• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.108-113
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• 1994

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Cnidi rhizoma (CR) water extract on fat accumulation In fatted rats induced by the oral high fat administration for six weeks. To accomplish this evaluation, the serum and liver tissue have been examined for enzyme activity, cortisol and insulin level. The change of liver or tissue have been observed by the light microscope. GOT GPT and LDH activities were lower than the control group. Insulin and cortisol were higher than the control group, due to the fat accumulation. The liver of the control group observed by the tight microscope appeared to the fatty liver, but CR group showed some improvement of the fatty liver Based on the above results, it was shown that it is possible to improve fat accumulation induced by high fat dietary through using the oral administration of Cnidi rhizoma water extract.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.194-200
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• 1990

The paraoxonase (E. C. 3.1.1.2) is a major enzyme to detoxicate the organophosphorus and carbamate which are the most widely used as the agricultural spraying insecticides. To investgate the distributions of plasma paraoxonase activity and the factors affecting the enzyme activity, the plasmas of 945 Korean rural population were analysed with the modified Krisch's direct sphectrphotometry method. Three indices of the enzyme activity - basal activity, stimulated activity (by NaCl), % stimulation - were obtained from the analysis. Three indicies suggested unimodal distributions, so we couldn't identify the low activity group risk group to organophosphorus & carbamate insecticides poisoning. There is no significant relation between 3 actvity indicies and sex, age, or history of insecticide use (p>0.05). The basal activity and the stimulated activity have significant relationship and high coefficient of determination with the activities of their parents ($r^2$=0.30, 0.24 ; p<0.05), but the % stimulation does not ($r^2$=0.02 ; p<0.05). These results suggest that the activity of paraoxonase is determined mainly by the genetic factor.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.1-11
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• 1983

${\beta}$-Glucuronidase from bull seminal plasma was partially purified by $(NH_4)_2SO_4$fractionation, two successive DEAE-cellulose columns, isoelectric focusing (pH 4 to 6) and Gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. Only one form of ${\beta}$-glucuronidase was obtained by isoelectric focusing at pH 5.13. Highly purified ${\beta}$-glucuronidase had specific activity of 34 units/mg protein and showed one major and some minor contaminants by disc gelk electrophoresis. The enzyme showed maximum activity at pH 5.2 and at $48^{\circ}C$. The enzyme was completely inhibited by 1,4 saccharo-${\alpha}$-lactone (5 mM). Albumin and 0.15 M NaCl increased the ${\beta}$-glucuronidase activity. Km of ${\beta}$-glucuronidase using phenolphthalein mono-${\beta}$-glucuronic acid as substrate was 2.9 mM and Vmax was $0.8{\mu}$mole/min. The enzyme appeared to be a glycoprotein by its binding to concanvalin·A. Rabbit and human sperm-acrosomal extracts and seminal plasma showed high ${\beta}$-glucuronidase activity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제8권6호
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• pp.618-624
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Isoflavones are widely believed to be beneficial to human health, in relation to their antioxidant potentials. Exercise can cause an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants. This study was conducted in order to investigate the ability of isoflavones in amelioration of oxidative stress induced by exercise. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of four groups: isoflavone-free with no exercise (CON-sd), isoflavone-free with exercise (CON-ex), isoflavone-supplemented with no exercise (ISF-sd), and isoflavone-supplemented with exercise (ISF-ex). Animals exercised on the treadmill for 30 minutes per day, five days per week. TBARS as a marker of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity, including SOD, GSH-px, and catalase were determined in liver tissue. Serum lipid profile was also examined. RESULTS: A significant effect of isoflavone alone was observed on abdominal fat pad mass. ISF-ex had significantly less abdominal fat pad than CON-ex. Both exercise and isoflavone treatment had significant effects on lowering plasma triglyceride (TG), thus, the ISF-ex group had a significantly lower TG level than the CON-sd group, by 30.9%. However, no differences were observed in plasma cholesterol, HDL-C, and cholesterol/HDL-C ratio. Exercise, isoflavone, and exercise-isoflavone interaction effects were significant on thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) (P = 0.001, 0.002, and 0.005, respectively). The CON-ex group showed a higher TBARS level than the other three groups. By contrast, in the ISF-ex group, TBARS was restored to the level of the ISF-sd or CON-sd group. Isoflavone had a significant effect on superoxide dismutase (SOD) (P = 0.022) and catalase activities (P = 0.049). Significantly higher SOD and catalase activities were observed in ISF-ex than CON-ex. SOD and catalase activities showed an inverse pattern of TBARS. Taken together, isoflavones increased the activities of SOD and catalase with concomitant decreases in TBARS, indicative of decreased oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: Isoflavone supplementation enhances antioxidant action with attenuation of exercise-induced oxidative stress, as measured by decreases in TBARS, and inhibits body fat accumulation and plasma TG increase. Antioxidative effects ascribed to isoflavones may be partially exerted via enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activities.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.358-363
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• 2005

Effects on the feeds of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with a giant embryonic rice on lipid peroxides level and antioxidative enzyme activites in plasma and liver tissues were investigated. Along with the experimental periods, all animals in diabetic groups had a lower increase rate in body weight than the normal control group. A giant embryonic rice-fed group showed a inhibition in the decrease of body weight, and a increase in feed intake compared to the normal control group. The organ weights of the diabetic control group were heavier than those of the normal control while rice-fed groups including the giant embryonic rice-fed group were found to have lower organ weights, and its blood sugar level was found to be lower than those of the normal group. Lipid peroxides of the giant embryonic rice-fed animals showed a lower lipid peroxidation values compared to that of the diabetic control group. Plasma vitamin A and E concentrations of the diabetic control group were significantly decreased compared to the normal control while those of the giant embryonic rice-fed group were found to be significantly higher than those of the diabetic control. Of the hepatic antioxidative enzymes, SOD activity of the giant embryonic rice-fed group was higher than that of the diabetic control group. Taken these together, low lipid peroxidation values and, in contrast, high antioxidative enzyme activities were thought to be a cause for decreasing hepatic oxidative damages.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.269-284
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• 1985

The metabolism of Entamoeba histolytica would be affected by various environmental factors, and alteration of the environment was known to afEect the fine structure of 5. histolytica. The present study was designed electronmicroscopically to investigate the ultrastructure and enzyme activities in the aEonic and conventional strains of 5. histolytica. The trophozoites of axenically cultivated HK-9 strain and conventional YS-27 and YS-49 strains of 5. histolytica were collected and liKed with 4% paraformaldehyde/0.1M cacodylate buffier(pH 74), After washing them by centrifugation, 1% warm agar was added in the sediment. Solidified agar with the trophozoites was cut into $lmm^3$ cubes, and incubated in the various substrates to observe enzyme activities. Then, the specimen was post-fixed with 3% glutaraldehyde/0.1M cacodylate buffer (PH 7.4) and 1% osmium tetroBide/0.1M cacodylate buffier (pH 7.4) , dehydrated in ascending ethanol series and embedded in epoxy resin. These were sectioned on an ultramicrotome and observed with a transmission electronmicroscope. The procedures for the observation of the fine structure were same as the above, except for the incubation in the substrate. The sections were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. For the observation of the surface of the amoebae, scanning-electronmicroscopy was carried out. The results obtained in the present study are summarized as follows: 1. The fuzzy coat around double-layered plasma membrane of 5. histolytica was more irregularly and densely distributed in the conventional strains (YS-27, YS-49 strains) than in the axonic strain (HK-9 strain). 2. The endosomes, button bodies and chromatin material were surrounded by a double-layered nuclear membrane having scattered nuclear fores. The paranuclear body, mono- or double-layered vacuoles, vacuolar membrane whorls, rosette-like cylindrical bodies, aggregation of cylindrical bodies and helical bodies were found in the cytoplasm of the amoebae. Helical bodies and glycogen granules were generally abundant, while a few smooth endoplasmic reticula were observed in the cytoplasm. 3. Alkaline phosphatase activity was mainly demonstrated in the plasma membrane, limiting membranes of vacuoles and smooth endoplasmic reticula. ATPase activity was observed in the nucleus, limiting membranes of vacuoles and vacuolar membrane whorls. 4. Acid phosphatase activity was commonly demonstrated in the limiting membranes an contents of vacuoles, Iysosome-like organelles, plasma membrane and the button bodies in the nucleus. The activity was more weakly demonstrated in the HK-9 strain than in the other conventional strains of 5. histolytica. No peroBidase activity was observed in the amoeba strains employed in the present study. 5. With a scanning electron-microscope, no distinct structural differences were observed between the amoeba strains. All the trophozoite forms of the amoebae showed crater-like depressions and rugged features on the outer surface.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.577-584
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• 1998

A sensitive membrane strip assay for plasma lipoprotein cholesterol that can be performed without handling reagents has been investigated. We previously developed an assay system with immobilized enzymes (cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase) on the surfaces of nitrocellulose membrane(1). In such a case, the amount of enzymes present on the membrane was limited by its surface area and, thus, the detection capability was relatively poor (> 50 mg/dL cholesterol). To overcome this problem, we devised a new system with non-immobilized enzymes by placing them within interstitial spaces of a celullose membrane pad in a dry state. Upon contact with sample medium, the enzymes were immediately dissolved and participated in the reactions with cholesterol in a liquid phase. We constructed a user-friendly system consisting of four membrane pads fro sample application, cholesterol decomposition, color development as signal, and medium absorption to invoke a continuous flow (sequential location from the bottom). A sample containing lipoproteins was added into the application pad by capillary action and transferred to the next pad for decomposition. The decomposition pad (namely, enzyme pad) contained a detergent (sodium cholate) for the destruction of lipoprotein particles, the two enzymes for cholesterol decomposition, and a chromogen (3,3'-diaminobenzidine). As a consequence of the enzyme reactions, hydrogen peroxide was produced, and then reacted in the presence of the chromogen with horseradish peroxidase immobilized on the signal generation pad. Finally, a colorimetric signal directly proportional to the cholesterol concentration was produced. The detection limit determined from this system under optimal conditions was at least 2 times lower than of the enzyme-immobilized system.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.3-9
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• 2001

Objective : Oriental medicinal plants reported to be used as anti-hypertensive drugs have been in vitro screened for inhibitory effects on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Methods : The bioassay is based on inhibition of plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme, as measured from the enzymatic cleavage of the Hip-His-Leu substrate into His-Leu. The plant material is extracted with hexane, ethylacetate, n-buthanol and water separately. Results : In total, 51 species (202 extracts) have been investigated and $400{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ of the solvent extracts from 26 extracts inhibit the enzyme activities by more than 50%. Among them, four samples of two plant species (buthanol and ethylacetate extracts of Salvia miltiorrhiza and buthanol and water extracts of Jeffersonia dubia) were found to posses a high ACE inhibition ability more than 90%. Conclusion : These results suggested that many Oriental medicinal plants have a antihypertensive effects by inhibition of ACE.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.759-769
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• 2002

Mutated forms of ras are found in many human tumors and the rate of incidence is significantly higher in colon and pancreatic cancers. The protein product from the ras oncogene is a small G-protein, $p21^{ras}{\;}(Ras)$ that is known to playa key role in the signal transduction cascade and cell differentiation and proliferation. Mutated Ras is unable to regulate itself and remains constantly activated, leading to uncontrolled cell growth. The function of Ras in signal transduction requires its location near the growth factor receptor at the cell membrane. However, Ras does not have a transmembrane domain. Ras requires farnesylation to increase its hydrophobicity and subsequent plasma membrane association for its transforming activity. This key post-translational modification is catalyzed by the enzyme Ras farnesyltransferase (FTase), which transfers a farnesyl group from farnesylpyrophosphate to the C-terminal cysteine of the Ras protein. The requirement has focused attention on FTase as a target for therapeutic intervention. Selective inhibition of FTase will prevent Ras protein from association with the plasma membrane, leading to a disruption of oncogenic Ras function.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.221-224
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• 1997

Effects of melatonin on hepatic glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione-reductase (GSH-reductase) activities were studied in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats administered i.p. (10 mg/kg body weight) with melatonin during 15 days. The activity of cytosolic GSH-reductase in the liver was not changed by melatonin. However, melatonin injection increased significantly the activity of liver cytosolic GSH-Px activity compared with those in saline-treated rats. At the same time, plasma GSH-Px was also increased significantly in melatonin-treated rats. Since GSH-Px, a major antioxidative enzyme, removes $H_2O_2$ and lipid peroxides which are formed during lipid peroxidation from cellular membrane, such elevation of heptatic GSH-Px activity may contribute to the improvement of antioxidative effects under oxidative damage in the liver.