammonium (NH₄⁺) serves as a nitrogen source, but its elevated levels can hinder plant growth and production. Excess NH₄⁺ with α-ketoglutarate is assimilated into glutamate, a precursor of proline and glutathione (GSH). This study aimed to investigate the effects of excessive NH₄⁺ on the regulation of proline and GSH synthesis. Detached leaves from oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) were fed with 0, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 mM NH₄Cl for 16 h. As the NH₄⁺ concentrations increased, the leaves exhibited progressive wilting and yellowing. Furthermore, total carotenoid and chlorophyll concentrations declined in response to all NH₄⁺ treatments, with the lowest levels observed in 1000 mM NH₄⁺ treatment. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentration showed a minor increase at low NH₄⁺ concentration (50 and 100 mM) treatments but a significant increase at high NH₄⁺ (500 and 1000 mM), which was consistent with the localization of H₂O₂. Amino acid concentrations increased with increasing in NH₄⁺ concentration, while the protein concentration displayed the opposite trend. Proline and cysteine concentrations exhibited a gradual increase in response to increasing NH₄⁺ concentrations. However, GSH concentrations rose only in the 50 mM NH₄⁺ treatment and decreased in the 500 and 1000 mM NH₄⁺ treatments. These results indicate that excessive NH₄⁺ is primarily assimilated into proline, while GSH synthesis is adversely affected.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.132-137
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• 2013

Geniposide is an active product extracted from the gardenia fruit, and is one of the most widely used herbal preparations for liver disorders. This study examined the cytoprotective properties of geniposide and its metabolite, genipin, against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 60 min of ischemia followed by 6 h of reperfusion. Geniposide (100 mg/kg) and genipin (50 mg/kg) were administered orally 30 min before ischemia. In the I/R mice, the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase and hepatic lipid peroxidation were elevated, whereas hepatic glutathione/glutathione disulfide ratio was decreased. These changes were attenuated by geniposide and genipin administration. On the other hand, increased hepatic heme oxygenase-1 protein expression was potentiated by geniposide and genipin administration. The increased levels of tBid, cytochrome c protein expression and caspase-3 activity were attenuated by geniposide and genipin. Increased apoptotic cells in the I/R mice were also significantly reduced by geniposide and genipin treatment. Our results suggest that geniposide and genipin offer significant hepatoprotection against I/R injury by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.729-739
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• 1994

Riboflavin status of 17 insulin-dependent diabetic mellitus(IDDM) patients in growing period was evaluated as a function of energy intake and expenditure, biochemical nutritional status and diabetic control indicators. Compared with recommended dietary allowances for Koreans(RDA, 1989), only 35.3% of subjects was at good levels of all nutrients intakes and 52.9% of subjects was below normal level of height and weight. Nutrients consumed below RDA levels were energy(=88.5% of subjects), niacin(64.7%), iron(52.9%) and protein(23.5%) respectively. The riboflavin status was within normal range by urinary riboflavin excretion but 17.6% of subjects was evaluated as showed riboflavin deficiency by erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient(EGRAC). Correlation between riboflavin intake, urinary riboflavin excretion, EGRA level and diabetic duration were not statistically significant. Correlation analyses indicated that EGRA level was inversely correlated with thiamin, niacin and cabohydrate intake. No significant correlations were found between the EGRA and glycosylated hemoglobin A1(HbA1) (r=-0.464, p=0.129). From this study, it is suggested that IDDM subjects need to maintain balanced diet containing nutrients above RDA for individual activity during growing period. It needs more study whether the current recommended riboflavin allowance is adequate for diabetic patients.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.233-243
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• 2016

This study examined the antioxidant activity and lipid composition of rats fed a high fat-high cholesterol diet containing Salvia plebeia water extract. Three levels (50 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg) of Salvia plebeia water extract were administered to seven weeks old male Sprague Dawley rats for four weeks. The activity of glutathione peroxidase in serum was high in all groups that received the Salvia plebeia water extract (p<0.05). The glutathione reductase activity was high (p<0.05) in groups that received 50 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of Salvia plebeia water extract. When rats received Salvia plebeia water extract, the content of MDA (malondialdehyde) in the serum and liver was low in all groups. In addition, the serum total lipid, triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol contents decreased significantly (p<0.05). Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the liver were significantly lower in the group that received the Salvia plebeia water extract than in the control group (p<0.05). Salvia plebeia water extract improves lipid metabolism and it almost meets with the increase of antioxidant activity and peroxide formation reduction. Based on these results, supplemented of a high fat-hypercholesterol diet with Salvia plebeia can increase antioxidant activity and depress peroxide formation in serum, as well as liver cholesterol and triglycerides.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2753-2758
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• 2012

Rubia cordifolia Linn, which belongs to the Rubiaceae family, is a well-known herb used in Ayurvedic medicine. In the present study, we investigated the influence of a methanolic extract (RC) on the induction of apoptosis in HEp-2 (human laryngeal carcinoma) cell line, as evidenced by cytotoxicity, morphological changes and modification in the levels of pro-oxidants. Inhibition of cell proliferation and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release increased in a time and dose-dependent manner. Further, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione transferase (GST) and protein levels decreased and lipid peroxidation increased significantly on RC treatment in a dose dependent manner when compared to controls. Based on the results we determined the optimal dose as 30mg/ ml and the apoptotic effect of RC extract (30 mg/ml) on HEp-2 cells was confirmed by fluorescent microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) based on morphological and ultrastructural changes. RC extract suppressed the proliferation of HEp-2 oral cancer cells inducing apoptotic cell death in vitro. These results point to potential of RC extract as an agent for the treatment of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2563-2569
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• 2012

Oxidative stress is a common mechanism contributing to initiation and progression of hepatic damage in a variety of liver disorders. Hence there is a great demand for the development of agents with potent antioxidant effect. The aim of the present investigation is to evaluate the efficacy of Moringa oleifera as a hepatoprotective and an antioxidant against 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene induced hepatocellular damage. Single oral administration of DMBA (15 mg/kg) to mice resulted in significantly (p<0.001) depleted levels of xenobiotic enzymes like, cytochrome P450 and b5. DMBA induced oxidative stress was confirmed by decreased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in the liver tissue. The status of hepatic aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) which is indicative of hepatocellular damage were also found to be decreased in DMBA administered mice. Pretreatment with the Moringa oleifera (200 and 400 mg/kg) orally for 14 days significantly reversed the DMBA induced alterations in the liver tissue and offered almost complete protection. The results from the present study indicate that Moringa oleifera exhibits good hepatoprotective and antioxidant potential against DMBA induced hepatocellular damage in mice that might be due to decreased free radical generation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.103-108
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• 2015

Curcumin is widely used as a traditional medicine. This work was aimed to investigate its possible protective effect against chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. Fifty male albino rats were divided into five groups (n=10, each). The control group received a single dose of normal saline, the diethylnitrosamine (DENA) group received a single intra-peritoneal dose at 200mg/kg body weight, and the 3rd, 4th and 5th groups were given DENA and daily administrated curcunine (CUR) via intra-gastric intubation in doses of 300, 200 and 100 mg/kg b.wt. respectively for 20 weeks. Serum, and liver samples were used for determination of alpha feto-protein (AFP), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukine-6 (IL-6), serum liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and GGT) levels as well the activities and gene expression of glutathione peroxidise (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT) and super oxide dismutase (SOD). Curcumin significantly lowered the serum levels of AFP, IL-2 and IL-6, ALT, ALT, and malondialdehyde (MDA) as well gene expression of IL-2 and IL-6. In contrast it increased the gene expression and activities of Gpx, GRD, CAT and SOD. The protective effect of CUR against DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in albino rats was proven.