• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.163-182
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• 1972

The effects of caffeine on the ATPase activity and Ca uptake of the fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle were studied. The ATPase activity of the heavy fraction (2,000-8,000xG) was stimulated by caffeine while that of other lighter fractions was not. It is suggested that the enhancement of the ATPase by the caffeine treatment. The Ca uptake of the heavy and middle (10,000-20,000xG) fractions was inhibited by caffeine when measured at the medium Ca concentration higher than 200 nmoles/mg protein, while only that of the heavy fraction was inhibited when measured at the Ca concentration below 200 nmoles/mg protein. Experiments with dicumarol suggested that caffeine inhibits the Ca uptake of the mitochondria as well as that of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and that the inhibition of the Ca uptake by caffeine in the low Ca concentration in the heavy fraction is due to the inhibition of the mitochondrial Ca uptake by caffeine. It appeared highly probable that the potentiation of muscle contraction caused by caffeine is solely due to the inhibition of the Ca uptake by and to the release of the accumulated Ca from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.2993-2999
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• 2014

Saccharina japonica is a family member of Phaeophyceae (brown macro-alga) and extensively cultivated in China, Japan and Korea. Here, the potential anti-cancer effect of n-hexane fraction of S. japonica was evaluated in SK-Hep1 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The N-hexane fraction reduced cell viability and increased the numbers of apoptotic cells in a both dose- and time-dependent manner. Apoptosis was activated by both caspase-dependent and independent pathways. The caspase-dependent cell death pathway is mediated by cell surface death receptors and activated caspase-8 amplified the apoptotic signal either through direct activation of downstream caspase-3 or pro-apoptotic proteins (Bad, Bax and Bak) subsequently leading to the release of cytochrome c. On the other hand, caspase-independent apoptosis appeared mediated by disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential and translocation of AIF to the nucleus where they induced chromatin condensation and/or large-scale DNA fragmentation. In addition, the n-hexane fraction induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress and cell cycle arrest. The results suggested that potential anti-cancer effects of n-hexane extract from S. japonica on SK-Hep1 cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.378-384
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• 1998

The processing pathway of G-proteins and Ras family proteins includes the isoprenylation of the cysteine residue, followed by proteolysis of three terminal residues and .alpha.-carboxyl methyl esterification of the cysteine residue. Farnesylcysteine methyltransferase (FCMT) activity is responsible for the methylation reaction which play a role in the membrane attachment of a variety of cellular proteins. Four kinds of Ras protein (c-Ha-ras, c-N-Ras, c-Ki-Ras, pan-Ras) expression were detected in adenocarcinoma of human tissue by immunohistochemical method, and hematoxylin and eosin staining. The level of Ras protein in human stomach tumor tissues was much higher than in normal and peritumoral regions of the same biopsy samples. The FCMT activities of each cellular fractions were high in mitochondrial fraction followed by microsomal fraction, whole homogenate and cytosolic fraction. The inhibitory effect on FCMT activity on stomach tumor tissue was determined after treatment with 0.25 $\mu\textrm{M}$ of S-adenosyl-$_L$-homocysteine. S-adenosyl-$_L$-homocysteine inhibited FCMT activity from 11.2% to 30.5%. These results suggested that FCMT might be involved in Ras proteins activity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.213-217
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• 1988

The effects of ethanol and acetaldehyde on monoamine oxidase activity in mouse liver mitochondrial fraction were studied. In vivo, a single dose of ethanol increased the hepatic monoamine oxidase activity compared to control group, and chronic ethanol consumption also increased the enzyme activity using tyramine, benzylamine or serotonin as substrate. Acetaldehyde, the metabolite of ethanol, significantly increased monoamine oxidase activity more than ethanol did. In contrast to the in vivo results, it was found that the monoamine oxidase activity was inhibited in vitro by ethanol or acetaldehyde in the dose-dependent manner.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.37-40
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• 1988

A great deal of attention has been directed recently at the roles played by lipidperoxides in the mediation of pathogenesis and complications of various disease. In view of the strong inhibitory activity of Brazilin on the lipidperoxidation, we examined the effect of Brazilin on the lipidperoxidation in diabetic states. Brazilin inhibited the lipidperoxidation of liver mitochondrial and microsomal fraction in alloxan-induced diabetic ICR mice in the dose and time dependent manner. In the light of the present results, further elucidation of the inhibitory activities of Brazilin on the liver and blood plasma is warrented.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.1010-1016
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• 2007

Sagunjatang (Sagunja), containing Radix Astragali, Radix Ginseng, Fructus Schizandrae, Radix Ophiopogonis and Radix Glycyrrhizae, has been used as a prescription for ischemic heart and brain diseases in Korean traditional medicine. This study was designed to investigate the protective mechanisms of Sagunja on $H_2O_2$-induced cytotoxicity of H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Treatment with $H_2O_2$ resulted in death of H9c2 cells, characterized by apparent apoptotic features, including the fragmentation of nucleus and increase in sub-GO/G1fraction of cell cycle. However, Sagunja markedly suppressed the apoptotic characteristics of H9c2 cells induced by $H_2O_2$ with decrease of intracellular peroxide level. In addition, Sagunja suppressed the features of mitochondrial dysfunction, including change of mitochondrial membrane potential, in $H_2O_2$- treated cells. Additionally, Sagunja induced the expression of HO-1 protein in both time-and dose-dependent manner. The role of HO-1 in ROS-scavenging activity of Sagunja is proposed.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.795-807
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• 1996

This study was conducted to identify the effects of caffeine on the lipid and protein components or blood chemistry levels of the serum as well as the total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of the rat(Sprague-Dawley, female) liver. Acute test were conducted to determine those effects. The acute test was conducted by dividing rats into 7 groups according to the time lapsed after a single oral administration of 100mg/kg caffeine(that is control, 2hrs, 4hrs, 8hrs, 24hrs, 48hrs and 72hrs lapsed group). The concentrations of glucose, urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine, total protein, albumin, A/G ratio, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, free fatty acid, phospholipid as well as the activities of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) were measured in the serum of each experimental groups. The concentrations of the carbonyl group, malondialdehyde(MDA) and the patterns of the SDS-PAGE(Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis) were analyzed to determine the oxidative damages and metabolic changes on the lipid and protein components in the serum, and total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions of the rat liver. The results obtained from this study were summarized as follows; 1. The concentrations of serum glucose were significantly higher(p<0.01) between 4(143.0mg/dl) and 8hrs(138.0mg/dl) in comparison to that of the control(101.1mg/dl) after a single oral administration of caffeine(100mg/kg). While on the other, there were no significant differences in the concentrations of urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine, total protein, albumin and albumin/globulin(A/G) ratio in comparison to those of the control. 2. The concentrations of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in serum were significantly higher(p<0.01) between 4(77.4mg/dl, total cholesterol) and 8hrs(64.7mg/dl, HDL-cholesterol) in comparison to those of the control(62.8, 46.7mg/dl) after a single oral administration of caffeine(100mg/kg). On the other hand, the concentrations of triglyceride in serum were significantly lower(p<0.01) after 8hrs(38.8mg/dl) in comparison to that of the control(66.5mg/dl). 3. The activities of AST in serum was significantly higher(p<0.05) from 2hrs(149U/L) to 8hrs(178U/L) in comparison to the control(112U/L) after a single oral administration of caffeine(100mg/kg). The activities of ALT in serum were significantly higher(p<0.01) at 4(45.5U/L), 24(49.3U/L), 48(46.8U/L) and 72 hrs(42.3U/L) in comparison to that of the control(39.7U/L) after a single oral administration of caffeine(100mg/kg). On the other hand, there were no significant differences in the activities of ALP in comparison to that of the control. 4. The concentrations of free fatty acid in serum were significantly higher(p<0.01) at 8hrs(65.0mg/dl) in comparison to that of the control(37.6mg/dl) after a single oral administration of caffeine(100mg/kg). However, there were no significant differences in the concentrations of carbonyl group and malondialdehyde within serum, and liver homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions in comparison to that of the control. 5. The patterns of SDS-PAGE in serum, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of the liver showed no significant differences.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.376-383
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• 1988

The effect of dietary methionine level on lipid peroxidation of rats was studied. Rats were fed vitamin E- selenium- deficient diet or diet supplemented with various levels (0.3, 0.6, 0.9%) of methionine. In rat fed MF diet, body weight gain and feed efficiency ratio were decreased compared with those of control rats, but reversed by supplementation with 0.3 and 0.6% methionine. Lipid peroxide levels in plasma and hepatic mitochondrial fraction of MF group rats were significantly higher than those of control rats. However, supplementation with 0.6% methionine modified this increment. GSH-Px activity was decrased to varying degrees in erythrocyte and hepatic mitochondrial fraction from rats fed MF diet. Methionine supplementation did not affect induction of this enzyme activity. Examination of hepatocytes by electronmicroscopy showed that Influence of vitamin E, selenium, and methionine deficiency was mainly characterized by lipid droplets, swollen mitochondria and microvilli destruction. Supplementation with various levels of dietary methionine modified these changes to some extent. The results of this experiment indicated that MF diet causes significant change in lipid peroxide level, GSH-Px activity and morphology of rats which these changes may lessen by supplementation with 0.6% methionine.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.222-227
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• 1992

Unlike carbohydrats and fats, alcohol is essentially foreign to the body and it is known that the body get rid of it by oxidizing alcohol maily in the liver. Acetaldehyde is produced during ethanol metabolism and is known to be oxidized mainly by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). ALDH activity was found mainly in the mitochondrial fraction but a significant ALDH activity was also present in microsomal and cytosol fraction. Wistar rats (150~200 g, male) were given freely with 12% ethanol (Control) and/or 12% ethanol containing 0.1% ginseng saponins (Test) instead of water for 6 days and the liver was analyzed. ALDH activities of both control and test group were lower than that of normal group but test AkDH was less inhibited than control. ADH activies of both control and test were slightly higher than that of normal group but our previous data showed that it became gradually steady after prolonged ethanol feeding. MEOS activities of both control and test group were much higher than that of normal group. MEOS enzymes are inducible but the activity of test group was greatly higher than that of control. Ethanol containing [1-i4C] ethanol (5 $\mu$Ci) was injected to the above three groups and 30 min later, the distribution of radioactivity of hepatic lipids was investigated. Radioactivities of hepatic lipids of both control and test group were higher than that of normal group, however, that of test group was much lower than that of control. Analysis of individual lipids showed that phospholipid biosynthesis was significantly impaired and fatty acid and triglycerides biosynthesis were greatly stimulated. However, it was realized that the saponin prevented phospholipid biosynthesis depression and the increase of triglyceride biosynthesis considerably. It seemed that the saponin might stimulate ADH, ALDH and MEOS and the acetaldehyde formed would be removed faster. The excess hydrogen can be shunt more quickly into lipid biosynthesis. Electron microscopic observation showed that the hepatic cell of control group was si gnificantly damaged. Mitochondria were swollen and rough endoplasmic reticulum were dilated, however, hepatocytes of test group were not damaged.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological activities of water soluble browning reaction products(WS-BRPs) isolated from korean red ginseng. Antioxidative activities of WS-BRPs were examined with the various systems. Three different fractions prepared by os moly tic treatment of WS-BRP(fraction L, S-l and S-2) were found to have an ability to donate hydrogen to DPPH and also exhibited the inhibitory activities in lipid peroxidation, consumption of oxygen and protein oxidation of mitochondrial fraction. Especially, L had the strongest activity of these three WS­BRPs in scavenging free radicals. Lipid peroxidation showed the antioxidant effect on linoleic acid oxidation inhibition ratio of $22.5\%,\;31.7\%,\;31.9\%\;and\;33.5\%$, respectivity. And the consumption of oxygen was strongly inhibited by $49.52\%,\;62,44,\;97.54\%$. But three WS-BRPs showed weak inhibitory activity on lipid peroxidation in rat hepatic microsomes.