• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.10
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• pp.1508-1512
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate the ameliorating effect of a mixture of extracts from Houttuynia cordata Thunb, Nelumbo nucifera G. (leaf), and Camellia sinensis (seed) (MIX) on acute ethanol-induced hangover in Sprague-Dawley rats. Plasma ethanol and acetaldehyde levels in MIX-treated rats significantly decreased at 3 h and 5 h after acute ethanol administration (25%, 3 g/kg body weight/d) as compared to ethanol-treated rats. Hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities were significantly higher in MIX-treated rats than in ethanol-treated rats. MIX exhibited high ADH and ALDH activities on direct assays using S9 rat liver fraction for ethanol metabolic enzymes clearance action. These results suggest that MIX could alleviate ethanol-induced hangover symptoms by elevating activities related to hepatic ethanol-metabolizing enzymes against ethanol induced metabolites, and MIX should be further developed to be a new anti-hangover material.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.714-722
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• 2009

The principal objective of this study was to determine the effects of leucine on body weight reduction in high fat diet-induced overweight rats. To induce overweight, six-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 80) were divided into 8 groups; one group of 10 rats was fed on a normal fat diet and the remaining 70 rats were fed on a high-fat diet (40% of energy as fat) for 14 weeks. Then, 10 rats fed on the normal fat diet and another 10 rats fed on the high fat diet were sacrificed to identify overweight induction. The remaining 60 rats were divided randomly into 6 groups according to body weight and fed on one of the diets with different dietary fat levels (9.6% or 40% of energy as fat) and leucine levels (0, 0.6 or 1.2 g/kg BW) for the following 5 weeks of experiments. The body weight loss in the Leu-administered groups (0.6 g, 1.2 g/kg BW) was significantly higher than those of Leu non-administered groups. The perirenal fat pad weights in the Leu-administered groups were significantly lower than those of the Leu non-administered groups. Of the hepatic enzymes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activities were reduced significantly in the Leu-administered groups than in the Leu non-administered groups. With the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), the incremental areas under the curve of the glucose response (IAUC) of the Leu-administered groups were significantly lower than those of the Leu non-administered groups. The fasting glucose concentration and HOMA-IR of the Leu-administered groups were significantly lower than those of the Leu non-administered groups. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that one of the possible mechanisms of leucine in the observed body weight reduction might involve the inhibition of lipogenic enzyme activities such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, rather than the activation of lipolysis enzymes. Additionally, leucine adminstration resulted in improved glucose metabolism.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.1092-1098
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• 2011

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of ${\beta}$-carotene on the antioxidant system of rats with diabetes. Forty Sprague Dawley rats were fed the AIN-76 control diet or the same diet supplemented with ${\beta}$-carotene (7.2 mg/kg diet) for 3 weeks, then diabetes was induced in half the rats by administering streptozotocin (45 mg/kg BW) into the femoral muscle. Diabetic and normal rats were fed the experimental diets for 2 more weeks. To investigate the effect of dietary ${\beta}$-carotene on diabetes, the activities of antioxidative enzymes and glutathione concentration were determined in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The plasma glucose levels in diabetic rats were not influenced by the dietary supplementation of ${\beta}$-carotene. Hepatic activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase in diabetic rats were significantly lower than those of control rats but ${\beta}$-carotene tended to induce these activities. Glutathione-S-transferase activity was not significantly different between experimental groups. Glucose-6-phosphatase activity was induced in diabetic rats, but dietary supplementation of ${\beta}$-carotene reduced this activity. The hepatic concentration of reduced glutathione in diabetic rats was lower than that of control rats, but dietary supplementation with ${\beta}$-carotene restored the content to some extent. These data suggest that diabetic rats are exposed to increased oxidative stress and that dietary supplementation with ${\beta}$-carotene may reduce its detrimental effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1253-1261
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• 1998

Effects of dietary cholesterol and taurine supplementation on hepatic total and phospholipid fatty acid compositions were evaluated in rats fed one of the following semisynthetic diets for 5 weeks : control diet(CD, cholesterol free and taurine free diet); high cholesterol diet(HCD, CD＋1.5% cho lesterol); high cholesterol, high taurine diet(HCHTD, HCD＋1.5% taurine). Diet induced changes in hepatic total fatty acid compositions were very similar to those in hepatic phospholipid fatty acid compositions. The HCD significantly decreased the percentage of total saturated fatty acids(SFA), and increased the percentage of total monounsaturated fatty acids(MUFA) of hepatic total lipids and phospholipids as compared to the values for the control rats(p<0.001). HCHTD significantly elevated the percentage of $\Sigma$SFA and lowered the percentage of $\Sigma$MUFA compared to the values for the HCD(p<0.001). Percentages of hepatic total and phospholipid 18:3$\omega$3, 20:5$\omega$3, 18:2$\omega$6 and 20:3$\omega$6 were significantly higher in rats fed the HCD than the values for the control rats, and the percentages of their elongation and desaturation products(22:5$\omega$3, 22:6$\omega$3, 20:4$\omega$6, 22l:4$\omega$6 and 22: 5$\omega$6) were significantly lower in rats fed the HCD compared to those for the control rats. HCD significantly lowered the Δ5 desaturation(20:3$\omega$6⇒20:4$\omega$6) and Δ4 desaturation(22:4$\omega$6⇒22:5$\omega$6) indices, and the elongation index of $\omega$3 fatty acid(20:5 $\omega$3⇒22:5$\omega$3) in rat liver. HCHTD reversed the cholesterol induced changes in the compositions of $\omega$3 and $\omega$6 fatty acids. These results suggest the possibility that dietary cholesterol and taurine supplementations affect plasma and liver lipid levels, at least in part, by changing the hepatic phospholipid fatty acid compositions and thereby modulating the physical characteristics of the membrane and the activities of microsomal enzymes involved in lipid metabolism.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.968-972
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• 1998

Allium tuberosum Rotter(Liliaceae) is a perennial herb of which leaves are used for food. Leek has been reported to have pharmacological effects including alleviations of abdominal pain, diarrhea, hematemesis, snakebite, and asthma. To investigate the effect of dietary leek supplementation on the drug-metaboizing enzymes, quinone reductase(QR) and arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase(AHH) activities in the liver, stomach, small intestine and lung, and on the plasma testosterone and dihydrosterone hormone levels, mice were fed 2% and 5% leek diets for 8 weeks. Quinone reductase, an anticarcinogenic enzyme, was significantly induced in stomach, small intestine, and lung but slightly lowered in hepatic tissue in the experimental groups compared to control group. Arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase activity, involved in bioactivation of procarcinogens, was significantly decreased in liver and lung. Leek feeding led to the reduction in the plasma level of dihydrotestosterone which is associated with the incidence of prostate cancer. These findings support the potential chemopreventive activity of leek supplementation.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.66-77
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• 2013

In this study, we investigated the preventive effects of the mulberry leaf tea fermented by Monascus pilosus on high fat-induced obesity, hyperlipidemia, and fatty liver in mice. Non-fermented mulberry leaf tea powder (UM) and fermented mulberry leaf tea powder (FM) were supplemented with high-fat diet at 2% (wt/wt) dosage for 8 weeks. Both UM and FM lowered body weight gain, feed efficiency ratio, epididymal fat, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol increased markedly with high fat diet (HC) in mice. FM showed more significant effects when it was compared with UM. In addition, Hepatic lipid peroxides and xanthin oxidase activities of the UM and FM were significantly lower than those of HC, despite the lack of a big difference in the amount of hepatic GSH. Activities of ROS scavenging enzymes and serum alanine aminotransferase activity were also examined as a parameter of hepatic damage. The UM and FM groups showed a recovery to NC group from significant changes induced by HC. Finally, histopathological analyses of liver samples revealed a decrease of lipid accumulation in hepatocytes in the UM and FM groups. These results suggest that UM and especially FM can reduce the development of obesity, hyperlipidemia and fatty liver.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.1162-1167
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• 2004

The present study was designed to define whether dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) could affect antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S transferase (GST), and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, in the small intestine and liver from broiler chickens. A total of twenty-four 3 wk-old male broiler chickens were assigned to three dietary treatments (1.5% corn oil, 0.75% corn oil plus 0.75% CLA, and 1.5% CLA, isocalorically), and fed a grower-finisher diet from 22 to 35 days. In the small intestinal mucosae, the specific activities of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, and GST, and the level of MDA were not substantially influenced by dietary CLA. In the liver, the specific activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and GST, and the level of MDA were also unaffected by dietary CLA at the level of either 0.75% or 1.5% compared with corn oil at the level of 1.5%. However, the broiler chickens fed the diet containing 1.5% CLA resulted in a significant increase in peroxisomal CAT activity and a marked decrease in total lipid and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) from liver tissues compared with those fed the diet containing 1.5% corn oil. In conclusion, ability of CLA to increase hepatic CAT activity suggest that dietary CLA may affect, at least in part, antioxidant defense system as well as lipid metabolism in the liver of broiler chickens.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.701-707
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• 2007

This study was to investigate lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme activity and DNA damage after exercise, and the protective effect of garlic against exercise-induced oxidative stress. Male Sprague-Dawley rats(4 weeks old) were randomly divided into three groups of 6 rats each; control group(Con) without garlic and exercise, Ex group with exercise alone, and Ex-G group with 2% garlic and exercise. For 4 weeks, rats were given diets containing 15% corn oil and 1% cholesterol with or without garlic. The swimming was selected as a model for exercise performance. Rats swam for 40 min a day, for 5 days a week. Group Ex and Ex-G showed significant lowering in body weight gain and fat accumulation compared to control. No significant changes were observed in levels of plasma cholesterol and triglyceride among three groups, demonstrating that exercise and garlic had no effects on changes of blood lipid. This finding of blood lipid seems to be due to higher plant sterol content in corn oil. The DNA tail moment of lymphocytes showed greater tendency in Ex and Ex-G than in control, but garlic supplements failed to suppress DNA damages. Compared to control, Ex had higher plasma TBARS which was lowered to the control's level in Ex-G with 2% garlic supplementation(p<0.05). Ex-G led to a higher hepatic superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity than control and Ex(p<0.05). Activity of hepatic catalase was also increased in Ex-G, while in Ex it was significantly low(p<0.05). It seemed that TBARS levels were related to the activities of SOD and catalase, and that garlic contributed to increasing the enzyme activities and led to decrease of TBARS. These results demonstrate that lipid peroxidation and DNA damage occur as a consequences of oxidative stress after exercise, and that antioxidant defense against oxidative stress could be enhanced by garlic supplementation through the induction of antioxidant enzymes. However, further investigations should be done on the garlic effect on DNA damage.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.341-346
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of Cordyceps militaris extract supplementation on the improvement of blood glucose, lipid compositions and hepatic functional enzyme activities in the serum of streptozotocin(STZ, 50 mg/kg BW, IP injection)-induced diabetic rats fed the experimental diets for 5 weeks. The concentrations of blood glucose and lipid compositions(total cholesterol, ${\beta}$-lipoprotein, free cholesterol, cholesteryl ester, triglyceride and phospholipid) and atherosclerotic index in serum were significantly lower in the DM+CM group than in the DM group, whereas the ratio of HDL-cholesterol concentration to total cholesterol in the DM+CM group were higher than in the DM group. The activities of hepatic functional enzymes(aminotransferase, LDH and ALP) in serum were lower in the Cordyceps militaris extract administration group(group DM+CM) than in the hyperglycemic DM group. The results shown above suggested that Cordyceps militaris extract supplementation effectively improves blood glucose and atherosclerosis in the serum of diabetic rats.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.223-227
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• 2012

This study examined the effects of corn gluten (CG), wheat gluten (WG), and soybean protein isolate (SPI), as well as their hydrolysates, on weight reduction in rats fed a high-fat diet. Eight-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=70) were fed a high-fat diet (40% of the calories were fat) for 4 weeks. Rats were then randomly divided into seven groups and were fed isocaloric diets with different protein sources for 8 weeks. The protein sources were casein (control group), intact CG (CG group), CG hydrolysate (CGH group), intact WG (WG group), WG hydrolysate (WGH group), intact SPI (SPI group), and SPI hydrolysate (SPIH group). Body weight gain, adipose tissue weights, lipid profiles in plasma and liver; and hepatic activities of carnitine palmitoyl transferase, fatty acid synthase (FAS), malic enzyme, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were assessed. The CGH group showed significant weight reduction compared with the other groups. Epididymal fat pad and plasma triglycerides in the CGH group were the lowest and were significantly different than those in the control group. FAS activity in the CGH group was significantly lower than that in the other groups. In conclusion, the CGH diet of these experimental animals demonstrated a weight-reducing effect by lowering the adipose tissue weight and by affecting the activities of hepatic lipogenic enzymes.