• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.760-768
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• 2022

The purpose this study was to investigate the influences of 5% mung bean (Phaseolus aureus L.) on BUN and enzyme activities in serum of hyperlipidemic rats. Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats (24 male) were divided into four groups, namely the BD group(normal-nonhyperlipidemic diet), BM group(normal-nonhyperlipidemic diet+5% mung bean), BH group(control-hyperlipidemic diet), and BHM group(hyperlipidemic diet+5% mung bean). Serum concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and uric acid were significantly decreased (p<0.05) by mung bean supplementation diet. The activities of AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, amylase and lipase in sera of mung bean diet group were significantly decreased (p<0.05). The catalase activity in serum of mung bean supplementation group was significantly increased than hyperlipidemic diet (p<0.05). In vivo experiment with hyperlipidemic rats showed that ingestion of mung bean were effective in kidney and hepatic functional enzyme activities. Which suggests that mung bean material could be used for further studies as a potential source for nutraceutical foods.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.583-593
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• 2008

This study was designed to examine the effects of Salicornia herbacea L. (glasswort: GW) on hepatic antioxidative enzyme activities in diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-220g by an injection of streptozotocin (STZ) dissolved in a citrate buffer into the tail vein at a dose of 45 mg/kg of body weight. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed an AIN-93 recommended diet and the experimental groups were fed a modified diet containing 10% and 20% of glasswort powder for 4 weeks. The experimental groups were divided into 6 groups which consisted of normal (N)-control group, N-GW 10% and N-GW 20% treated groups, STZ-control, STZ-GW 10% and STZ-GW 20% treated groups. The activities of Xanthine oxidase (XOD), glutathione- S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and CAT (CAT) were measured in the homogenates of liver. The activity of CAT was lower in the supplementary group with glasswort compare to the STZcontrol group but it was not significantly different. The activity of SOD was not significant in all of experimental groups. The activity of GR was significantly increased in the normal supplementary group with glasswort, and GPX activity was significantly increased in STZ-GW 10% group compare to the STZ-control group. The activity of XOD was significantly decreased in the all of supplementary groups with glasswort. The activity of GST was significantly increased in the N-GW 20% group and it was significantly decreased in the STZ-GW 20% group. These results show that the supplementation of glasswort may have favorable influence on antioxidative status in diabetic rats and it may be useful for the diabetic complications as functional food.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.286-294
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA), is acquired by dietary intake or the in vivo conversion of ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid. Many enzymes participating in LCPUFA synthesis are regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha ($PPAR{\alpha}$). Therefore, it was hypothesized that the tissue accretion of endogenously synthesized DHA could be modified by $PPAR{\alpha}$. MATERIALS/METHODS: The tissue DHA concentrations and mRNA levels of genes participating in DHA biosynthesis were compared among $PPAR{\alpha}$ homozygous (KO), heterozygous (HZ), and wild type (WT) mice (Exp I), and between WT mice treated with clofibrate ($PPAR{\alpha}$ agonist) or those not treated (Exp II). In ExpII, the expression levels of the proteins associated with DHA function in the brain cortex and retina were also measured. An n3-PUFA depleted/replenished regimen was applied to mitigate the confounding effects of maternal DHA. RESULTS: $PPAR{\alpha}$ ablation reduced the hepatic Acox, Fads1, and Fads2 mRNA levels, as well as the DHA concentration in the liver, but not in the brain cortex. In contrast, $PPAR{\alpha}$ activation increased hepatic Acox, Fads1, Fads2, and Elovl5 mRNA levels, but reduced the DHA concentrations in the liver, retina, and phospholipid of brain cortex, and decreased mRNA and protein levels of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor in brain cortex. CONCLUSIONS: LCPUFA enzyme expression was altered by $PPAR{\alpha}$. Either $PPAR{\alpha}$ deficiency or activation-decreased tissue DHA concentration is a stimulus for further studies to determine the functional significance.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.439-445
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• 2010

Pretreatment with Taraxacum Mongolicum H(TMH) prior to the administration of on $CCl_4$ significantly prevented the increased serum enzymatic activity of aminotransferase(ALT, AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT) and bilirubin concentration in dose-dependent manner. In addition, pretreatment with TMH also significantly restored the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde formation and the depletion of reduced glutathione content in the liver $CCl_4$-intoxicated rats. The restoration of microsomal aniline hydroxylase and aminopyrine N-demethylase activities indicated the improvement in functional status of endoplasmic reticulum. $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity was also essentially prevented, as indicated by a liver histopathologic study. TMH showed antioxidant effects in $FeCl_2$-ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate and in superoxide radical scavenging activity. Our results suggest that the protective effect of TMH against $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity possibly involve mechanisms related to its ability to block p450-mediated $CCl_4$ bioactivation and free radical scavenging effects.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.159-166
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate antioxidative and anti-aging action of extracts from Sancho (Zanthoxylum schinifolium) leaves. Two extracts were obtained by 80% methanol extraction followed by subsequent fractionation with methylene chloride (MC) and n-butanol (B) and fed at one or three levels to rats on normal level (5%) of fat (control) and high fat(20%) in diets. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 100 g were divided into ten groups such as control diet group(C), control diet+0.50%B group (CB), control diet+0.50%MC group (CMC), high-fat diet group (HF), high-fat diet+0.25%B group (HBL), high-fat diet+0.50%B group (HBM), high-fat diet+0.75%B group (HBH), high-fat diet+0.25%MC group (HMCL), high-fat diet+0.50%MC group (HMCM) and high-fat diet+ 0.75%MC group (HMCH) and fed each diet for four weeks. The effects of the extracts on antioxidant enzyme activities and indices of lipid peroxidation and aging were seen only in high fat diet groups. Hepatic superoxide dismutase and aryleaterase activities were not changed by Sancho extracts. But glutathione peroxidase, catalase and paraxonase activities were significantly restored by both MC and B at the level of 0.75% lipid peroxide which was increased by high fat diet was significantly reduced by B and MC at the level of 0.25% and over. Lipofuscin fluorescence and cabonyl value were increased by high fat diet were reduced by B and MC at the level of 0.5% and over. It is concluded that the Sancho extracts can be utilized as functional ingredients of health foods for reducing oxidative stress.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 1993

In order to investigate radiation effects on the liver, functional changes of liver were analyzed after irradiation. Doses of 10 Gy, 15 Gy and 20 Gy were exposed partially to the liver of male rats(Sprague-Dawley) with X-ray(4MV linear accelerator) at room temperature. On 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after irradiation, sera of the animals were compared with those of unirradiated animal by liver function tests. Enzyme activities in sera such as alkaline phosphatase and concentrations of bilirubin in liver function tests. The content of the activities of many enzymes including alkaline phosphatase in sera were increased slightly with increasing exposure dose in all experiments and the activities of these enzymes increased markedly in 20 Gy irradiated groups. The contents of serum bilirubins including direct and indirect bilirubins increased continuously along with the time lapse after irradiation. However, in 20 Gy irradiated group, the content of serum bilirubin decreased slightly during 2 or 4 weeks after irradiation and increased markedly there after. From these above results, functional changes of the liver were induced in all irradiated groups. Damaged liver was recovered along with time collapsed after irradiation to the doses of 10 Gy and 15 Gy while no recovery was deteced within 8 weeks after irradiation to 20 Gy. These results suggest that careful attontion must be paid to liver not to be included in exposure field in radiation therapy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.387-391
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• 2007

Recently, much attention has been paid to developing various kinds of fermented herbal extracts, a new type of traditional herbal medicine, in the field of Korean traditional medicine. The fermentation of medicinal herbs is intended to exert a favorable influence on digestability, bioavailavility and pharmacological activity of herbal extract in the gastrointestinal tract. It also produces a number of fermentation products that intensify the nutritional and pharmacological aspects of the medicinal herbs. In order to develop a functional beverage of alleviating the aftereffects of the previous drinks, the extracts (HP-1) of fermented herbal mixture, including Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Lonicera japonica Thunberg, and Hovenia dulcis Thunb., were prepared and the medicinal effect as a hangover cure was evaluated in ethanol-loaded rats. The enzyme activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) were analyzed by measuring the concentration of blood ethanol and acetaldehyde. The mRNA expression of ADH and ALDH2 was also investigated through RT-PCR analysis. In the HP-1-treated group, the concentration of blood ethanol was significantly reduced at one hour after loading of ethanol, as compared to that in the saline-treated group. The reduced ethanol was converted to acetaldehyde, which resulted in rapid increase in acetaldehyde concentration in an hour. Acetaldehyde was started to decrease at 5 hours after ethanol loading. It implies that HP-1 is highly effective to stimulate the activities of ADH and ALDH2. The HP-1 treatment also activated the mRNA expression of ADH and ALDH. This study suggests that fermented herbal extract, HP-1 can be used as a functional beverage of alleviating the alcohol-induced hangover symptoms by stimulating the activities and gene expression of hepatic alcohol metabolizing enzymes.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2006

Entomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps militaris is famous for its medicinal efficacies. It has been reported to have various pharmacological activities such as anti-tumour, insecticidal, antibacterial, immunomodulatory and antioxidant. In this study, we investigated the effect of the extract of C. militaris (MPUN8501), which was identified by the analysis of the nucleotide sequences of 5.8S ribosomal RNA, on the function of liver. C. militaris powder was extracted using hot water extracts method as time, volume and temperature and using method as differential polarity of organic solvent. Each fraction was tested for the improvement of hepatic enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. The BuOH extracts (CME) had highest activity which was used for the test of toxicity and efficacy of C. militaris. The enhancing effect of CME on the activity of ADH and ALDH was much more than medicine, drink, natural tea etc. Thus CME promoted the resolution of alcohol and acetaldehyde in rats, inducing recovery to normal condition rapidly. Furthermore, oral administration of CME effectively protected the carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatic injury as revealed by the hematological parameters (levels of sGOT and sGPT) and histological observation. CME was ascertained to be safe by regulatory toxicity studies of single dose toxicity and genotoxicity. These results suggest that CME would be useful for the maintaining normal hepatic activity as a functional health food.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.683-687
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• 2015

Aloe vera gel exhibits protective effects against insulin resistance as well as lipid-lowering and anti-diabetic effects. The anti-diabetic compounds in this gel were identified as Aloe-sterols. Aloe vera gel extract (AVGE) containing Aloe-sterols has recently been produced using a new procedure. We previously reported that AVGE reduced large-sized intestinal polyps in Apc-deficient Min mice fed a high fat diet (HFD), suggesting that Aloe vera gel may protect against colorectal cancer. In the present study, we examined the effects of Aloe vera gel powder (AVGP) and AVGE on azoxymethane-induced colorectal preneoplastic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in mice fed a HFD. Male C57BL/6J mice were given a normal diet (ND), HFD, HFD containing 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose solution, which was used as a solvent for AVGE (HFDC), HFD containing 3% or 1% AVGP, and HFDC containing 0.0125% (H-) or 0.00375% (L-) AVGE. The number of ACF was significantly lower in mice given 3% AVGP and H-AVGE than in those given HFD or HFDC alone. Moreover, 3% AVGP, H-AVGE and L-AVGE significantly decreased the mean Ki-67 labeling index, assessed as a measure of cell proliferation in the colonic mucosa. In addition, hepatic phase II enzyme glutathione S-transferase mRNA levels were higher in the H-AVGE group than in the HFDC group. These results suggest that both AVGP and AVGE may have chemopreventive effects on colorectal carcinogenesis under the HFD condition. Furthermore, the concentration of Aloe-sterols was similar between 3% AVGP and H-AVGE, suggesting that Aloe-sterols were the main active ingredients in this experiment.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.376-381
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• 2003

Acyl-CoA synthetase 4 (ACS4) is an arachidonate-preferring enzyme abundant in steroidogenic tissues. We examined ACS4 in rat liver, which contains a variety of pathways that use acyl-CoAs, in order to determine subcellular locations. We demonstrate that ACS4 protein was present most abundantly in the mitochondria and to a much lesser extent in the peroxisomes and microsomes. To determined the dietary effects on the level of ACS4 mRNA, northern blotting was carried out using total RNA from the livers of adult male rats fed various diets. Fasting, high fat diet, and fat-free high sucrose diet increased the hepatic level of ACS4 mRNA approximately 2-fold. Furthermore, the levels of ACS4 mRNA were induced by DEHP[Di- (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate]. These data suggest that ACS4 expression in the liver is regulated with a variety of pathways, including $\beta$-oxidation, hormone, and insulin.