• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.222-230
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• 1994

Background: Paraquat, a widely used herbicide, is extremely toxic, causing multiple organ failure in humans. Paraquat especially leads to irreversible progressive pulmonary fibrosis, which is related to oxygen free radicals. However, its biochemical mechanism is not clear. Natural mechanisms that prevent damage from oxygen free radicals include changes in glutathione level, G6PDH, superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. The authors think catalase is closely related to paraquat toxicity in the lungs Method: The effects of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole(aminotriazole), a catalase inhibitor, on mice administered with paraquat were investigated. We studied the effects of aminotriazole on the survival of mice administered with paraquat, by comparing life spans between the group to which paraquat had been administered and the group to which a combination of paraquat and aminotriazole had been administered. We measured glutathion level, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G6PDH), superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase(GPx) in the lung tissue of 4 groups of mice: the control group, group A(aminotriazole injected), group B(paraquat administered), group C(paraquat and aminotriazole administered). Results: The mortality of mice administered with paraquat which were treated with aminotriazole was significantly increased compared with those of mice not treated with aminotriazole. Glutathione level in group B was decreased by 20%, a significant decrease compared with the control group. However, this level was not changed by the administration of aminotriazole(group C). The activity of G6PDH in all groups was not significantly changed compared with the control group. The activities of SOD, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase(GPx) in the lung tissue were significantly decreased by paraquat administration(group B); catalase showed the largest decrease. Catalase and GPX were significantly decreased by aminotriazole treatment in mice administered with paraquat but change in SOD activity was not significant(group C). Conclusion: Decrease in catalase activity by paraquat suggests that paraquat toxicity in the lungs is closely related to catalase activity. Paraquat toxicity in mice is enhanced by aminotriazole administration, and its result is related to the decrease of catalase activity rather than glutathione level in the lungs. Production of hydroxyl radicals, the most reactive oxygen metabolite, is accelerated due to increased hydrogen peroxide by catalase inhibition and the lung damage probably results from nonspecific tissue injury of hydroxyl radicals.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.172-180
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• 2002

Polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) are large scale industrial chemicals which are using in diverse applications. The goal of this study was to determine if exposure to 2,2',5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 52) leads to an increase in the production of active oxidants, and subsequently promotes apoptosis of neuronal SK-N-MC cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation was examined in SK-N-MC cells after treatment of PCB 52 by concentrations and incubation times, respectively. It showed that the rate of ROS production in the cells was increased in a does-dependent manner to 45 min, followed by a return towards control levels after 120 min treatment. We also examined the association of PCB-induced apoptosis with the modulation of biomakers of oxidative damage to lipids (malondialdehyde [MDA]) in SK-N-MC cells. Increased MDA was observed in a dose-dependent manner in groups treated with 10, 15, and 20 figJ me of PCB 52 for 24 h. After treatment of PCB 52, the cells did not show any significant change in the rate of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) activity. Whereas, the cells had a two-fold greater rate of change in catalase activity at 20 ㎍/㎖ of PCB 52 for 24 h when compared to control group. Korean Ginseng is one of the most important crude drugs which has been used as a traditional Oriental medicine. We next investigated protective effect of extracts of ginseng on cytotoxicity induced by PCB 52 in SK-N-MC cells. Pretreatment of SK-N-MC cells with 25-200 μg/ml of ginseng were reduced cell death in a dose-dependent manner in PCB 52-treated cells. To examine the sensitivity of beta-catenin to ginseng, the protective effect of a range of ginseng concentrations was examined in SK-N-MC cells treated with PCB 52. The result demonstrated that ginseng efficiently blocked PCB 52 inducible beta-catenin proteolysis in a concentration dependent manner. The ROS formation was also measured in the presences of extract of ginseng and superoxide dismutase (inhibitor of oxygen free radical production). The both SOD (400 U/ml) and ginseng (200 μg/ml) significantly inhibited RDS generation in PCB 52-treated group.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2001

Background: A previous study has shown that Euonymus alatus (EA) has an antidotic activities against inflammation, suggesting possibility that EA can exert this beneficial effects to liver injury by an initial protection against drug-induced hepatocyte demage. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of EA-extract on experimentally induced hepatitis in ICR mice and to investigate some mechanisms responsible for its action. Methods: Water EA extract was used in this experiments. The mice received i.p. a dose of 700 mg/kg galactosamine (GalN) together with $5{\mu}g/kg$ of endotoxin (LPS), or received i.v. 12 mg/kg of concanavalin A (Con A). EA (4 mg/mouse) was administrated on day -2, -1 and 0 before induction of liver injury. Liver injury was assessed by measurement of serum alanin amino-transferase (SGPT) levels on 9 hr after GaIN.LPS, or 8 hr after con A administration. Results: Treatment with either GaIN or LPS alone did not cause hepatitis. However, simultaneous administration of GalN and LPS to mice resulted in LPS-dose dependent fulminant hepatitis. GaLN/LPS-induced liver injury was reduced when mice were given EA for 3 days before induction. This preventive effect of Ea was more prominent when EA was given by intraperitoneal route rather then by oral route. Pretreatment of EA or dexamethasone inhibited significantly $TNF{\alpha}$ production in GalL/LPS-injured mice. However, EA-treatment did not influence $TNF{\alpha}$-induced hepatitis in GalN-sensitized mice, suggesting that $TNF{\alpha}$ is likely to act as one of final mediators of endotoxin action and the protective effect of EA might be manifested chiefly by inhibition of endotoxin-induced $TNF{\alpha}$ production, not by blocking the $TNF{\alpha}$-action. Injection of Con A into mice evoked remarkable liver injury in a dose dependent fashion. This liver damage was reduced by EA-pretreatment. Dexamethasone significantly reduced both GalL/LPS-induced and Con A-induced liver damages, showing synergism with EA. However, indomethacin reduced only GalN/ LPS-induced hepatitis, not for Con A-induced hepatitis. Conclusion: These results led to the conclusion that EA may be able to contribute at least in part to prevent the drug-induced hepatotoxicity, and that its anti-hepatitis effects might be manifested directly by modulation of endogenous mediators, such as leukotriese D4, $TNF{\alpha}$ and free radical, and indirectly by regulation of immune mediated responses. Also these results suggested that EA could be developed as a potential antidotic agent.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1323-1334
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• 2010

The effect of nitric oxide (NO) on antioxidant system and protective mechanism against oxidative stress under UV-B radiation was investigated in leaves of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings during 3 days growth period. UV-B irradiation caused a decrease of leaf biomass including leaf length, width and weight during growth. Application of NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), significantly alleviated UV-B stress induced growth suppression. NO donor permitted the survival of more green leaf tissue preventing chlorophyll content reduction and of higher quantum yield for photosystem II than in non-treated controls under UV-B stress, suggesting that NO has protective effect on chloroplast membrane in maize leaves. Flavonoids and anthocyanin, UV-B absorbing compounds, were significantly accumulated in the maize leaves upon UV-B exposure. Moreover, the increase of these compounds was intensified in the NO treated seedlings. UV-B treatment resulted in lipid peroxidation and induced accumulation of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) in maize leaves, while NO donor prevented UV-B induced increase in the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and $H_2O_2$. These results demonstrate that NO serves as antioxidant agent able to scavenge $H_2O_2$ to protect plant cells from oxidative damage. The activities of two antioxidant enzymes that scavenge reactive oxygen species, catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in maize leaves in the presence of NO donor under UV-B stress were higher than those under UV-B stress alone. Application of 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4, 4, 5, 5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3- oxide (PTIO), a specific NO scavenger, to the maize leaves arrested NO donor mediated protective effect on leaf growth, photosynthetic pigment and free radical scavenging activity. However, PTIO had little effect on maize leaves under UV-B stress compared with that of UV-B stress alone. $N^{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine (LNNA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), significantly increased $H_2O_2$ and MDA accumulation and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities in maize leaves under UV-B stress. This demonstrates that NOS inhibitor LNNA has opposite effects on oxidative resistance. From these results it is suggested that NO might act as a signal in activating active oxygen scavenging system that protects plants from oxidative stress induced by UV-B radiation and thus confer UV-B tolerance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.1695-1700
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• 2014

Oriental herbal liquor (Yakju) is a type of Korean traditional alcoholic beverage that uses Nuruk and oriental herbs for fermentation. The purpose of this study was to develop cosmetic ingredients using Jubak, which is a by-product of alcoholic fermentation of oriental herbal liquor. To investigate antioxidant, whitening, and anti-aging effects of Jubak, we prepared extract of Jubak and its solvent fractions. Ethyl acetate fraction (KSD E4-3) showed the most prominent free radical [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)] scavenging activity ($SC_{50}$: 0.75 mg/mL). KSD E4-3 significantly inhibited in vitro mushroom tyrosinase activity ($IC_{50}$: 0.82 mg/mL) and reduced the melanin contents in mouse melanoma melanocyte, B16F10 cells. KSD E4-3 down-regulated protein expression of tyrosinase related proteins (TRP)-1, -2, which play key roles in melanogenesis. For anti-aging effects, inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) expression was evaluated using human keratinocyte, HaCaT cells. Treatment of HaCaT cells with KSD E4-3 reduced expression of MMP-1, -2, -9 and inhibited proteolytic activities of MMP-2, -9. These results suggest that KSD E4-3 induces down-regulation of cellular melanogenesis and protects against photoaging induced by UVB-induced damage. Thus KSD E4-3 could potentially be a valuable cosmetic ingredient.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1149-1156
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• 2017

We investigated the quality characteristics and the antioxidant efficacy of roasted maize tea according to different moisture contents (9% to 14%) using the puffing system (PS) and the roasting system (RS). Compared with the RS, the PS caused higher turbidity (0.017 vs. 0.003 in PS-14% vs. RS-14%), brown color intensity (0.170 vs. 0.059 in PS-14% vs. RS-14%), a-values (0.20 vs. -0.44 in PS-14% vs. RS-14%), b-values (7.90 vs. 5.57 in PS-14% vs. RS-14%), and a lower L-value (19.67 vs. 21.03 in PS-14% vs. RS-14%). Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of roasted maize tea were increased along with the moisture content and they were higher with the PS (polyphenol; 5.95 mg GAE/g, flavonoids; 1.27 CE/g in PS-14%) than with the RS (polyphenol; 5.39 mg GAE/g, flavonoids; 1.12 mg CE/g in RS-14%). The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging effects of roasted maize tea were also increased along with the moisture content, and the scavenging efficacy was significantly higher with the PS (DPPH; 160 mg TE/100g, ABTS; 507 mg TE/100g in PS-14%) compared with the RS (DPPH; 120 mg TE/100g, ABTS; 362 mg TE/100g in RS-14%). The polyphenol levels were significantly correlated with turbidity, brown color intensity, and L, a, and b-values of the roasted maize tea. In addition, an increase of the total polyphenol content in roasted maize tea induced antioxidant activities. As a result, an increase in polyphenols during the roasting process induced antioxidant activities which could prevent damage from free radicals.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2017

Objectives: Radiation is one of the most important sources of free radical (such as reactive oxygen species) production, which plays an essential role in the etiology of over hundred diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate some immune parameters and hematological indices in healthy workers of the Radiology Department, University Hospital of Mashhad, Iran. Methods: The study was performed on 50 healthy workers: 30 radiology staff as the case group and 20 laboratory workers as the control group. The radiation dose received by the radiology staff participating in the study was less than the annual maximum permissible level, 50 millisievert. Hematological parameters, lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production were studied in both groups. Results: Among healthy radiology workers, the hematological indices did not differ statistically; however, their proliferation indices and $IFN-{\gamma}$ levels showed significant increases in parallel with decreases in the IL-4 levels as compared to controls. The immune system of workers exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation was found to be shifted from a Type 2 to a Type 1 response to promote cellular immunity. Conclusion: Based on our data, exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation may decrease the prevalence, frequency, and recurrence of various cancers and infectious diseases because of an increase in Th1-cell-based response, thus leading to more protection of the human body against tumor cells and foreign agents and possibly increased longevity. However, due to high rate of fluoroscopy use for interventional radiology, we suggest continuing research projects on radiation protection and hazards to prevent irreversible damage. As a recommendation, in future studies, radiology staff with a weakened immunity due to high radiation exposure should be considered as good choices to be treated using acupuncture techniques because acupuncture has been demonstrated to enhance the function and the number of immune cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.611-616
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• 2013

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Although much progress has been made in understanding the pathogenesis of ALD, there remains no effective therapy for it. Accumulated evidence indicates that oxidative stress is the main pathological factors in the development of ALD. Ethanol administration causes accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide, hydroxyl radical, and hydrogen peroxide. ROS, in turn, cause lipid peroxidation of cellular membranes, and protein and DNA oxidation, which results in hepatocyte injury. In addition to pro-oxidants formation, antioxidants depletion caused by ethanol administration also results in oxidative stress. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Shiryung-tang extract on the chronic alcoholic liver injury induced by EtOH. Male Sprague Dawley rats were used in this study. All rats were maintained under standard laboratory conditions ($23{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, 12h light/12h dark cycles). All animals (n=30) were randomly divided into following groups: (1) Normal group, treated with distilled water (n=10); (2) Control group, treated with ethanol (n=10); (3) Sample group, treated with ethanol + pharmacopuncture (n=10). For oral administration of ethanol in Control and Sample group, the ethanol was dissolved in distilled water in concentrations of 25%(v/v). Throughout the experiment of 8 week, the rats were allowed free access to water and standard chow. Sample group were administrated by Shiryung-tang extract daily for 8 weeks. Control group were given normal saline for same weeks. As a results, the oral administration of ethanol for 8 weeks leads to hepatotoxicity. The levels of hepatic marker such as HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were altered. The ethanol also increased lipid peroxidation and depletion of antioxidant enzyme activities as well as hepatic tissue injury. However, the treatment of Shiryung-tang extract prevented all the alterations induced by ethanol and returned their levels to near normal. These data suggest that Shiryung-tang extract could have a beneficial effect in inhibiting the oxidative damage induced by chronic ethanol administration. Therefore, Shiryung-tang extract can be a candidate to protect against EtOH-induced liver injury.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.275-282
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• 2016

STAR of STAR (SS 01-04) is a series of drinks that consist of various extracts obtained from Coriolus versicolor, Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Hovenia dulcis, Acanthopanax sessiliflorus, Lycium chinense, Citrus reticulata, Saururus chinensis, Pueraria lobata, Pyrus pyrifolia, and Oenanthe javanica. A purpose of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of SS 01-04. Antioxidant activity of the drinks was evaluated by conducting a hydroxyl radical-scavenging assay. Cytotoxicity and hepatoprotective potential were determined using HepG2 cells in vitro, while protective effects against acute hepatotoxicity was evaluated in vivo. The antioxidant activity of the SS 01-04 at concentration of 100 and 250 mg/mL was similar to that of $50{\mu}M$ vitamin C. tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP)-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was blocked by SS 01, 03 and 04 in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with SS 04 significantly lowered the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in an animal model of carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_4)-induced$ hepatotoxicity (p<0.05). In addition, SS04 increased glutathione level while decreased malondialdehyde level in the liver considerably (p<0.05). It also inhibited the $CCl_4-induced$ increase in the levels of triglyceride and cholesterol in serum and the liver. These findings indicated that SS 01-04 possessed antioxidant activity and protect against ROS. In particular, SS 04 is potentially highly beneficial in treating liver damage as it scavenges reactive free radicals and boosts the endogenous antioxidant system.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2 s.70
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• pp.213-223
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• 2007

Objective : Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a geriatric dementia that is widespread in old age. With an aging populace, AD is a looming problem in public health service. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by specific neuronal degeneration in certain areas of the brain. Mutations and abnormal expression of several genes are associated with ${\beta}-amyloid$ deposits and Alzheimer's disease; among them APP, PS1, and PS2, SOD, free radical, ROS. Methods:We studied herbal medicines that have a relationship to brain degeneration. From pre-modern times, although a variety of oriental prescriptions of Aster tataricus have been traditionally utilized for the treatment of AD, their pharmacological effects and action mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. Result : Based on morphological observations by phase-contrast microscope, TUNEL assay and MTT in the culture media, $H_20_2-induced$ cell death was significantly inhibited by Aticus. We examined by ROS formation, catalase activity and GSH activity. We studied the protective effect and inhibitory effects of neurotoxicity in $H_20_2-induced$ PC-12 cells by Aticus. Findings from our experiments show that Aticus inhibits apoptosis, which has neurotoxicities and cell damage in PC-12 cells. In addition, treatment with Aticus ($>25{\mu}g/ml$ for 6hrs) partially prevented $H_20_2-induced$ cytotoxicity in PC-12 cells, and induced a protective effect. Conclusion : As the result of this study, in the Aticus group, the apoptosis in the nervous system was inhibited, protected against the degeneration of PC-12 cells by $H_20_2$. Taken together, Aticus exhibited inhibition of $H_20_2-induced$ apoptotic cell death. Aticus was found to induce protective effect on GSH and catalase in PC-12 cells. Based on these findings, Aticus may be beneficial for the treatment of AD.