• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.628-632
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• 2013

Arthrospira platensis (A. platensis) is an economically important microalgae because it has carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and a number of phytochemicals. It is also a valuable source used in the production of biodiesel and functional foods. In this study, A. platensis was exposed to electron beam irradation (240 kGy) and induced random mutagenesis for strain improvement. Several mutants were obtained, and the resulting mutant was designated as EB29. The growth rate and chlorophyll content of EB29 was similar to those of wild type. However, the lipid content of EB29 was increased seven-fold compared to that of wild type when comparing the nile red fluorescent intensity. Semi-quantitative analysis of EB29 using the calibration plot of standard lipid, triolein, represented $78.6{\mu}g/mL$, which increased 2 times compared to wild type ($41.4{\mu}g/mL$). When analyzing the fatty acid profile of EB29, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in EB29 increased about six-fold. Moreover, fatty acids affecting the quality of biodiesel increased compared to that of wild type. Thus, electron beam could be used for the strain improvement of microalgae in order to accumulate PUFAs and alteration of fatty acid profile for biodiesel.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.796-805
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• 2021

Hepatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress contributes to the development of steatosis and insulin resistance. The components of unfolded protein response (UPR) regulate lipid metabolism. Recent studies have reported an association between ER stress and aberrant cellular lipid control; moreover, research has confirmed the involvement of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs)-the central regulators of lipid metabolism-in the process. However, the exact role of SREBPs in controlling lipid metabolism during ER stress and its contribution to fatty liver disease remain unknown. Here, we show that SREBP-1c deficiency protects against ER stress-induced hepatic steatosis in mice by regulating UPR, inflammation, and fatty acid oxidation. SREBP-1c directly regulated inositol-requiring kinase 1α (IRE1α) expression and mediated ER stress-induced tumor necrosis factor-α activation, leading to a reduction in expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α and subsequent impairment of fatty acid oxidation. However, the genetic ablation of SREBP-1c prevented these events, alleviating hepatic inflammation and steatosis. Although the mechanism by which SREBP-1c deficiency prevents ER stress-induced inflammatory signaling remains to be elucidated, alteration of the IRE1α signal in SREBP-1c-depleted Kupffer cells might be involved in the signaling. Overall, the results suggest that SREBP-1c plays a crucial role in the regulation of UPR and inflammation in ER stress-induced hepatic steatosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.5
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• pp.601-609
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• 1998

The present study was undertaken to examine the role of phospholipase $A_2\;(PLA_2)$ in oxidant-induced inhibition of phosphate transport in primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubule cells. Uptakes of phosphate and glucose were dose-dependently inhibited by an oxidant t-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP), and the significant inhibition appeared at 0.025 mM of tBHP, whereas tBHP-induced alterations in lipid peroxidation and cell viability were seen at 0.5 mM. tBHP stimulated arachidonic acid (AA) release in a dose-dependent fashion. A $PLA_2$ inhibitor mepacrine prevented tBHP-induced AA release, but it did not alter the inhibition of phosphate uptake and the decrease in cell viability induced by tBHP. tBHP-induced inhibition of phosphate transport was not affected by a PKC inhibitor, staurosporine. tBHP at 0.1 mM did not produce the inhibition of $Na^+-K^+-ATPase$ activity in microsomal fraction, although it significantly inhibited at 1.0 mM. These results suggest that tBHP can inhibit phosphate uptake through a mechanism independent of $PLA_2$ activation, irreversible cell injury, and lipid peroxidation in primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubular cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.78-86
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• 2004

Panax ginseng occupies an important role in the folk medicine of China, Korea and Japan. The present study was undertaken to determine the radioprotective efficacy of ginseng root extract in the liver of Swiss albino mice. The animals were divided into 4 groups. Group I-Only vehicle was administered. Group II-The animals received 10 mg/kg body weight ginseng root extract i.p. for 4 consecutive days. Group III-Animals were irradiated with 8Gy gamma radiation at the dose rate of 1.69 Gy/min at the distance of 80 ems. Group IV-Animals were given by ginseng root extract (10 mg/kg body weight) continuously for 4 days and on 4th day they were irradiated with 8 Gy gamma radiation after 30 min. The animals from above groups were autopsied on 1,3,7,14 and 30 days. Biochemical estimations of phosphatases (acid ＆ alkaline), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), LPO (lipid peroxidation) and GSH (reduced glutathione) in liver and SGOT (serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase), SGPT (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase) and alkaline phosphatase in serum were done. In ginseng treated group acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), LPO and LDH in liver and SGOT, SGPT and alkaline phosphatase in serum did not show any significant alteration. However, a significant increase in GSH content in liver was recorded. In irradiated group there was a significant increase in ACP, ALP and LPO content in liver and SGOT ＆ SGPT in serum was noted. Whereas, a significant decrease was recorded in GSH and LDH activity in liver and alkaline phosphatase activity in serum. Pretreatment of ginseng with radiation significantly alters the biochemical parameters in liver and serum. A significant decline in ACP, ALP activity and LPO content in liver and SGOT and SGPT activity in serum was observed. However, a significant increase in GSH content and LDH activity in liver and ALP activity in serum was estimated. The present study suggests that pretreatment of ginseng before irradiation significantly protects the liver and maintains the enzyme activity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.225-231
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• 2004

This study was designed to investigate the effect of Trolox, a hydrophilic analogue of vitamin E, on the alteration of vasoregulatory gene expression during hepatic ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Rats were subjected to 60 min of hepatic ischemia in vivo. The rats were treated intravenously with Trolox (2.5 mg/kg) or the vehicle as a control 5 min before reperfusion. Liver samples were obtained 5 h after reperfusion for a RT-PCR analysis on the mRNA for the genes of interest. These mRNA peptides are endothelin-1 (ET -1), potent vasoconstrictor peptide, its receptor $ET_A$ and $ET_B$, vasodilator endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). It was seen that serum alanine aminotransferase and lipid peroxi-dation levels were markedly increased after I/R and Trolox significantly suppressed this increase. In contrast, the glutathione concentration decreased in the I/R group, and this decrease was inhibited by Trolox. ET-1 mRNA expression was increased by I/R, an increase which was prevented by Trolox. The mRNA levels for $ET_A$ receptor was significantly decreased, whereas ET$_{B}$ receptor transcript increased in the I/R group. The increase in $ET_A$ was prevented by Trolox. The mRNA levels for iNOS and HO-1 significantly increased in the I/R group and Trolox attenuated this increase. There were no significant differences in eNOS mRNA expression among any of the experimental groups. The mRNA levels for COX-2 and TNF-$\alpha$ significantly increased in I/R group and Trolox also attenuated this increase. Our findings suggest that I/R induces an imbalanced hepatic vasoregulatory gene expression and Trolox ameliorates this change through its free radical scavenging activity.y.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.223-232
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• 1995

This study was an attempt to compare the energy, nutrient intake, blood lipids, and body fat distribution of diabetics with those of normal control subjects. Daily energy and nutrient intake were measured by convenient method. The following anthropometric measurements were made on all participants : weight, height, and waist and hip circumference. We matched 31 pairs with diabetics and nondiabetic control subjects by sex, age, body weight and height, and made comparisons between two groups to observe the effect of diabetes in lipid profiles. Aslo the effect of exercise in diabetes was investigated. The results obtained were as follows : 1.The average of daily energy intake of diabetics was 1, 927 kcal and that of nondiabetics was 2, 159 kcal. Percentage of energy in diabetics is that carbohydrate : protein : fat = 69:13:18 2. When diabetics were divided into obese and nonobese group according to RBW, 33% of diabetics were obese and energy intake was not significantly different between the two groups, but VLDL - cholesterol concentration was significantly higher in the obese group. 3. Energy intake, BMI, RBW and total cholesterol level of upper obesity group were significantly higher than those of lower body obesity group in male diabetic subjects. 4. When matching 31 pairs of diabetics and nondiabetics according to sex, age, body weight and height triglyceride concentration and WHR of diabetics were measured to be significantly higher than those of nondiabetics. 5. Although energy intake was not significantly different between exercise and nonexercise groups, triglyceride, blood glucose, RBW, BMI were significantly lower in the exercise and nonexercise groups, triglyceride, blood glucose, RBW, BMI were significantly lower in the exercise group than the nonexercis group in diabetics. 6. BMI and RBW were not correlated with cholesterol or triglyceride, but WHR correlated significantly with both cholesterol and triglyceride. In conclusion, diabetics had higher triglyceride concentration and WHR than nondiabetics. WHR may be better than BMI or RBW for predicting alteration in lipid profile and exercise seems beneficial for controlling blood glucose and lipids in diabetics.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.466-471
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Currently, natural products have been shown to exhibit interesting biological and pharmacological activities and are used as chemotherapeutic agents. The purpose of this study, conducted on Wistar rats, was to evaluate the beneficial effects of Artemisia arborescens oil on oestroprogestative treatment induced damage on liver. MATERIALS/METHODS: A total of 36 Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups; a control group (n = 9), a group of rats who received oestroprogestative treatment by intraperitoneal injection (n = 9), a group pre-treated with Artemisia arborescens then injected with oestroprogestative treatment (n = 9), and a group pre-treated with Artemisia arborescens (n = 9). To minimize the handling stress, animals from each group were sacrificed rapidly by decapitation. Blood serum was obtained by centrifugation and the livers were removed, cleaned of fat, and stored at $-80^{\circ}C$ until use. RESULTS: In the current study, oestroprogestative poisoning resulted in oxidative stress, which was demonstrated by 1) a significant increase of lipid peroxidation level in hepatic tissue 2) increased levels of serum transaminases (aspartate amino transferase and serum alanine amino transferase), alkaline phosphatase, glycemia and triglycerides and a decrease in the level of cholesterol 3) alteration of hepatic architecture. Pre-administration of Artemisia arborescens oil was found to alleviate oestroprogestative treatment induced damage by lowering lipid peroxidation level and by increasing activity of catalase, superoxide-dismutase, and glutathione-peroxidase in liver and by reducing disruption of biochemical parameters. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the results obtained in this study confirmed that Artemisia essential oil protects against oestroprogestative administration induced hepatotoxicity by restoration of liver activities.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2004

It has been reported that glomerulosclerosis mediated by the dysfunction of mesangial cells and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are associated with the development of diabetic nephropathy. However, it is not yet known the effect of high glucose on IGF-I, -II secretion, IGF-I receptor, and IGFBPs expression in the mesangial cells. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the effect of high glucose on IGF system and its involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) and oxidative stress in mesangial cells. In this study, high glucose (25 mM) increased IGF-I and IGF-II secretion and mRNA expression (P<0.05), which was blocked by PKC inhibitor (staurosporine, 10/sup -8/ M) and antioxidant (N-acetyl cystein, 10/sup -5/ M). High glucose decreased IGFBP-1 and -2 expression but increased IGFBP-5 expression. These alteration of IGFBPs by high glucose was also prevented by staurosporine and NAC, suggesting the role of PKC and oxidative stress. Indeed, high glucose increased PKC activity. Furthermore, high glucose-induced increase of lipid peroxide (LPO) formation was blocked by PKC inhibitors. In conclusion, high glucose alters IGF system via PKC-oxidative pathways in mesangial cells.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 1973

The present study is to determine the toxicity of the fungi isolated from foodstuffs by observing the ultrastructural changes in the mouse liver cells. The results as follows: 1. The toxin-producing fungi were screened by the methods of toxin-screening test(cyto-toxicity test against to HeLa cells and thin layer chromatography). 2. All of the experimental animals treated with isolated fungi were observed the focal necrosis and inflammatory infiltration of liver parenchymal cells. 3. It showed the cytoplasmic changes, such as dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), swelling of mitochondria (mi). increased number of lipid droplet (li) and glycogen (gl), detachment of ribosomes (ri) by observing the electron microscopy. 4. Nuclear and nucleolar alteration were also noted the segregation of nucleolar element and irregularity of nuclear envelopes. 5. As a mass screening, the cytotoxicity test using HeLa cells and thin layer chromatography are feasible methods to detection of the mycotoxin producing fungi from various sources.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.30
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• pp.6.1-6.7
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• 2015

Objectives This study aimed to estimate the effects of 4-nonylphenol (NP), a ubiquitously present surfactant in aquatic environments, on the anti-oxidant systems of the liver in the Far Eastern catfish Silurus asotus. Methods Changes in biochemical parameters involved in glutathione (GSH)-related and other anti-oxidant systems were analyzed following 4 weeks of 4-NP administration (0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg diet) via a formulated diet to catfish. Results 4-NP exposure induced an elevation in hepatic lipid peroxide levels and an accompanying decrease in reduced state GSH after 2 weeks, suggesting pro-oxidant effects of the chemical in catfish. This oxidative stress was associated with an inhibition of the GSH-utilizing enzyme glutathione peroxidase at the same time point. This inhibition was restored after 4 weeks. The activities of other anti-oxidant enzymes, i.e., glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were increased after 4 weeks. These enzyme increases occurred more strongly at the higher 4-NP concentration (1.0 mg/kg diet). Conclusions 4-NP given to catfish at 0.1 to 1.0 mg/kg diet, concentrations relevant to environmental levels, depletes the endogenous anti-oxidant molecule GSH and temporarily inhibits GSH-related anti-oxidant enzymes. Such declines in anti-oxidant capacity and elevated oxidative stress seem to be compensated eventually by subsequent activation of various anti-oxidant enzyme systems.