• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2004

Background : Lung pericytes are important constituent cells of blood-air barrier in pulmonary microvasculature. These cells take part in the control of vascular contractility and permeability. In this study, it was hypothesized that change of lung pericytes might be attributable to pathologic change in microvasculature in acute lung injury. The purpose of this study was how hypoxia change proliferation and genetic expression in lung pericytes. Methods : From the lungs of several Sprague-Dawley rats, performed the primary culture of lung pericytes and subculture. Characteristics of lung pericytes were confirmed with stellate shape in light microscopy and immunocytochemistry. 2% concentration of oxygen and $200{\mu}M$ $CoCl_2$ were treated to cells. Tryphan blue method and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were done. Results : 1. We established methodology for primary culture of lung pericytes. 2. Hypoxia inhibited cellular proliferation in pericytes. 3. Hypoxia could markedly induce vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and smad-2. 4. Hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$(HIF-$1{\alpha}$) was also induced by 2% oxygen. Conclusion : Viability of lung pericytes are inhibited by hypoxia. Hypoxia can stimulate expression of hypoxia-responsive genes. Pericytic change may be contributed to dysfunction of alveolar-capillary barrier in various pulmonary disorders.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.959-967
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• 2005

Lead is a ubiquitous environmental and industrial pollutant that causes a major health concerns. It is known to induce a broad range of physiological, biochemical, and behavioral dysfunctions in laboratory and humans, including hematopoietic system, kidneys, liver, and reproductive system. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Saengshik supplementation on the lead-induced toxicity in rats. Five week old male Sprague­Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five groups for six weeks as followings: control group (CT), lead acetate treated group (PT), and lead acetate groups administered with three different dosages of Saengshik $(SI2.5-12.5\%,\;S25-25\%,\;and\;S50-50\%).$ Lead acetate (12 mg/rat) was intragastrically administered daily for 6 weeks. The results were summarized as follows; Weight gain and food efficiency ratio were significantly lower (p<0.05) in lead administered group compared with those of the control group. Also, significant lead-induced alteration in blood hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and reticulocyte distribution width (RDW) were observed. In the liver of lead-exposed animals, there was an increase in the lipid peroxidation (MDA) and the level of glutathione (GSH), but superoxiede dismutase (SOD) activity did not change. Lead-exposed animals with $25\%\;and\;50\%$ Saengshik supplementation showed marked improvements in the values of MCH, MCV, and RDW. Also, the level of HCT was significantly increased by $50\%$ Saengshik supplementation. The levels of liver MDA in $12.5\%\;and\;50\%$ Saengshik administered groups and GSH level in $50\%$ Saengshik administered group were significantly decreased compared to the lead administered group. Also, hepatic SOD activity tended to increase in the presence of Saengshik supplementation. Furthermore, the accumulation of lead in liver and kidney was reduced by presence of Saneghshik supplementation. Liver lead concentration was significantly reduced by both $25\%\;and\;50\%$ Saengshik supplementations and kidney lead concentration was significantly reduced by the $25\%$ Saengshik supplementation. These results show that Saengshik may have a protective effect against lead intoxication but the mechanism of their effects remains unclear.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.973-979
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• 2005

To investigate the effect of Pinus densiflora on biochemical parameters in type I diabetic rats, we evaluated the changes of body weight, fasting blood glucose level, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and biochemical parameters after the intraperitoneal injection of distilled solution of Pinus densiflora in streptozotocin (STZ)­induced rats. Thirty-seven male Sprague Dawley rats $(180\pm10g)$ were divided into four groups; diabetic mellitus (DM) group received STZ (50 mg/kg BW, i.v.); low level of pine extract (LP) group received Pinus densiflora (5 mg/kg BW, i.p.), high level of pine extract (HP) group received Pinus densiflora (10 mg/kg BW, i.p.) after the single injection of STZ (50 mg/kg BW, i.v.), respectively. Normal control (NC) group received saline. The change of fasting blood glucose level and OGTT were measured using glucocard II, and the change of biochemical parameter were measured by Automatic Chemistry Analyzer (Hitach-747, Japan). Mean body weight change of DM group was retarded greatly by STZ-exposure. While, body weights of LP and HP groups were progressively increased with some fluctuation, although the increase rates were slower than that of NC group. Fasting blood glucose levels of LP and HP groups were reduced by Pinus densiflora injection, although the fasting blood glucose levels were higher than that of NC group. The results of OGTT was significantly improved in both of LP and HP group compared to DM group. Increases of blood glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels by STZ-exposure were attenuated by the Pinus densiflora treatment (p<0.05). From the results, it was suggested that Pinus densiflora has a tendency to decrease STZ-induced toxicity in terms of monitoring fasting blood glucose, OGTT and some biochemical parameters of rat.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1177-1183
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• 2001

This study was done to investigate the effects of ethanol extract of Cassia semen (Cassia tora L.) on the activities of hepatic oxygen free radicals metabolizing enzymes and blood lipid profile in rats of hepatotoxicity induced by ethanol. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100~160 g were divides into 5 groups; control grouts (CON), Cassia semen ethanol extracts (200 mg/kg) treated group (CEL), ethanol (10 mL/kg, 35%) treated group (ETH), Cassia semen ethanol extracts (200 mg/kg) and ethanol treated group (CE1 ) and Cassia semen ethanol extracts (400 mg/kg ) and ethanol treated group (CE2), respectively. Compared with ETH, the growth rate of CE1 and CE2 were to be increased tendency, and in blood levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and the activities of alanine aminotranferase and asparate aminotranferase elevated by ethanol were significantly decreased (p<0.05). It was observed that the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, xanthine oxidase and glutathione peroxidase of rat liver increased by ethanol, were more decreased by the treatment of Cassia semen ethanol extract than the only ethanol-treated group. The content of glutathione depleted by ethanol treatment was increased in CE1 and CE2. TBA-reactants of liver increased by ethanol were decreased in CE1 and CE2, compared with ethanol-treated group. These results suggested that ethanol extract of Cassia semen may influence upon the ability of oxygen free radical detoxication and lowering of blood lipid level on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rat.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1260-1265
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• 2001

This study was performed to investigate the protective effects of Hovenia dulcis Thunb on hepatotoxicity in carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (220~240 g) were used as experimental groups, which were divided into 7 groups; Control group, $CCl_4$-treated group, hexane fraction pretreated and $CCl_4$-treated group, chloroform fraction pretreated and $CCl_4$-treated group, ethylacetate fraction pretreated and $CCl_4$-treated group, butanol fraction pretreated and $CCl_4$-treated group, $H_2O$ fraction pretreated and $CCl_4$-treated group. After 6 days, the activities of aminotransferase, contents of cholesterol, TG and hepatic lipid peroxide content in chloroform fraction pretreated and $CCl_4$-treated group were significantly decreased (p<0.05) compared to the only $CCl_4$-treated group. The content of glutathione and activities of GST in chloroform fraction pretreated and $CCl_4$-treated group were also significantly increased (p<0.05) compared to the only $CCl_4$-treated group. In addition, activities of SOD, catalase and GSH-Px in chloroform fraction pretreated and $CCl_4$-treated group were significantly decreased (p<0.05) compared to the only $CCl_4$-treated group. These results indicated that the chloroform fraction of Hovenia dulcis Thunb methanol extract showed hepatoprotective effect in carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1356-1362
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• 2006

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of enzymatic hydrolysate (extract) of Salicomia herbacea L. (Korean name: Hamcho) on antioxidative defense system in rats fed high cholesterol diet. Rats were divided into six experimental groups which are composed of normal diet group, normal diet group supplemented with 2% Hamcho extract, high cholesterol diet group, high cholesterol diet groups supplemented with 1%, 2% and 4% Hamcho extracts. The activity of serum glutamate oxaloacetae transaminase in rats was not different among all experimental groups, while the activity of glutamate pyruvate transaminase in groups supplemented with Hamcho extract was significantly lower than that of high cholesterol control group. Supplementation of Hamcho extract (SHE) to the high cholesterol fed rats resulted in increased activities of hepatic superoxide dismutase and glutathione peioxidase. However, there was no significant difference in the activity of hepatic catalase among all experimental groups. SHE also resulted in decreased levels of hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and mitochondrial carbonyl values. Those effects were higher to some extent in 2% and 4% Hamcho extract groups than those of high cholesterol control group. These results suggest that enzymatic hydrolysate of Hamcho may reduce oxidative damage by activation of antioxidative defense system in rats fed high cholesterol diets.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1336-1342
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate the effect of ethanol extract of Chaenomeles sinensis Koehne (CS) on alcohol-induced liver damage in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $135{\pm}10g$ were divided into 6 groups for 4 weeks; normal group (ND), alcohol (35%, 10 mL/kg/day) treated group (ET), CS ethanol extract 200 mg/kg/day treated group (ND-CSL), CS ethanol extract 400 mg/kg/day treated group (ND-CSH), CS ethanol extract 200 mg/kg/day and alcohol treated group (ET-CSL), and CS ethanol extract 400 mg/kg/day and alcohol treated group (ET-CSH). The body weight gain and food efficiency ratio were no differences between ND and ET. There were increases in the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), asparate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in ET. On the other hand, the administration of CS decreased ALT, AST and ALP activities in serum. It was also observed that the hepatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and xanthine oxidase (XO) increased by alcohol treatment were also markedly decreased in the CS administered groups as compared with ET. The activities of hepatic SOD, catalase, GSH-Px and XO were riot significantly different among the normal diet groups. Contents of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were increased by the administration of alcohol, on the other hand, the administration of CS reduced TBARS value in the liver. In addition, the content of glutathione (GSH) in the liver was decreased by alcohol administration, however, GSH increased after administering CS. In conclusion, the administration of alcohol develops the hyperoxidation of liver lipids through tile increase in enzymes activity related to the lipid peroxiation, however, it was decreased after administring CS. Thus, CS may have a possible protective effect on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rat liver.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.309-316
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• 2008

This study was carried out to examine the effects of vitamin E on chronic gastric ulcer induced by alcohol treatment in rats. Chronic gastric ulcer model was established by oral administration of 70% ethanol at one time and supply of 15% ethanol for additional 7 days. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, approximately 200 g, were fasted for 24 hours and orally gavaged with 1 mL of 70% ethanol for the induction of acute ulcer. A supply of 15% ethanol dissolved in distilled water for 7 days were followed to maintain chronic gastric ulcer. Acute ulcer group was sacrificed at 3 hours after oral administration of 1 mL of 70% ethanol. Chronic groups were divided into three groups according to vitamin E levels; low-vitamin E (LVE, 0 mg/mL oil/day), normalvitamin E (NVE, 1 mg/mL oil/day) and high-vitamin E (HVE, 10 mg/mL oil/day). These groups were fed vitamin E free diets which were made of vitamin E free vitamin mix followed AIN-93M pattern for 7 days. Histological findings of congestion, hemorrhage and necrosis in gastric tissue were shown severely in acute ulcer group and LVE group of chronic ulcer groups. The concentration of gastrin in serum was significantly higher in LVE group. The content of histamine in stomach was lower in acute ulcer group but there was no significant difference among the chronic groups regardless of vitamin E levels. Content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in gastric tissue was higher in HVE group and activities of antioxidant enzyme, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase, were lower in HVE group. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities as a marker of neutrophils infiltration was significantly higher in LVE group. These results suggested that vitamin E supplementation has positive effects on healing of alcohol-induced chronic gastric ulcer through alleviation of gastric tissue injuries and reduction of the MPO activity in gastric tissue and gastrin in serum.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.154-161
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• 2008

Phellinus linteus (PL) has been known to exhibit potent biological activity. The present study was designed to investigate lipase-inhibitory and anti-oxidative activity of the methanol extract and the powder of PL fruiting body. The methanol extract of PL appeared to have the inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase with an $IC_{50}$ value of $36.3\;{\mu}g/mL$, and the scavenging activity of DPPH radical with an $IC_{50}$ value of $20.1\;{\mu}g/mL$, which was similar to that of vitamin C ($IC_{50}\;18.3\;{\mu}g/mL$). To investigate the lipase-inhibitory and anti-oxidative effect of PL on animal, Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with high-fat diet supplemented with either 2% or 5% PL powder for 8 weeks. Total food intake was significantly increased, but body weight was not changed by PL powder supplementation. However, fecal fat excretion of the experimental groups fed with the PL powder were higher than that of the control group. PL powder showed a decrease in the plasma total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and the hepatic total cholesterol levels. The anti-oxidative enzyme activities were also affected by PL supplementation. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the plasma and liver were significantly increased by 98% and 46% in the 2% PL group, and 99% and 32% in the 5% PL group, respectively. Total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity was not affected by PL supplementation. DNA damage was measured by the comet assay in the lymphocytes collected after 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks of feeding PL supplemented diet. Lymphocyte DNA damage was decreased in the PL supplemented group. Furthermore, PL feeding enhanced the resistance to lymphocyte DNA damage caused by an oxidant challenge with $H_2O_2$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.170-176
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• 2008

This study was designed to investigate the effects of enzymatic hydrolysates (EH) from Hamcho (Salicornia herbacea L.) on blood glucose and serum lipid status in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal and 5 diabetic groups. The diabetic groups were fed enzymatic hydrolysate-free control (DM) diets or diets supplemented with 0.02% (DM-2), 0.04% (DM-4), 0.08% (DM-8), and 0.16% (DM-16) of enzymatic hydrolysate for 4 weeks. Body weight gains were lower in five diabetic groups than that of the normal group. Blood glucose was decreased in EH-supplemented groups as compared to the normal group, and especially the lowest blood glucose levels were found in DM-4 and DM-8 groups. Activities of three disaccharidase in the middle part of the intestine, such as maltase, sucrase and lactase, in EH-supplemented groups were significantly lower than those of DM group. There was no significant differences in the activities of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) among all experimental groups. Serum triglyceride in DM group was significantly increased as compared to the normal group, but those of EH-supplemented groups were decreased to the normal level. Total cholesterol level in DM group was higher than EH-supplemented groups and normal group, but that of DM-16 group was significantly decreased to the normal level. HDL cholesterol level in DM group was significantly decreased compared to the normal group, but that of EH-supplemented groups was increased to the normal level. These results suggest that enzymatic hydrolysate from Hamcho has hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects on STZ-induced diabetic rats and may be useful as a dietary supplement for the treatment of diabetes.