• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.267-272
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• 2006

The effect of methanol extract from Agaricus blazei Murill on the hepatotoxicity was investigated $CCl_4$ is one of the oldest and most widely used toxins for the induction of hepatic damages and fibrosis in experimental animals. In this study, male Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of the control(C), $CCl_4(T),\;CCl_4$ and high fat group(TL) with matching sub-groups of Agaricus blazei Murill extract-fed groups of CA, TA and TLA. Methanol extracts of Agaricus blazei Murill were fed 50 mg/kg B.W daily via drinking water. A 1.2 mL of $CCl_4/kg$ body weight was administered by oral intubation twice a week for total of six times. The levels of total-cholesterol, TG, LDL and LDL-phospholipids were elevated by $CCl_4$ treatment as compared to the control(C). However, Agaricus blazei Murill methanol extract feeding in the group of TA and TLA significantly(p<0.05) decreased TG by 53.1 % and 17.9% compared to the internal control of T and TL, respectively. Triglyceride of TL was increased by 3.33 times(p<0.05) compared to the control(C) with $CCl_4$ and high fat administration from 3.78 mg/g to 12.60 mg/g liver. The extract(CA) also reduced kidney weight compared to the control(C). With the administration of high fat and $CCl_4$(TLA), the extract reduced the organ weight of both liver and kidney and further, significantly reduced TG, total cholesterol and GTP activity. Hepatoprotective effects of Agaricus blazei Murill on GOT, GPT, AP and LDH activities were enhanced by the extract feeding. Electronmicrograph showed that $CCl_4$ deteriorated the structure of cytoplasmic matrix with its uneven distribution. However, the extract reconstituted the damaged cytoplasm and stimulated mitochondriogenesis. The above results suggest that Agaricus blazei Murill may have a possible protective effect against chemically induced liver damage and further help to reduce the symptoms of fatty liver.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.411-419
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• 2012

The present study was to investigate the effects of Lycii Cortex Radicis (LCR), the root bark of lycium (Lycium chenese Miller) and ginger (Gin) on body lipid status and serum levels of cytokines. Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats weighing $193.6{\pm}16.8g$ were divided into five groups, including one low fat (LF) and four high fat groups, i.e. HF-Control, HF-LCR, HF-Gin and HF-LCR + Gin groups. Diets for HF-LCR, HF-Gin and HF-LCR + Gin groups contained purified extracts having 0.2 g LCR tyramine, ginerol and 0.1 g tyramine plus 0.02 g gingerol per kg, respectively. Compared with those of the HF-Control total serum cholesterol level decreased, and HDL-cholesterol level increased in the HF-LCR group and serum triglyceride levels decreased in the three experimental groups fed the purified extracts. Liver cholesterol level was lower in the HF-LCR group than the HF-Control group, but triglyceride levels, which were increased by high fat diets were not changed by significantly by LCR or ginger extracts. Fecal lipid excretion was higher in the HF-LCR and HF-Gin groups, but cholesterol excretion was lower in the HF-Gin group than in the HF-Control group. The activities of liver cytosolic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme were lower in the HF-LCR + Gin group than in the HF-Control group. Serum adiponectin levels did not differ among the five groups, while leptin level was lower in the HF-Gin group and C-reactive protein levels were lower in the HF-Gin and the HF-LCR + Gin groups than in the HF-Control group. It is concluded that LCR can be utilized as an ingredient for lipid-lowering functional foods in the form of purified extract and addition of small amount of ginger extract would be useful for reducing one of the inflammatory cytokines to help prevent atherosclerosis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.45-55
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• 2019

Objective : Diabetic gastroparesis is a complication that is defined as delayed gastric emptying and upper gastrointestinal symptoms and often occurs in long-standing diabetic patients. Bojungikgi-tang (BJT) is a traditional oriental herbal formula that has long been used for the treatment of digestive disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of BJT on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic gastroparesis rat model. Methods : Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats (250-270g) were divided into 13 groups including normal group, STZ-induced diabetic control group, BJT diet (7 various concentrations), and insulin-, glibenclamide-, metformin-treated group were used for the experiments for the comparison. Diabetic gastroparesis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ. The water intake, food intake, body weights and fasting blood glucose levels were measured. After 4 weeks the animals were sacrificed and gastrin, leptin, insulin, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), lactate, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin, creatinine, albumin and lipid levels were evaluated. Results : Intraperitoneal injection of BJT for 4 weeks resulted in increased levels of gastrin in blood and decreased leptin and lactate concentration in STZ-induced diabetic gastroparesis rat model. BJT did not affect insulin, fasting glucose, HbA1c, and lipid levels in STZ-induced diabetic gastroparesis rat model. Conclusion : These results indicated that BJT would have protect effect on diabetic gastroparesis through the improvement effect of gastric motility and fatigue syndrome in STZ-induced diabetic rats. This study shows that BJT might be effective for treatment of diabetes and its complications such as gastroparesis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.335-345
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• 2022

Pyroptosis is an inflammatory form of programmed cell death that is linked with invading intracellular pathogens. Cardiac pyroptosis has a significant role in coronary microembolization (CME), thus causing myocardial injury. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) has powerful cardioprotective effects. Hence, this study aimed to identify the effect of Tan IIA on CME and its underlying mechanism. Forty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly grouped into sham, CME, CME + low-dose Tan IIA, and CME + high-dose Tan IIA groups. Except for the sham group, polyethylene microspheres (42 ㎛) were injected to establish the CME model. The Tan-L and Tan-H groups received intraperitoneal Tan IIA for 7 days before CME. After CME, cardiac function, myocardial histopathology, and serum myocardial injury markers were assessed. The expression of pyroptosis-associated molecules and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade was evaluated by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, ELISA, and IHC. Relative to the sham group, CME group's cardiac functions were significantly reduced, with a high level of serum myocardial injury markers, and microinfarct area. Also, the levels of caspase-1 p20, GSDMD-N, IL-18, IL-1β, TLR4, MyD88, p-NF-κB p65, NLRP3, and ASC expression were increased. Relative to the CME group, the Tan-H and Tan-L groups had considerably improved cardiac functions, with a considerably low level of serum myocardial injury markers and microinfarct area. Tan IIA can reduce the levels of pyroptosis-associated mRNA and protein, which may be caused by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade. In conclusion, Tanshinone IIA can suppress cardiomyocyte pyroptosis probably through modulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade, lowering cardiac dysfunction, and myocardial damage.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 1992

To study the effect of alginic acid on modulation of the aging process, Sprague-Dawley(SD) male rats were fed the diets containing 0, 3, 6 and $9\%$ alginic acid isolated from brown algae(Undaria pinnatifida) for 16 weeks. The effects of alginic acid on body weight, malondialdehyde(MDA) content, peroxidizability index, cholesterol and phospholipid levels, cholesterol/phospholipid(Ch/Ph) molar ratio, and fatty acid compositions in liver membranes were investigated. Increasing alginic acid level in diets did not alter food intakes but effectively decreased body weights gain(p<0.01-0.005). Malondialdehyde(MDA) contents of diets containing 6 and $9\%$ alginic acid were effectively decreased in ranges of $54.1-43.0\%$ in mitochondria, and $65.5-87.7\%$ in microsome compared with $100\%$ of control group. Cholesterol levels of all diets containing alginic acid were significantly decreased in ranges of $87.0-72.3\%$ in mitochondria, and $87.4-68.1\%$ in microsome compared with $100\%$ of control group. Phopholipid levels in microsome were significantly decreased by diets containing 3 and $ 6\%$ alginic acid but Ch/Ph molar ratios in both membranes were decreased by diets containing 3 and $6\%$ alginic acid. Increasing alginic acid level in diets significantly decreased total fatty acid but effectively increased linoleic acid in microsome except for diet containing $9\%$ alginic acid. These data on liver membranes suggest that alginic acid added to diets can modulate the physiological changes if the aging process.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.594-602
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• 2009

Purpose : Transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ reportedly increases neuronal survival by inhibiting the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in astrocytes and protecting neurons after excitotoxic injury. However, the neuroprotective mechanism of $TGF-{\beta}1$ on hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury in neonatal rats is not clear. The aim of this study was to determine whether $TGF-{\beta}1$ has neuroprotective effects via a NO-mediated mechanism and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor modulation on perinatal HI brain injury. Methods : Cortical cells were cultured using 19-day-pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated with $TGF-{\beta}1$ (1, 5, or 10 ng/mL) and incubated in a 1% O2 incubator for hypoxia. Seven-day-old SD rat pups were subjected to left carotid occlusion followed by 2 h of hypoxic exposure (7.5% $O_2$). $TGF-{\beta}1$ (0.5 ng/kg) was administered intracerebrally to the rats 30 min before HI brain injury. The expressions of NOS and NMDA receptors were measured. Results : In the in vitro model, the expressions of endothelial NOS (eNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) increased in the hypoxic group and decreased in the 1 ng/mL $TGF-{\beta}1-treated$ group. In the in vivo model, the expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) decreased in the hypoxia group and increased in the $TGF-{\beta}1$-treated group. The expressions of eNOS and nNOS were reversed compared with the expression of iNOS. The expressions of all NMDA receptor subunits decreased in hypoxia group and increased in the $TGF-{\beta}1$-treated group except NR2C. Conclusion : The administration of $TGF-{\beta}1$ could significantly protect against perinatal HI brain injury via some parts of the NO-mediated or excitotoxic mechanism.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.423-431
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• 2017

The present study was intended to orally administer aronia to rats, irradiate radiation once to the whole bodies of the rats, and conduct blood tests to observe, compare, and analyze changes in blood cells, such as leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets, in order to examine the radioprotective effects of aronia. As experimental animals, 15 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats aged six weeks weighing 200~250 g were taken and divided into the normal group (A) of five rats, the 5 Gy control group (B) of five rats, and the 5 Gy experimental group (C) of five rats. The normal group (A) was not~irradiated at all, the control group (B) was administered with general diets and irradiated, and the experimental group(C) was orally administered with 50 mg/kg/day of aronia two times per day to achieve a distilled water oral dose of 100 mg/kg/day and irradiated thereafter (5 Gy at 500 cGy/min) for 14 days. After the experiment, differences in leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets among the normal group (A), the control group (B), and the experimental group (C) were examined by comparing the counts of the blood cells and the results showed no statistically significant differences. However, on a detailed review, the normal group (A) showed statistically higher mean values for all of lymphocytes, hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin as compared to the control group (B) and the experimental group (C). Statistically significant differences in the counts of lymphocytes were shown between the normal group (A) and the control group (B), and between the normal group (A) and the experimental group (C); furthermore, statistically significant differences in mean corpuscular hemoglobin were shown between the normal group (A) and the experimental group (C). Given the results of the present study, in irradiated rats, aronia was generally considered as having no radioprotective effect on leukocyte, erythrocyte, and platelet while having statistically significant radioprotective effects on lymphocytes, hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. Based on the present experiment, diverse studies should be conducted hereafter.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: Azadirachta indica has been widely used as environment-friendly organic materials because of its insecticidal properties. This study was carried out to investigate the acute toxicity and the subacute toxicity of Azadirachta indica extract(AIE) in rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: For the oral acute toxicity test, Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged with 2.0 g/Kg bw of AIE. The $LD_{50}$ value was greater than 2.0 g/Kg bw for both male and female rats. For the subacute toxicity study, rats were treated with AIE at doses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/Kg bw once a day for 4 weeks(n=10 animals per each group). There were no significant changes in body weight, food intake and water consumption observed during the experimental duration. In addition, no difference of relative kidney weight was observed among all treated groups. Serum creatinine level in the AIE 2.0 g/Kg group increased significantly compared with that of control group in male rats, but serum blood urea nitrogen was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05). Significant increase of serum cholesterol levels were observed in all AIE groups, compared with the control group, in the female rats (p<0.05). However, histopathological examination of the kidney did not reveal any significant lesions in all groups. CONCLUSION: On the basis of results, it could be concluded that oral administration AIE didn't cause any toxic response in kidney, except the increased serum cholesterol.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.696-702
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the antihyperglycemic effect of green tea extracts (GTE) in diabetic rats. Experimental animals used were alloxan-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats; as a model of type 1 diabetes mellitus and Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats, and as a model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Animals were randomly assigned either to continue the ad libitum diet or begin a green tea extracts (GTE) contained diet. GTE extracted from green tea was supplemented in the diet (2%). Body weight, food intake, and blood glucose concentration were recorded for 4 weeks. Animals were killed and glucose, triglyceride, and asparate aminotransferase (AST) were analysed in blood. Food intake was not affected by GTE in both alloxan.induced diabetic and OLETF rats but body weight was slightly decreased by GTE in OLETF rats. The blood glucose concentration was markedly decreased by GTE supplementation in both alloxan-induced diabetic and OLETF rats; however, triglyceride and AST levels in serum of GTE treated animals were not changed. This study shows that GTE beneficially modulate blood glucose concentration in diabetic animals. Dietary supplementation with GTE could potentially contribute to nutritional strategies for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2011

To investigate the toxicological effects of ${\beta}$-glucan, we performed basic studying on ${\beta}$-glucan in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Standard endpoints in this study included mortality, clinical observations, changes of body weights, analysis on food consumption, ophthalmoscopic examination, hematologic examination, serum biochemistry, analysis of organ weights, gross anatomic pathology and histopathology. No clinical signs and mortality were observed in animals treated with beta-glucan throughout the experimental period. The average body weight of each treatment groups showed similar levels at end of experiment. There were no treatment-related changes in mortality, body weights changes, food consumption, ophthalmoscopic examination. Although there were statistically significant differences between the control and treated groups in some relative and absolute organ weights, and hematological and biochemical analysis, the data were in biologically normal ranges and did not show a dose-dependent manner. In the morphological change, hepatic tissue were not showed ballooning degeneration and irregular arrangement of hepatic cell in ${\beta}$-glucan treatment groups with control group. Also, organs weights (liver, heart, kidney and stomach) and hematological indices (WBC, RBC, Hb, Hct and Platelet) did not show statistically significant differences among the experimental groups. In summary of these results, there were no changes in mortality, mean body weight, clinical signs, food consumption. There were no changes in ophthalmological examination, hematology, blood chemistry, necropsy and histopathology. In conclusion, although further investigation of glucan should be performed in the functions registered in many ancient literatures, ${\beta}$-glucan is physiologically safe and may have potential as candidate food for human health.