• 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.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.187-202
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The exposure to sucrose in rats has mimic abnormalities attributed to metabolic syndrome (MetS). The effects of honey bee and "free" glucose and fructose, have not been explored in this context. The aim was to expose Wistar rodents to sucrose solution (SS), honey solution (HS) and fructose/glucose solution (GFS) at 30% to assess their effects. SUBJECTS/METHODS: HS (n = 10), SS (n = 10) and GFS (n = 10) groups were formed. Solutions were ad libitum along 14-weeks. RESULTS: Between solutions consumptions, honey was significantly 42% higher (P = 0.000), while similar consumption was observed among GFS and SS. The feeding pattern of HS consumption was irregular along experiment; while the food intake pattern showed the similar trend among groups along time. Non statistical differences were obtained in any biochemical and anthropometric measure, however, a higher concentration of leptin (721 ± 507 pg/mL), lower concentration of total cholesterol (TC; 48.87 ± 2.41 mg/100 mL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL; 16.47 ± 6.55 mg/100 mL) and triglycerides (82.37 ± 32.77 mg/100 mL) was obtained in SS group. For anthropometric values, HS showed less total adipose tissue (AT; average 26 vs. 31-33 g) and adiposity index (average 6.11 vs. 7.6). Due to sugar-sweetened beverages consumption increases the risk for the development of chronic diseases; correlations between fluid intake and anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed. A moderate correlation was obtained in groups with the weight of total AT and solution intake; for the weight gain in GFS group and for triglycerides in HS and GFS. The highest hepatic tissue damage was observed in SS group with multiple intracytoplasmic vacuoles, atypia changes, moderate pleomorphism and hepatocellular necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the significantly higher consumption of HS, biochemical, anthropometrical and histological effects were not remarkably different in comparision to other sweeteners.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.337-340
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• 1996

The role of endogenous somatostatin on lactation in rats was examined by passive immuno-neutralization of Wistar rats. In one study, the rats were given either immunoglobulin raised in sheep against somatostatin, or non-specific sheep immunoglobulins by daily s.c. injection from parturition through the first two weeks of lactation. The growth of the pups was recorded by weighting every second day, and the milk yield calculated from the pup weight and weight gain. Immunoneutralization of maternal somatostatin during pregnancy had a slight effect (p < 0.05) on the mean birth weight of the pups but no subsequent effect on postnatal growth rate of the pups or milk yield ($25.32{\pm}0.88g/day$) compared with young control rats given normal sheep serum ($25.55{\pm}1.04g/day$). Similarly, passive immunization against somatostatin during lactation ($21.96{\pm}1.57g/day$) also did not affect milk yields compared with controls ($24.85{\pm}1.03g/day$). These data do not support a significant role for endogenous somatostatin in regulating milk production in lactating rats.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.144-149
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of high dietary methionine (Met) consumption on plasma and hepatic oxidative stress and dyslipidemia in chronic ethanol fed rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male Wistar rats were fed control or ethanol-containing liquid diets supplemented without (E group) or with DL-Met at 0.6% (EM1 group) or 0.8% (EM2 group) for five weeks. Plasma aminothiols, lipids, malondialdehyde (MDA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase were measured. Hepatic folate, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) were measured. RESULTS: DL-Met supplementation was found to increase plasma levels of homocysteine (Hcy), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and MDA compared to rats fed ethanol alone and decrease plasma ALT. However, DL-Met supplementation did not significantly change plasma levels of HDL-cholesterol, cysteine, cysteinylglycine, and glutathione. In addition, DL-Met supplementation increased hepatic levels of folate, SAM, SAH, and SAM:SAH ratio. Our data showed that DL-Met supplementation can increase plasma oxidative stress and atherogenic effects by elevating plasma Hcy, TG, and TC in ethanol-fed rats. CONCLUSION: The present results demonstrate that Met supplementation increases plasma oxidative stress and atherogenic effects by inducing dyslipidemia and hyperhomocysteinemia in ethanol-fed rats.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.418-425
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• 2007

The study was to evaluate the antihyperglycemic activity of Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC in different extracts. Albino Wistar rats with alloxan hydrate induced diabetes were divided into 7 groups of 6 each. Both aqueous and methanolic extract of Biophytum sensitivum were prepared and given individually at different doses to different batches of rats (both normal and diabetic rats) after an overnight fast. Methanolic extract at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight showed maximum blood glucose lowering effect in diabetic rats. The same dosages did not produce any hypoglycemic activity in normal rats. The antihyperglycemic activity of Biophytum sensitivum was compared with a standard drug Glibenclamide, an oral hypoglycemic agent. The above results suggest that maximum hypoglycemic effect was found only with a dose of up to 200 mg/kg b.w. of methanolic extract which is therefore the optimum dose for hypoglycemia and was used in all the experiments of the present study.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.759-765
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• 2006

In this study, we investigate Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expressions in adriamycin (ADR)-induced cadiomyopathy in rats. Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two main groups: control and ADR groups. Myocardial histopathological observation was performed; Expressions of 3 isoforms of NOS genes were examined by RT-PCR analysis; Expressions of 3 isoforms of NOS protein was assessed by Western blot analysis. Myocardium exhibited intensive morphological changes after 8 weeks of ADR treatment. The expression levels of inducible NOS (iNOS) gene and protein were significantly increased in ADR-treated rats after 8 weeks of treatment and then slightly increased at weeks 9 and 10. No significantly difference of neuronal NOS (nNOS) or endothelial NOS (eNOS) gene and protein were observed in the myocardium obtained from the control rats and ADR-injected rats at any time point. iNOS gene expression is selectively induced by ADR in heart. The upregulation of iNOS gene and protein may be somehow correlated with morphological changes seen in heart of rat treated with ADR.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.183-189
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• 1991

This study aimed to find out the effect of freeze-drying leek against cholesterol feeding rats on the cholesterol and lipid in serum, hemolysis in erythrocyte and blood pressure in rats tall. In this experiment, male rats of Wistar strain were used. The rats were divided into 3 groups in 8 weeks : basal diet, 1% cholesterol and 1% cholesterol and 1% leek. The followings are the results of this experiment. 1. In vitro, leek-ext, reduced the hemolysis. 2. Leek reduced VLDL, LDL/HDL-cholesterol in serum. 3. Leek reduced the blood pressure in rat's tail. 4. Leek reduced the fatty change in liver caused by cholesterol treatment. This experiment showed that leek-addition group had portective effect against cholesterol fed and decresed VLDL, LDL/HDL-cholesterol in serum, Leek alleviated hemolysis in erythrocyte, blood pressure in rat's tail and fatty change in liver. Therefore, this experiment concluded that leek has defensive power against cholesterol.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.298-302
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• 1994

Wistar albino rats were injected subcutaneously with mercuric chloride (5 mg/kg) to define the early biochemical determinants that participate in the pathogenesis of mercuric chloride-induced hepatotoxicity, especially focusing on oxygen free radicals, we studied malondialdehyde(MDA) level and the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase in the liver of rats at 24, 48 and 72 hr after the injection of mercuric chloride. MDA levels at 24, 48 and 72 hr after the injection of mercuric chloride increased as compared with that of control group. The activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase at 24, 48 and 72hr after the injection of mercuric chloride decreased as compared with that of control group. These results suggest that the depression of the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase resulting from excessive oxygen free radicals is an important determinant in pathogenesis of mercuric chloride-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.31-34
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• 1973

The livers of the wistar strain male rats which had been mentioned in our study were analyzed by the micro-bioassay method for comparison of the levels of free branch-amino acids(valine, leucine, isoleucine) and phenylalanine, methionine, tyrosine. Rats which were fed on diet of higher protein score contained correspondingly higher level of free branch-amino acid in their liver while the levels of phenylalanine, methionine, tyrosine showed unrecognizable relationship with the protein score of the diet used.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.904-910
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• 1997

Evaluation of soy milk as an iron-rich milk substitute was conducted by feeding commercial soy milk , cow milk and mixed formula(soy and cow milk) to Wistar rats for 8 weeks. Body weight gains were significantly lower in the soy milk and mixed formula groups. Hematocrit, serum iron concentration and TIBC (total iron binding capacity) were measured to determine the iron status of the rats. In these respects, the iron status of the soy milk group was normal. Both serum iron concentration and TIBC as well as hematocrit were abnormal in the cow milk group , which is indictive of severe iron deficiency . Although hematocrit was normal in the mixed formula group, serum iron concentration was lightly low. The work capacities of each group were correlated with serum iron concentration and tIBC rather than hematocrit. The running distance of the soy milk group was about 10 -fold longer than that of the cow milk group. Soy milk may be considered an iron- rich substitute for cow milk due to its higher iron content and bioavailability.