• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.384-388
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• 2001

The selenium (Se) contents of 20 herbs, harvested in three areas in Korea, were analyzed. Many herbs had no Se. Angelica ($138.4{\mu}g \;Se{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ FW), caraway ($167.8{\mu}g \;Se{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ FW), chamomile ($116.6{\mu}g \;Se{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ FW), marjoram (158.7 and $132.6{\mu}g\;Se{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ FW), and oregano ($62.5{\mu}g\;Se{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ FW) accumulated Se as higher concentration compared with other plants. The Se content of herbs was dependent on the species, cultivars and areas. The status of Se uptake by herbs was investigated according to Se concentrations in hydroponics. During four weeks, before harvest of several herbs in greenhouse, sodium selenate ($Na_2SeO_4$) was added to the nutrient solution at concentrations of 2, 4, 6, and $8mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. Field-mint accumulated Se too high, but external symptom of Se toxicity was not found. Essential oil content was generally proportionated to treated-Se concentration. The essential oil contents in basil and balm increased two to three times higher by sodium selenate treatment compared to non-treatment, but they did not show any linear relationship between essential oil contents and treated-Se concentration.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.859-865
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• 2006

With an approach to study the anti-tumor effects and mechanism of selenium compound, we investigated the anti-tumor activity and mechanism of $Na_5SeV_5O_{18}{\cdot}3H_2O$ (NaSeVO) in K562 cells. The results showed that $0.625{\sim}20\;mg/L$ NaSeVO could significantly inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells in vitro in a time- and concentration-dependent manner as determined by microculture tetrazolium (MTT) assay, the IC50 values were 14.41 (4.45-46.60) and 3.45 (2.29-5.22) mg/L after 48 hand 72 h treatment with NaSeVO respectively. In vivo experiments demonstrated that i.p. administration of 5, 10 mg/kg NaSeVO exhibited an significant inhibitory effect on the growth of transplantation tumor sarcoma 180 (S180) and hepatoma 22 (H22) in mice, with inhibition rate 26.8% and 58.4% on S180 and 31.3% and 47.4% on H22, respectively. Cell cycle studies indicated that the proportion of G0/G1 phase was increased at 2.5 mg/L while decreased at 10 mg/L after treatment for 24, 48 h. Whereas S phase was decreased at 2.5-5 mg/L and markedly increased at 10 mg/L after treatment for 48 h. After treatment for 24 h, 10 mg/L NaSeVO also markedly increased S and G2/M phases. Take together, the result clearly showed that NaSeVO markedly increased S and G2/M phases at 10 mg/L. The study of immunocytochemistry showed that the expression bcl-2 is significantly inhibited by 10 mg/L NaSeVO, and bax increased. Morphology observation also revealed typical apoptotic features. NaSeVO also significantly caused the accumulation of $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the reduction of pH value and mitochondrial membrane potential in K562 cells as compared with control by confocal laser scanning microscope. These results suggest that NaSeVO has anti-tumor effects and its mechanism is attributed partially to apoptosis induced by the elevation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$ and ROS concentration, and a reduction of pH value and mitochondria membrane potential (MMP).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1591-1597
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• 2018

Objective: Selenium-independent glutathione peroxidase (GPx5) is specifically expressed in the mammalian epididymis and plays an important role in protecting sperm from reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation damage. This study investigates GPx5 expression in the epididymis of Small Tail Han sheep. Methods: GPx5 expression was studied in three age groups: lamb (2 to 3 months), young (8 to 10 months), and adult (18 to 24 months). The epididymis of each age group divided into caput, corpus and cauda, respectively. Analysis the expression quantity of GPx5 in epididymis and testis by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Finally, GPx5 protein locating in the epididymis by immunohistochemical. Results: The results demonstrate that in the lamb group, the GPx5 mRNA, but not protein, can be detected. GPx5 mRNA and expressed protein were detected in both the young and adult groups. Moreover, both the mRNA and protein levels of GPx5 were significantly higher in the young group than in other two groups. When the different segments of epididymis were investigated, GPx5 mRNA was expressed in each segment of epididymis regardless of age. Additionally, the mRNA level in the caput was significantly higher than that in corpus and cauda within same age group. The GPx5 protein was in the epithelial cells' cytoplasm. However, GPx5 mRNA and protein were not detected in the testis. Conclusion: These results suggest that GPx5 is mainly expressed in the epididymis of Small Tail Han sheep, and that the expression level of GPx5 is associated with age. Additionally, GPx5 was primarily expressed in the epithelial cells of the caput. Taken together, these studies indicate that GPx5 is expressed in the epididymis in all age grades.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.148-156
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• 2017

The wide distribution of redox-sensitive elements (RSE) as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), selenium (Se), and strontium (Sr) in the top soil of Siwaqa area are related to the weathering action of alkaline surface and groundwater on the parent rocks. The bioavailability, distribution, sorption, and ecotoxicity of As, Cd, Se, and Sr, of the wild plants and top soils in the study area were investigated. A total number of 23 surface soil samples and 23 plant samples were collected and analyzed for the most toxic elements. The uptake of elements by plants was dependent on the plant species and the concentration of elements in the soil. For example, Sr was the highest concentration in soil samples and plants, while Se was the lowest concentration in soil samples and pants. For the plants, the results showed that Bellevalia sp. had the highest elements uptake, while Allium rothii had the lowest elements uptake. The results of this work provide a valuable knowledge for understanding the bioavailability of some toxic elements in the soil and plants of Central Jordan. The results are expected to be of great help for the Jordanian Uranium Mining Company during their environmental risk assessments.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.57-66
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• 2018

It has been estimated that approximately 15% of reproductive-age couples suffer from infertility. Male factors contribute to almost half of infertility cases, and in many patients the underlying cause of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia is unknown. Accumulating evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays a role as a contributing factor to male infertility, and reactive oxygen species have been shown to impair sperm function and motility and to damage sperm membrane and DNA. Therefore, this review explored the evidence provided by studies published from 2002 to 2017 on the impact of oral antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10, zinc, selenium, and pentoxifylline) on seminal fluid parameters in men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. Most of the studies were randomized controlled studies that investigated the effect of single or combined antioxidants and reported improvements in at least one semen parameter. The most noteworthy effect that was found was that the use of multiple antioxidants increased sperm motility and concentration. Nonetheless, there is a lack of agreement on the dose, the duration of treatment, and whether individual or combined oral antioxidants should be used. Therefore, the current review provides evidence supporting the use of oral antioxidants in the treatment of infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.

• CELLMED
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.26.1-26.9
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• 2014

Reactive oxygen species are known to mediate various pathological conditions associated with malaria. In this study, the antioxidant potential of Clerodendrum violaceum leaf extracts, an indigenous antimalarial remedy, was evaluated. Total phenol, flavonoid, selenium, vitamins C and E contents of Clerodendrum violaceum leaf extracts were determined. The free radical scavenging activities of the extracts against DPPH, superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide coupled with their reducing power were also evaluated in vitro. Moreover, responses of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) in a rodent malaria model to a 4-day administration of Clerodendrum violaceum leaf extracts were also evaluated. The methanolic extract was found to contain the highest amounts of antioxidant compounds/element and also demonstrated the highest free radical scavenging activity in vitro. The results showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in SOD and CAT activities with a concurrent significant (p < 0.05) increase in GPx and GR activities in both erythrocytes and liver of untreated Plasmodium berghei NK65-infected animals compared to the uninfected animals. The extracts were able to significantly increase (p < 0.05) SOD and CAT activities and significantly reduce (p < 0.05) GPx and GR activities in both the liver and erythrocytes compared to those observed in the untreated infected animals. The results suggest the augmentation of the antioxidant system as one of the possible mechanisms by which Clerodendrum violaceum extract ameliorates secondary effects of malaria infection, alongside its antiplasmodial effect in subjects.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1251-1256
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• 2005

In this study, we evaluated the cytoprotective effects of antioxidative substances in hydrogen peroxide ($H_{2}O_{2}$) treated Mel-Ab melanocytes. Tested substances include selenium, quercetin, green tea (GT) extract, and several vitamins (ascorbic acid, Trolox, and folic acid). Of these, both quercetin and GT extract were found to have strong cytoprotective effects on $H_{2}O_{2}$­induced cell death. We also examined additive effects, but no combination of two of any of the above substances was found to act synergistically against oxidative damage in Mel-Ab cells. Nevertheless, a multi-combination of GT extract, quercetin, and folic acid appeared to prevent cellular damage in a synergistic manner, which suggests that combinations of antioxidants may be of importance, and that co-treatment with antioxidants offers a possible means of treating vitiligo, which is known to be related to melanocyte oxidative stress.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.88-93
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• 2010

Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT) play crucial roles in balancing the production and decomposition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living organisms. These enzymes act cooperatively and synergistically to scavenge ROS. In order to imitate the synergism of these enzymes, we designed and synthesized a novel 32-mer peptide (32P) on the basis of the previous 15-mer peptide with GPX activity and a 17-mer peptide with SOD activity. Upon the selenation and chelation of copper, the 32-mer peptide was converted to a new Se- and Cu-containing 32-mer peptide (Se-Cu-32P) that displayed both SOD and GPX activities, and its kinetics was studied. Moreover, the novel peptide was demonstrated to be able to better protect vero cells from the injury induced by the xanthine oxidase (XOD)/xanthine/$Fe^{2+}$ damage system than its parents. Thus, this bifunctional enzyme imitated the synergism of SOD and GPX and could be a better candidate of therapeutic medicine.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2000

Transition metal ions including $Se^{2+},\;Cd^{2+},\;Hg^{2+}\;or\;Mn^{2+}$ have been thought to disturb the bone metabolism directly. However, the mechanism for the bone lesion is unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that MC3T3E1 osteoblasts, exposed to various transition metal ions; selenium, cadmium, mercury or manganese, generated massive amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The released ROS were completely quenched by free radical scavengers-N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), reduced glutathione (GSH), or superoxide dismutase (SOD). First, we have observed that selenium $(10\;{\mu}M),$ cadmium $(100\;{\mu}M),$ mercury $(100\;{\mu}M)$ or manganese (1 mM) treatment induced apoptotic phenomena like DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation and caspase-3-like cysteine protease activation in MC3T3E1 osteoblasts. Concomitant treatment of antioxidant; N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), reduced-form glutathione (GSH), or superoxide dismutase (SOD), prevented apoptosis induced by each of the transition metal ions. Catalase or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) has less potent inhibitory effect on the apoptosis, compared with NAC, GSH or SOD. In line with the results, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) stain shows that each of the transition metals is a potent source of free radicals in MC3T3E1 osteoblast. Our data show that oxidative damage is associated with the induction of apoptosis in MC3T3E1 osteoblasts following $Se^{2+},\;Cd^{2+},\;Hg^{2+}\;or\;Mn^{2+}$ treatment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.389-395
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• 1992

Nutritional status of trace minerals (Se, Cu and Zn) in goats grazed on the native pasture was investigated during 2 years in Luzon Island, Republic of the Philippines. Three regions (South, Central and North) were objected to collect the samples of blood of goats and forages on the pasture. Se content of major species forages in the pasture was $24.7{\mu}g/kg$ DM, and was clearly lower than the value ($200{\mu}g/kg$ DM) required commonly for ruminant feed. The Cu and Zn contents of all forage samples ranged from 7.6 to 24.3 and 11.4 to 50.6 mg/kg DM, respectively, and these values almost exceeded the dietary level required for sheep. The blood Se levels in about 55% of goats grazed alone were under the normal range ($20{\mu}g/l$), but it in goats fed some concentrates as a supplement were almost within a normal ranges ($20-200{\mu}g/l$), though the Cu content of forages almost exceeded the dietary level required commonly. The 4-13% of plasma samples of goats without supplement showed the Zn level below the lower limit (0.6 mg/l) of normal range. The Zn deficiency was mostly improved by the addition of a small amount of concentrates. From these results, it will be necessary to study about unstable Cu status of grazed goats in Luzon Island regarding an interaction of Cu and other elements known to relate to the malabsorption of dietary Cu.