• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.156-161
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• 2009

Rubus coreanus, commonly known as 'red raspberry' is used as a traditional oriental medicine in Korea for the management of diseases such as impotence, spermatorrhea and athsma, and for allergies, in combination with other herbal preparations, in many centuries. We undertook a comparison of the hepatoprotective effect of ethanol extracts of the unripe (UREx) and ripe (RREx) R. coreanus extract against acetaminophen (AAP) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. UREx reduced the elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TB), alkaline phosphatase (AP), lipid peroxide and nitric oxide content which had been increased by AAP administration. UREx also increased the cellular glutathione (GSH) content and induced the glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) content which had been decreased by AAP. RREx did not exhibit strong hepatoprotective effect or antioxidant activity under the same conditions. The experimental results show that the degree of the ripening of R. coreanus affects the hepatoprotective activity in the AAP-intoxicated rats. These findings of a protective mechanism are supportive evidence for the utility of unripened R. coreanus in traditional medicine for liver ailments.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1007-1017
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• 1994

In order to investigate the effect of Korean green tea, oolong tea and black tea beverage on the antioxidative detoxification in cadmium(Cd) poisoned rat liver, male Sprague-Dawley rat weighing 143$\pm$3.2g were divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental groups were fed standard diet containing 40ppm Cd and were given distilled water(CD), 5% black tea(BT), oolong tea(OT) and green tea(GT), respectively. Tea beverages were extracted from 5G dry leaves of teas in 100ml hot distilled water by the treatment at 85$^{\circ}C$ for 3 min. Liver xanthine oxidase(XOD) activity was increased by the administration of Cd except GT group. Liver superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-px), glutathione S-transferase(GST) activities were decreased by te administration of Cd but did not decreased by the administration of green tea(in GT group). Vitamin E and reduced glutathione contents were significantly decreased in Cd administered groups. Liver lipid peroxide value in Cd administered groups were increased compared to control group, but was not increased in GT group. Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) activities in CD, OT, BT groups were higher than control, but that in GT group was similar to control group. Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase(GPT) activity was not significantly different among various groups. It was concluded that green tea might alleviate peroxidative damage in Cd-administered rat liver by reinforcing antioxidative detoxification system.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.242-246
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• 2009

This study examined the anti-diabetic effect of onion (Allium cepa. Linn) in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal rats fed control diet or supplemented with onion powder (7% w/w) and diabetic rats fed control diet or supplemented with onion powder. Diabetes was induced by a single injection of STZ (60 mg/kg, ip) in citrate buffer. The animals were fed each of the experimental diet for 5 weeks. Blood glucose levels of rats supplemented with onion were lower than those of rats fed control diet in the diabetic rats. Onion also decreased the total serum lipid, triglyceride, and atherogenic index and increased HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio in the diabetic rats. Glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase activities were high in the diabetic rats compared to normal rats and reverted to near-control values by onion. These results indicate that onion decreased blood glucose, serum lipid levels and reduced renal oxidative stress in STZ-induced diabetic rats and this effect might exert the anti-diabetic effect of onion.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.199-213
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• 1997

In convulsion state by PTZ in rat, anticonvulsive effect and some of ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid(GABA)-related mechanisms of Buthus extract in brain was experimented. It was inhibited GABA-T activity, lipid peroxide generation and xanthine oxidase activity as scheduled administration in vitro and vivo. And the content of brain glutathione was increased as scheduled administration in rat. In convulsion state by PTZ of previously managed rat by Buthus extract, onset time and duration were non-specific changes but recovery time and severity was remarkably reduced. In conclusion speculated that Buthus extract inhibits convulsion by control of GABA content In brain.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2002

Recently, we reported (korean J. Biomed. Lab. Sci., 6(4): 245-251, 2000) that cyclohexane (l.56 g/kg of body wt., i.p.) administration led to lung injury in rats. However the detailed mechanism remain to be elucidated. This study was designed to clarify the mechanism of lung damage induced by cyclohexane in rats. First, lung damage was assessed by quantifying bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) protein content as well us by histopathological examination. Second, activities of serum xanthine oxidase (XO), pulmonary XO and oxygen free radical scavenging enzymes. XO tope conversion (O/D + O, %) ratio and content of reduced glutathione (GSH) were determined. In the histopathological findings, the vasodilation, local edema and hemorrhage were demonstrated in alveoli of lung. And vascular lumens filled with lipid droplets, increased macrophages in luminal margin and increased fibroblast-like interstitial cells in interstitial space were observed in electron micrographs. The introperitoneal treatment of cyclohexane dramatically increased BAL protein by 21-fold compared with control. Cyclohexane administration to rats led to a significant rise of serum and pulmonary XO activities and O/D + O ratio by 47%,30% and 24%, respectively, compared witれ control. Furthermore, activities of pulmonary oxygen free radical scavenging enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase, and GSH content were not found to be statistically different between control and cyclohexane-treated rats. These results indicate that intraperitoneal injection of cyclohexane to rats may induce the lipid embolism in pulmonary blood vessel and lead to the hypoxia with the ensuing of oxygen free radical generation, and which may be responsible for the pulmonary injury.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.196-201
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• 2006

The efficacy of alcoholic extract of Kasni (Cichorium intybus L.) to control hepatic damage induced by aflatoxin $B_1$ was explored in Swiss albino mice. Aflatoxin $B_1$ was administered orally to the mice with a daily dose of $66.6{\mu}g/kg$ body weight till three months. A signifi-cant increased in thio barbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels with concomitant reduction in enzymatic (glutathione-s-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase) and nonenzymatic (reduced glutathione) antioxidants were shown in aflatoxin treated group of mice. However, there was a significant reduction in increased TBARS levels and elevation in enzymatic. and non enzymatic antioxidant levels in group of mice which received alcoholic extract of kasni (300 mg/kg bw / day) along with aflatoxin. Histopathological analysis of liver samples also confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of kasni extract. These results suggest that kasni shows hepatoprotective effect against aflatoxin $B_1$ induced hepatic damage in mice.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.314-320
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• 2009

We examined metabolic conversion of cysteine into glutathione (GSH) and taurine in rat liver under oxidative stress. Administration of tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP) into the portal vein of male rats resulted in a rapid elevation of serum sorbitol dehydrogenase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase activities, which decreased gradually in 24 hr. Hepatic cysteine concentration was reduced in 3 hr, and recovered progressively, reaching a level greater than 200% of the normal value in 24 hr. GSH was increased both in liver and blood at 9 hr after t-BHP challenge, whereas hypotaurine or taurine was not altered. $\gamma$-Glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS) activity was increased from 9 hr after t-BHP treatment, but protein expression of the GCS-heavy subunit was not changed in liver. Activity or expression of cysteine dioxygenase was not affected by t-BHP treatment. Taken together, these data show that an acute oxidant challenge to the rats may induce upregulation of cysteine availability and GCS activity, resulting in an enhancement of hepatic GSH synthesis, but the increased cysteine level does not stimulate taurine synthesis via cysteine sulfinate pathway. It is indicated that the regulation of GSH and taurine biosynthesis from cysteine is not solely dependent on the cysteine concentration in rat liver under oxidative stress.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.772-776
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• 2007

In order to study the role of residue in the active site of glutathione S-transferase (GST), Arg13 residue in human GST P1-1 was replaced with alanine, lysine and leucine by site-directed mutagenesis to obtain mutants R13A, R13K and R13L. These three mutant enzymes were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by affinity chromatography on immobilized GSH. Mutation of Arg13 into Ala caused a substantial reduction of the specific activity by 10-fold. Km GSH, Km DCNB and Km EPNP values of R13A were approximately 2-3 fold larger than those of the wild type. Mutation of Arg13 into Ala also significantly affected I50 values of S-methyl-GSH that compete with GSH and ethacrynic acid, an electrophilic substrate-like compound. These results appeared that the substitution of Arg13 with Ala resulted in significant structural change of the active site. Mutation of Arg13 into Leu reduced the catalytic activity by approximately 2-fold, whereas substitution by Lys scarcely affected the activity, indicating the significance of a positively charged residue at position 13. Therefore, arginine 13 participates in catalytic activity as mainly involved in the construction of the proper electrostatic field and conformation of the active site in human GST P1-1.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2003

Seok-jeong (SJ) is a solution of various metal ions and numerous other organic substances produced through extraction and fermentation of herbs and soil using geo-microbes, and it has been shown to improve symptoms of senile dementia. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of SJ against neurotoxicity of cadmium in HT22 hippocampal neuron cell line. SJ significantly protected from the cadmium-induced decreased cell viability measured by MTT assay (p＜0.01). The protective effects of SJ against cadmium toxicity were confirmed through observing morphological changes using inverted microscope. Additionally, SJ significantly repressed the formation of lipid peroxidation induced by high concentration of cadmium, and likewise, significantly repressed the reduction of glutathione by cadmium in HT22 cells. Vitamin C at the concentration found in SJ did not show any protective effect against cadmium toxicity in HT22 cells, indicating that vitamin C may not have a major role in the protective mechanism of SJ. Taken together, these results suggest that SJ may be a valuable agent for the protection of cadmium toxicity on the neuronal cells, and that the mechanism of the action of SJ may be due to reduced lipid peroxidation and increased glutathione level.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1341-1344
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• 2008

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of flowers ethanol extract of Elsholtzia splendens (ESE) on the antioxidant defence system in mice with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced oxidative stress. The ESE was pre-administered orally to 2 groups of mice at 10 and 50mg/kg body weight (BW) for 5 weeks. Subsequently, mice with pretreatment of ESE received DMBA intragastrically at a dose of 34 mg/kg BW twice a week for 2 weeks. In DMBA alone group, biomarkers of oxidative stress (TBARS value, carbonyl content, and serum 8-OH-dG) were significantly increased. Also, the antioxidant enzymes were down-regulated. ESE significantly restored the TBARS value and carbonyl content at both doses, while a decrease in the elevated serum 8-OH-dG content was observed only at the higher dose. The DMBA-induced decreases in catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were restored to nearly control levels by ESE. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities, as well as the reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidized GSH (GSSG) ratio, were significantly affected by ESE at the higher dose. These results suggest that ESE possesses antioxidant activity, which plays a protective role against DMBA-induced oxidative stress.