• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.103-118
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• 2008

Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Some ROS, such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, are normally produced in cells as by-products of biochemical reactions or as signaling molecules. When ROS-generating reactions are activated excessively, pathological quantities of ROS are released to create an imbalance between antioxidants and ROS, called as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress, which may result in cellular damage, has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other degenerative conditions. In humans the first line of antioxidant defence are the antioxidant enzymes, especially SOD, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and to a lesser extent catalase, as well as the tripeptide glutathione(GSH). These enzymes will help destroy ROS(reactive oxygen species) such as hydroxyl radical, $H_2O_2$ and lipid peroxides, while GSH protects against oxidized protein. Many herbal medicines possess antioxidant properties. Herbal antioxidants may protect against these diseases by contributing to the total antioxidant defense system of the human body. Here, many herbal medicines including Ginseng, Licorice, Ligusticum Chuanxiong, Ginkgo biloba and many others was reviewed in terms of anti-oxidant efficiency related to their components.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.426-435
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• 2007

The present study was designed to determine the antitumor and antioxidant properties of methanol extract from the root of Galega purpurea (Papilionaceae) (MEGP) against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) bearing Swiss albino mice. Acute and short-term toxicity studies were performed initially in order to ascertain the safety of MEGP. The effect of MEGP on the growth of transplantable murine tumor, life span of EAC bearing hosts and simultaneous alterations in the hematological profile and liver biochemical parameters (lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes) were estimated. The MEGP showed decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume and viable cell count and increases the nonviable cell count and mean survival time thereby increasing life span of EAC tumor bearing mice. Hematological profile reverted to more or less normal levels in extract treated mice. Treatment with MEGP decreased the levels of lipid peroxidation and increased the levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase. The results suggested that the methanol extract of Galega purpurea root exhibited antitumor effect by modulating lipid peroxidation and augmenting antioxidant defense system in EAC bearing mice.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2001

Oxidative stress is one of the major limiting factor in plant productivity. Reactive oxygens species (ROS) generated during metabolic processes damage cellular functions and consequently lead to disease, senescence and cell death. Plants have evolved an efficient defense system by which the ROS is scavenged by antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Attempts to reduce oxidative damages under the stress conditions have included the manipulation of 갠 scavenging enzymes by gene transfer technology. Increased SOD activities of transgenic plants lead to increased resistance against oxidative stresses derived from methyl viologen (MV), and from photooxidative damage caused by high light and low temperature. Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing APX showed reduced damage following either MV treatment of photooxidative treatment. Overexpression of glutathion reductase (GR) leads to increase in pool of ascorbate and GSH, known as small antioxidant molecules. These results indicate through overexpression of enzymes involved in ROS-scavenging could maintain or improve the plant productivities under environment stress condition. In this study, the rational approaches to develop stress-tolerant plants by gene manipulation of antioxidant enzymes will be introduced to provide solutions for the global food and environmental problems in the $21^\textrm{st}$ century.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.262-267
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• 2005

Reactive oxygen species can be generated in the skin by hair dyeing. The aim of this study was to find out the effects of the oxidative-type hair dye application in young women on the antioxidant systems. We investigated the lipid peroxide levels, glutathione (GSH) levels, and the antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) in plasma and erythrocytes and catalase (CAT) in erythrocytes, and DNA damages in lymphocytes. Also, plasma concentrations of antioxidant vitamins, vitamin A and E, were measured and the correlations between various antioxidant parameters and oxidative damages were evaluated The antioxidant enzyme activities in plasma (GSHPx) and in erythrocytes (SOD and CAT) were decreased significantly after hair dyeing. 1be lipid peroxide and GSH levels were not affected in both plasma and erythrocytes. No significant difference was found in the concentrations of both vitamin A and E between before and after hair dyeing. However, DNA damages expressed as the tail extent moment (TEM) and tail length (TL) were significantly (p<0.001) increased. The plasma vitamin E concentration was correlated with DNA damages (TEM: r=-0.590, p<0.01 and TL: r=-0.533. p<0.01) and RBC SOD activity (r=0.570, p<0.05). In turn, RBC SOD activity was significantly correlated with both plasma MDA levels (r=-0.412, p<0.05) and DNA damages (TM: r=-0.546, p<0.01, TL: r=-0.493, p<0.01). Our results demonstrated that the exposure to hair dyeing produced lymphocyte DNA damage and modification of the antioxidant enzyme activities. Also, there were very strong associations between plasma vitamin E concentration, RBC SOD activity and DNA damage induced by hair dyeing. It suggests that the antioxidant status of a subject is likely to be related to the extent of the harmful effects caused by hair dyeing.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.657-663
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• 2008

The present study was undertaken to investigate the protective role of taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) against cadmium (Cd) induced oxidative stress in murine erythrocytes. Cadmium chloride ($CdCl_2$) was chosen as the source of Cd. Experimental animals were treated with either $CdCl_2$ alone or taurine, followed by Cd exposure. Cd intoxication reduced hemoglobin content and the intracellular Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power of erythrocytes, along with the activities of antioxidant enzymes, glutathione content, and total thiols. Conversely, intracellular Cd content, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, and glutathione disulphides were significantly enhanced in these cells. Treatment with taurine before Cd intoxication prevented the toxin-induced oxidative impairments in the erythrocytes of the experimental animals. Overall, the results suggest that Cd could cause oxidative damage in murine erythrocytes and that taurine may play a protective role in reducing the toxic effects of this particular metal.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.88-92
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• 2001

To examine effects of cadmium on the respiratory burst of kidney phagocytes and antioxidant defense in liver, juvenile red seabream Pagrus major were fed a cadmium-incorporated diet $(1g\;CdC1_2/kg\;diet)$. The respiratory burst activity measured by chemiluminescence (CL) was significantly reduced by oral intake of cadmium. Lipid peroxidation in liver expressed as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was significantly higher in the fish fed a cadmium-incorporated diet than that of the fish fed a control diet both on Day 3 and Day 9. Liver Glutathione S-transferase (GST) activitiy was significantly increased both on Day 3 and Day 9 by feeding a cadmium-incorporated diet, when compared with the controls. From the present results, it can be concluded that oral intake of cadmium in red seabream is associated with marked reduction of respiratory burst capacity of kidney phagocytes which can elevate susceptibility of fish against infecting pathogens. Cadmium administration also elicits significant increment of lipid peroxidation in liver, and fish try to detoxify cadmium by increasing GST activity.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.443-450
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• 2013

Effects of newly developed functional rice grains Goami (high-amylose rice) and Nokwon (green-kerneled rice) on the glucose metabolism and antioxidative defense system in C57BL/6N mice under high fat diet condition were investigated. Animals were randomly divided into five groups (n = 8) and given experimental diets for eight weeks: normal control diet (NC), high fat diet (HF), and high fat diet supplemented with white rice (HF-WR), Goami rice (HF-GR), and Nokwon rice (HF-NR). At the end of the experimental period, the HF group exhibited markedly higher blood glucose level, insulin concentration, plasma lipid peroxidation and lower hepatic glycogen concentration than that exhibited by NC group. However, diet supplementation of Goami and Nokwon suppressed the high fat diet-induced hyperglycemia and oxidative stress through inhibition of the glucose-regulating enzymes and enhancement of the antioxidant enzymes activities. The results illustrate that the new functional rice Goami and Nokwon may be useful in the development of functional foods with preventive effect against high fat diet-induced hyperglycemia and oxidative stress.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.42-55
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• 2015

Purpose: The object of this study is to observe the anti-ulcerative effects of BK-1202 (IGM), a mixed herbal formula consisting of 9 herbal drugs, which have been traditional Korean medicine for treating various digestive diseases, on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rat. Methods: Three different doses of IGM extract (200, 100 and 50 mg/kg) were orally administered once 30 min before indomethacin treatment. Six hours after indomethacin treatment, changes in the gross lesion scores, fundic histopathology, MPO activity and antioxidant activities were observed. The results were compared with two reference groups treated with omeprazole (10 mg/kg), antioxidant and proton pump inhibitor, and DA-9601 (100 mg/kg), a standardized extract of the herb Artemisiaasiatica. Results: In all three doses of IGM extract, significantly decreased gastric damages were observed in the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer rats, when compared with the indomethacin-treated control rats. IGM extracts also strengthened the antioxidative defense systems, decreasing the level of lipid peroxidation and catalase activity while increasing the superoxide dismutase and glutathione contents. IGM extracts showed similar anti-ulcerative effects to those shown by equal dose of DA-9601, and the effects of 50 mg/kg IGM extracts were comparable to those of 10 mg/kg omeprazole. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study suggest that IGM extract has favorable effects on the indomethacin -induced gastric damages by strengthening the antioxidative defense systems and enhancing anti-inflammatory effects.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.467-472
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• 2015

Heat shock increases skin temperature during sun exposure and some evidence indicates that it may be involved in skin aging. The antioxidant response mediated by the transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a critically important cellular defense mechanism that serves to limit skin aging. We investigated the effects of heat shock on collagenase expression when the antioxidant defense system was downregulated by knockdown of Nrf2. GSH and collagenases were analyzed, and the expression of inducible Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 was measured. HS68 cells were transfected with small interfering RNA against Nrf2. Heat shock induced the downregulation of Nrf2 in both the cytosol and nucleus and reduced the expression of HO-1, GSH, and NQO1. In addition, heat-exposed Nrf2-knockdown cells showed significantly increased levels of collagenase protein and decreased levels of procollagen. Our data suggest that Nrf2 plays an important role in protection against heat shock-induced collagen breakdown in skin. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(8): 467-472]

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.1217-1224
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• 2018

Seaweeds produce antioxidants to counteract environmental stresses, and these antioxidant genes are regarded as important defense strategies for marine algae. In this study, the expression of Pyropia yezoensis (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) ascorbate peroxidase (PyAPX) and manganese-superoxide dismutase (PyMnSOD) was examined by qRT-PCR in P. yezoensis blades under abiotic stress conditions. Furthermore, the functional relevance of these genes was explored by overexpressing them in Chlamydomonas. A comparison of the different expression levels of PyAPX and PyMnSOD after exposure to each stress revealed that both genes were induced by high salt and UVB exposure, being increased approximately 3-fold after 12 h. The expression of the PyAPX and PyMnSOD genes also increased following exposure to $H_2O_2$. When these two genes were overexpressed in Chlamydomonas, the cells had a higher growth rate than control cells under conditions of hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress, increased salinity, and UV exposure. These data suggest that Chlamydomonas is a suitable model for studying the function of stress genes, and that PyAPX and PyMnSOD genes are involved in the adaptation and defense against stresses that alter metabolism.