• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.37-44
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• 2013

Korean red ginseng is known to regulate the immune system and help the body struggle infection and disease. Cadmium is widely distributed in the environment due to its use in industry. Exposure to cadmium is problematic causing organ dysfunction. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of Korean red ginseng extract (RGE) against cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. In experiments, animals were orally administrated with RGE (25, 50 mg/kg) for 7 d and then intravenously injected with cadmium ($CdCl_2$, 4 mg/kg) to induce acute hepatotoxicity. Cadmium caused the elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase in serum. In contrast, pretreatment with RGE significantly reduced those serum indexes related with liver damage. In histopathological analysis, RGE decreased the centrilobular necrosis around central veins and the peripheral hemorrhage around portal triads. Moreover, RGE restored the deficit in hepatic glutathione level resulting from cadmium treatment. RGE also inhibited the increase in the expression of Bad, a representative apoptosis marker protein, induced by cadmium treatment. Collectively, these results demonstrate that RGE can reduce the cadmium-induced hepatic toxicity, partly via anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic process.

• 한국약용작물학회지
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.345-352
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• 2012

This experiment was conducted to verify whether one time feeding of Lythrum salicaria root crude extract (LSR extract) exhibits liver protecting activities in acutely ethanol administrated rat. Experiment groups were composed of normal, negative control (alcohol control), 2 positive control (Hovenia dulcis extract 900 mg/kg and milk thisle 100 mg/kg), betulinic acid (20 mg/kg), a compound separated from LSR, and 3 LSR (100, 300, 900 mg/kg) groups. LSR treated groups showed decrease (p < 0.05) in serum triglyceride by dose-dependent manner. The content of serum albumin and the activity of ADH and ALDH in LSR extract fed rats were increased (p < 0.05) dependently on the administration amounts. Our study indicated that one time supplement of LSR downregulates oxidative stress and shows liver protective activity in the acute alcohol-fed rats.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.184-194
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• 2003

Objective : This study was designed fo find out whether Astragali Radix Herbal-Acupuncture Solution(ARHA) can scavenge NO, DPPH and IL-4 or not. Astragali Radix has been clinically used to reforce the depression of immune reponse etc. in Oriental Medicine. Methods : Free radical metabolism seems to occupy a remarkably common position in the mechanisms of ageing and ageing related disease. Oxidative damage to DNA, lipids, proteins and other molecules may contribute to the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease and possibly neurodegenerative disease. The effects of ARHA on NO, DPPH and IL-4 were measured. Results : The followings are the summary of the result; (1) There is a significant scavenging effect of ARHA on NO in 1, $10mg/m{\ell}$ group in after 24hrs. (2) There is no significant scavenging effect of ARHA on DPPH. (3) There is a significant scavenging effect of ARHA on IL-4 in 1, $10,100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ group. Conclusions : These results suggest that ARHA has significant scavenging effect on NO, IL-4 and not on DPPH. This study shows that ARHA can be used for ageing related disease and further studies are required to investigate the antioxidative effects of it.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.108-114
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• 2014

Male factors account for 20%-50% of cases of infertility and in 25% of cases, the etiology of male infertility is unknown. Effective treatments are well-established for hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, male accessory gland infection, retrograde ejaculation, and positive antisperm antibody. However, the appropriate treatment for idiopathic male infertility is unclear. Empirical medical treatment (EMT) has been used in men with idiopathic infertility and can be divided into two categories based on the mode of action: hormonal treatment and antioxidant supplementation. Hormonal medications consist of gonadotropins, androgens, estrogen receptor blockers, and aromatase inhibitors. Antioxidants such as vitamins, zinc, and carnitines have also been widely used to reduce oxidative stress-induced spermatozoa damage. Although scientifically acceptable evidence of EMT is limited because of the lack of large, randomized, controlled studies, recent systematic reviews with meta-analyses have shown that the administration of gonadotropins, anti-estrogens, and oral antioxidants results in a significant increase in the live birth rate compared with control treatments. Therefore, all physicians who treat infertility should bear in mind that EMT can improve semen parameters and subsequent fertility potential through natural intercourse.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제28권12호
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• pp.2329-2332
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• 2007

Salsolinol, endogenous neurotoxin, is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). In the present study, we have investigated the oxidative damage of DNA induced by the reaction of salsolinol with Cu,Zn-SOD. When plasmid DNA incubated with salsolinol and Cu,Zn-SOD, DNA cleavage was proportional to the concentrations of salsolinol and Cu,Zn-SOD. The salsolinol/Cu,Zn-SOD system-mediated DNA cleavage was significantly inhibited by radical scavengers such as mannitol, ethanol and thiourea. These results indicated that free radicals might participate in DNA cleavage by the salsolinol/Cu,Zn-SOD system. Spectrophotometric study using a thiobarbituric acid showed that hydroxyl radical formation was proportional to the concentration of salsolinol and was inhibited by radical scavengers. These results indicated that hydroxyl radical generated in the reaction of salsolinol with Cu,Zn-SOD was implicated in the DNA cleavage. Catalase and copper chelators inhibited DNA cleavage and the production of hydroxyl radicals. These results suggest that DNA cleavage is mediated in the reaction of salsolinol with Cu,Zn-SOD via the generation of hydroxyl radical by a combination of the oxidation reaction of salsolinol and Fenton-like reaction of free copper ions released from oxidatively damaged SOD.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.85-90
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• 2011

Active oxygen species or free radicals are considered to cause extensive oxidative damage to biological macromolecules, which brings about a variety of diseases as well as aging. Electrolyzed reduced water(ERW) has been regarded as a ideal antioxidative agent in recent years. ERW is produced by passing a diluted salt solution through an electrolytic cell, within which the anode and cathode are separated by membrane. It can be produced reactive materials in ERW near the cathode during the electrolysis of water. ERW have the following advantages over other traditional cleaning agents: effective antioxidative agent, easy preparation, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly. The main advantage of ERW is its safety and antioxidative effect. ERW with strong reducing potential can be used to remove dirt and grease from items such as cutting boards and other kitchen utensils. The primary aim of this study is the activation mechanism of oxidation reduction potentials, ion conductivity, pH, and electrochemical properties with reactive materials in ERW.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.94-99
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• 2007

The present study is aimed at finding the effect of B-20 drops, a homoeopathic formulation, in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. B-20 drops comprises of the constituents derived from plants and other natural sources, and are generally prescribed by the homoeopathic physician, in cases of hyperglycemia and diabetes. The elevated levels of fasting blood glucose and pancreatic lipid peroxides observed in rats treated with STZ were significantly reduced by the treatment of B-20 drops. The reduced liver glycogen contents were also brought back to near normal level by B-20 drops treatment in STZ diabetic rats. STZ induced histopathological changes in pancreas and liver was also partially reversed by B-20 drops. The findings indicate that B-20 drops help in improving the glycogen stores in the liver and prevents STZ induced damage through free radicals by decreasing the pancreatic lipid peroxides levels.

• BMB Reports
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.577-583
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• 2005

Subtilisin QK, which is newly identified as a fibrinolytic enzyme from Bacillus subtilis QK02, has the ability of preventing nitrotyrosine formation in bovine serum albumin induced by nitrite, hydrogen peroxide and hemoglobin in vitro verified by ELISA, Western-blot and spectrophotometer assay. Subtilisin QK also attenuates the fluorescence emission spectra of bovine serum albumin in the course of oxidation caused by nitrite, hydrogen peroxide and hemoglobin. Furthermore, subtilisin QK could suppress the transformation of oxy-hemoglobin to met-hemoglobin caused by sodium nitrite, but not the heat-treated subtilisn QK. Compared with some other fibrinolytic enzymes and inactivated subtilisin QK treated by phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride, the ability of inhibiting met-hemoglobin formation of subtilisin QK reveals that the anti-oxidative ability of subtilisin QK is not concerned with its fibrinolytic function. Additionally, nitrotyrosine formation in proteins from brain, heart, liver, kidney, and muscle of mice that is intramuscular injected the mixture of nitrite, hydrogen peroxide and hemoglobin is attenuated by subtilisin QK. Subtilisin QK can also protect Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (ECV-304) from the damage caused by nitrite and hydrogen peroxide.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제40권9호
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• pp.607-612
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• 2017

When mammalian cells and animals face a variety of internal or external stresses, they need to make homeostatic changes so as to cope with various stresses. To this end, mammalian cells are equipped with two critical stress responses, autophagy and cellular senescence. Autophagy and cellular senescence share a number of stimuli including telomere shortening, DNA damage, oncogenic stress and oxidative stress, suggesting their intimate relationship. Autophagy is originally thought to suppress cellular senescence by removing damaged macromolecules or organelles, yet recent studies also indicated that autophagy promotes cellular senescence by facilitating the synthesis of senescence-associated secretory proteins. These seemingly opposite roles of autophagy may reflect a complex picture of autophagic regulation on cellular senescence, including different types of autophagy or a unique spatiotemporal activation of autophagy. Thus, a better understanding of autophagy process will lead us to not only elucidate the conundrum how autophagy plays dual roles in the regulation of cellular senescence but also helps the development of new therapeutic strategies for many human diseases associated with cellular senescence. We address the pro-senescence and anti-senescence roles of autophagy while focusing on the potential mechanistic aspects of this complex relationship between autophagy and cellular senescence.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제8권3_4호
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• pp.123-126
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• 2001

We have attempted to determine the Germanium ion (G $e^{4+}$) effect on the human body by observing the formation of artificial lipid membrane and photolysis in the mineral water containing G $e^{4+}$ ion. The artificial lipid membrane is prepared by using the phospholipid in the Germanium water and the formation efficiency of the liposomes is compared with those obtained in the plain mineral water without G $e^{4+}$ ion. This work shows that the liposomes are formed in the Germanium water better than in the non-Germanium water. The liposomes can be photolyzed by superoxide anion ( $O_{2-}$$^{.}$) produced in the presence of some peptide such as NAT (N-acethyl-L-tryptophan). However, this is inhibited by superoxide dismutase (SOD), and it was found that the activity of SOD on the inhibition of the liposomes oxidative damage is higher in the Germanium water than in the non-Germanium water. It is concluded that the G $e^{4+}$ ion in mineral water helps the formation of new cell as well as elevation of SOD activity for the lipid oxidation.n.