• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.603-607
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• 2003

To investigate the alcohol metabolizing system in liver of rats drunken 10% ethanol with Monascus pigment extract (MPE), Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing about 250 g have been drunken 10% ethanol containing 1, 2.5 and 5% Monascus pigment extract for a month. Three groups of rats drunken 10% ethanol with MPE gained somewhat less body weight than normal group, but the changes of body weight was not significantly different among the former groups. All groups drunken MPE supplemented alcohol had no remarkable changes in liver function on the basis of liver weight/body weight, the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and xanthine oxidase activity. 10% alcohol drunken animals (control group) showed significantly increased activity of hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) by 87% compared with normal group and the animals drunken 1%, 2.5% and 5% MPE showed respectively 34%, 29% and 21% increased activity of hepatic ADH, whileas Km value of ADH in 1, 2.5 and 5% MPE group decreased by 40%, 30% and 19% respectively compared with the control, but Vmax showed no significant changes among MPE groups. In case of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), 1% MPE group showed significantly increased activity by 32% and 2.5% or 5% MPE group showed increasing tendency compared with control, and Km value in three experimental groups declined by 27% and no particular changes were found among those. Furthermore, Vmax value in 1, 2.5 and 5% MEP group increased by 88,56 and 22% respectively with the control. In the aspect of the area under the curve of a ethanol concentration versus time (AUC) profile obtained after administration of 10% alcohol with 1 or 5% MPE, the decreasing rate of AUC to the control was 18% in 1% MPE treated rats whereas 10% in 5% MPE group.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.668-672
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• 2001

To investigate the oxygen free radical and alcohol metabolizing system in liver of rats fed diets with 30% ethanol extract of Lycium chinense (LCEE), Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 225~235g have been fed a diet supplemented with 2% or 4% LCEE for a month. The rats fed LCEE supplemented diets gained less body weight compared with the control, and had no remarkable changes of liver function. In rats fed 2% LCEE supplemented diet, hepatic cytochrome P450 contents appeared to be increased, but catalase (204.88$\pm$20.06 $H_2O$$_2$nmoles/mg protein/min), and superoxide dismutase (13.18$\pm$0.74 Unit/mg protein) activities were significantly increased compared with control 120.28$\pm$26.99 $H_2O$$_2$nmoles/mg protein/min and 10.49$\pm$0.80 Units/mg protein). There was no difference in hepatic glutathione content, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase ctivities between the rats fed LCEE suplemented diets and the control diet. On the other hand, hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity were not changed by LCEE feeding, but hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase activities were significantly increased in rats fed both 2 and 4% LCEE diets(5.01$\pm$0.21 and 4.47$\pm$0.06 $\mu$moles NADPH/mg protein/min) compared with control (3.28$\pm$0.21 $\mu$moles NADPH/mg protein/min) and its Vmax value was 1.9 fold increased in rats fed 2% LCEE and 1.5 fold in those fed 4% LCEE compared with control. In conclusion, it is likely that rats receiving a diet supplemented with LCEE may have the oxygen free radicals and alcohol detoxication potential.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.85-94
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• 2012

The anti-obese, hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects of post-fermented green tea by Monascus pilosus was tested with mice fed with high-fat diet for 7 weeks. The body weight gain and feed efficiency ratio (FER) in normal control group (NC), CHA (2% non-fermented green tea powder supplemented high-fat diet group) and mCHA (2% green tea powder post-fermented by M. pilosus supplemented high fat diet group) groups were significantly lower than those of high fat diet control group (HC). Epididymal fat weight in mCHA and NC were significantly lower than HC. The hepatic lipid peroxide was dramatically higher in HC than that of NC and was significantly lower in CHA and mCHA. In addition, dehydrogenase type activity of xanthine oxidoreductase in HC was lower than that of NC, but significantly higher than CHA and mCHA. In histopathological findings, hepatic fat accumulation in HC was higher than that of NC, CHA and mCHA. Antiobese, hypolipidemic and antifatty liver effect of green tea powder post-fermented by M. pilosus was slightly higher than that of non-fermented green tea. In conclusion, the constituents of green tea fermented by M. pilosus has been proven to not only inhibit obesity and hyperlipidemia but also decrease the hepatic fat accumulation in high fat diet-induced obese mice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.653-658
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• 2004

Oxidative stress is currently suggested as a mechanism underyling diabetes. Accordingly, the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of Aralia elate water extracts (AEW) on activities of hepatic oxygen free radical generating and scavenging enzymes in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats divided into nondiabetic group, diabetic group, and diabetic-AEW supplemented group. The extract was supplemented in 1.14% of raw Aralia elata/kg diet for 7 weeks. Diabetes was induced by injecting STZ (55 mg/kg BW, ip) once 2 weeks before sacrifying. The hepatic cytochrome P-450 content, xanthine oxidase and aminopyrine N-demethylase activities were significantly lowered in the diabetic group compared to the nondiabetic group. Whereas, the activities of aniline hydroxylase and oxygen free radical scavenging enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione S-transferase, were significantly higher in the diabetic group than in the nondiabetic group. However, the supplementation of AEW normalized these enzyme activities in STZ-induced diabetic rats. When the AEW was supplemented with the diabetic rats, hepatic glutathione content was markedly elevated as well as lipid peroxide level was significantly lowered compared to those of the diabetic group. Thus, these results suggested that AEW supplement enhanced the activities of oxygen species metabolizing enzymes in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.411-418
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• 2007

Oxidative stress can play a key role in cadmium (Cd)-induced dysfunction. The present study examined the effect of pine needle water extract (PN) on Cd-induced oxidative stress in rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into three groups: normal group, Cd control group (Cd) and PN-administered Cd group (Cd-PN). $CdCl_2$ in 0.9% NaCl was administered orally with a dose of 5mg/kg of body weight/week, while the PN was administered orally with a dose of 1.26g/kg of body weight/day. Body weight gain was not different between groups, whereas food intakes were significantly lower in the Cd-PN group than in normal or Cd group. Relative liver weight was significantly increased by cadmium administration compared to the normal group. Hepatic cytochrome P450 was significantly lower in Cd and Cd-PN groups than in normal group, while xanthine oxidase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities were significantly higher in the Cd-PN group than in normal or Cd group. Increased hepatic superoxide dismutase, monoamine oxidase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities by cadmium administration were significantly decreased by PN supplement. PN did not affect the hepatic glutathione content in cadmium-administered rats; however, PN significantly lowered the hepatic lipid peroxide level and plasma alanine transferase activity compared to the Cd control group. These results suggest that the PN may alleviate Cd-induced oxidative stress without hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2003

This study was designed to test the effect of Korean traditional tea materials on oxygen-free radical metabolism in lead (Pb) -administered rats. Male rats were divided into normal, Pb-control (Pb-Con) and Pb-water extract of green tea (Camellia sinensis; GT) , persimmon leaf (Diospyros kaki; PL) , safflower seed (Carhamus tinctorius: SS) , Du-Zhong (Eucommia ulmoides; EU) groups, respectively. Pb intoxication was induced by administration of lead acetate (25 mg/kg. B.W., oral) weekly. The extract was administered based on 1.26 g of raw material/kg B.W./day for 4 weeks. When the GT, PL, SS and EU were supplemented to the Pb-administered rats, hepatic lipid peroxide levels were significantly lower compared to the Pb-Con group. Hepatic cytochrom P-450 content and aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was lower in the Pb-Con group than in the normal group, whereas xanthine oxidase activity was significantly elevated in Pb-administered rats. The water extract of GT, PL, SS and EU supplementation attenuated changes in enzyme activities generating reactive oxygen species in the liver. Hepatic superoxide dismutase, catalase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were significantly higher in the Pb-Con group than in the normal group, while monoamine oxidase activity also tended to increase in the Pb-administered rats. However, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase activities, and glutathione content significantly decreased through Pb intoxication. The supplementation of GT, PL, SS and EU induced alleviation changes of hepatic antioxidant enzyme activity.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.201-209
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• 1996

Restoration of the blood flow after a period of ischemia is accompanied by generation of toxic oxygen radicals. This phenomenon may account for the occurrence of reperfusion-mediated tissue injury in ischemic hearts. In in vitro studies, although oxygen radicals can be generated from a variety of sources, including xanthine oxidase system, activated leucocytes, mitochondria and others, the most important source and mechanism of oxygen radical production in the post-ischemic reperfused hearts is unclear. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the respiratory chain of mitochondria might be an important source of oxygen radicals which are responsible for the development of the reperfusion injury of ischemic hearts. Langendorff-perfused, isolated rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of global ischemia at $37^{\circ}C$, followed by reperfusion. Amytal, a reversible inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration, was employed to assess the mitochondrial contributions to the development of the reperfusion injury. Intact mitochonria were isolated from the control and the post-ischemic reperfused hearts. Mitochondrial oxygen radical generation was measured by chemiluminescence method and the oxidative tissue damage was estimated by measuring a lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde(MDA). To evaluate the extent of the reperfusion injury, post-ischemic functional recovery and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release were assessed and compared in Amytal-treated and -untreated hearts. Upon reperfusion of the ischemic hearts, MDA release into the coronary effluent was markedly increased. MDA content of mitochondria isolated from the post-ischemic reperfused hearts was increased to 152% of preischemic value, whereas minimal change was observed in extramitochondrial fraction. The generation of superoxide anion was increased about twice in mitochondria from the reperfused hearts than in those from the control hearts. Amytal inhibited the mitochondrial superoxide generation significantly and also suppressed MDA production in the reperfused hearts. Additionally, Amytal prevented the contractile dysfunction and the increased release of LDH observed in the reperfused hearts. In conclusion, these results indicate that the respiratory chain of mitochondria may be an important source of oxygen radical formation in post-ischemic reperfused hearts, and that oxygen radicals originating from the mitochondria may contribute to the development of myocardial reperfusion injury.