• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.309-321
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of folic acid supplementation in high-fructose-induced hepatic steatosis and clarify the underlying mechanism of folic acid supplementation. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male SD rats were fed control, 64% high-fructose diet, or 64% high-fructose diet with folic acid for eight weeks. Plasma glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, lipid profiles, hepatic lipid content, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) were measured. RESULTS: The HF diet significantly increased hepatic total lipid and triglyceride (TG) and decreased hepatic SAM, SAH, and SAM:SAH ratio. In rats fed a high fructose diet, folic acid supplementation significantly reduced hepatic TG, increased hepatic SAM, and alleviated hepatic steatosis. Moreover, folic acid supplementation in rats fed high fructose enhanced the levels of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and liver kinase B (LKB1) and inhibited phosphorylation of acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) in the liver. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the protective effect of folic acid supplementation in rats fed high fructose may include the activation of LKB1/AMPK/ACC and increased SAM in the liver, which inhibit hepatic lipogenesis, thus ameliorating hepatic steatosis. The present study may provide evidence for the beneficial effects of folic acid supplementation in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.229-234
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different kinds of traditional Korean soybeans on blood and liver lipids and lipid peroxidation. SD male rats (n=48) were assigned to six different groups and provided experimental diets for 28 days. The protein source of the diet was casein, isolated soy protein (ISP), or casein plus traditional soy powders (yellow bean, huktae, jinuni or seorietae). The ISP, jinuni and seorietae diet decreased blood triglyceride compared to casein group. The ISP groups had lower hepatic total lipid and triglycerides than casein groups. The yellow bean and seorietae group had hepatic lipid lowering effects, but the effect was not found in huktae and jinuni group. The glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase activity was significantly decreased in ISP and jinuni groups than in casein group. The glutamate-pyruvate transaminase activity was also decreased in ISP group. The results of this study suggest that jinuni, yellow bean and seorietae groups are more effective in lowering body lipids than huktae group.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.297-303
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• 2007

The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) and n-butanol fraction (NBF) of ethanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri aerial parts were screened for hepatoprotective activity and in vivo antioxidant activity on ethanol-induced hepatotoxic rats. Ethyl acetate fraction was found to be more potent even though both the fractions were endowed with significant hepatoprotective activity. EAF and NBF were investigated for hepatoprotective activity in albino rats at 300 mg/kg, p.o. dose and compared with standard drug Silymarin (25 mg/kg, p.o.). Results show that both the fractions were effective in blunting ethanol-induced enhanced activities of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, level of serum bilirubin (both total and direct), liver weight loss and was also effective in reducing ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the fractions could also enhance ethanol-induced suppressed activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and decreased level of reduced glutathione. Results of hepatocellular damage caused by ethanol and its recovery by EAF and NBF, suggest that they might be considered as a potential source of natural hepatoprotective agents, which could be related to the free radical scavenging properties of saponins present in high concentration in the fractions.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2010

The flowers of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. of Oleaceae widely used in Ayurvedic system of medicine for the treatment of diuresis, liver disorder, spleen enlargement sciatica, bitter, stomachic, carminative and tonic to hair. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the flowers of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis for hepatoprotective effect against carbontetrachloride induced liver damage in rats. Administration of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis protect the liver from toxic effects of carbontetrachloride by reducing the elevated levels of Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, Alkaline phosphatase and serum bilirubin. Results revealed that both the alcoholic and aqueous extracts showed significant hepatoprotective activity by reducing the elevated levels of biochemical parameters at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. The results were supported by histopathological studies of liver samples which showed regeneration of hepatocytes by the extracts.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.225-231
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• 2009

The present study deals with the amelioration by Lagerstroemia speciosa Linn. leaf extract against hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$), which was evaluated in terms of serum marker enzymes like serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, serum total bilirubin, total protein levels along with concomitant hepatic and antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxidation enzymes were monitored. These biochemical parameters altered by the single dose level of $CCl_4$ (0.75 ml/kg body weight, i.p). Pre treatment with L. speciosa prior to the administration of $CCl_4$, at the doses of 50 and 250 mg/kg. body weight/day, p.o. for 7 days, significantly restored all the serum and liver tissue parameters near to the normal levels, respectively. Silymarin was used as a reference standard, prior to the administration of $CCl_4$ to rats. These findings indicate the protective potential of L. speciosa against hepato toxicity which possibly involve mechanism related to its ability of selective inhibitors of (reactive oxygen species like antioxidants brought about significant inhibition of TBARS suggesting possible involvement of $O_2{\cdot}-$, $HO_2{\cdot}$, and ${\cdot}OH$. In conclusion, the amelioration may be attributed to the synergistic effects of its constituents rather than to any single factor as the leaves are rich in tannins, sterols, flavonoids, saponins etc.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.828-836
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• 1996

The histological changes of gill, liver, spleen and muscle, and respiration and blood variables and liver glycogen content were examined in black seabream, Acanthopagrus schlegeli. Fish were exposed to a high level of total ammonia nitrogen (10.4 mg/l) and recovered from exposure $(0.4{\pm}0.2mg/l)$ in a closed recirculating seawater system. In the process of exposure, mortality was $9\%$, and hyperplasia, necrosis or inflammation appeared in all tissues except for muscle. Oxygen consumption was decreased by $49\%$, and red blood cell (RBC) number, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration were significantly decreased, while plasma glucose contents, activities of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) increased. Liver glycogen content significantly increased from $6.6\%\;to\;10.4\%$. A large amount of hemosiderin was observed in the splenic tissue. During the recovery period, RBC number, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, GOT and GPT activities were returned to the normal status. Histological status of liver tissue was returned to the normal, but liver glycogen content was not recovered. During the recovery period, spleen melanin-macrophages temporarily increased, but subsequently decreased to the normal status.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2014

Arecoline is a major alkaloid of areca nuts which are widely chewed by southeast Asian and it manifests various toxic effects in different organs of human and animals. In this work, mature mice were treated by vitamins C plus E, arecoline, or both daily for four weeks. The results showed that arecoline significantly increased the levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and significantly decreased the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the liver tissues. Additionally, the body weight, testis weight, sperm counts, motility and normal sperms also were significantly decreased. The supplement of vitamins C and E can bring the activities of ALP and GPT to normal levels and partially restore the sperm counts compared to the arecoline-treated group but have no other positive effects. In conclusion, the vitamins C and E partially attenuated the arecoline-induced hepatotoxiciy but basically had on protective effects against the arecoline-induced testicular toxicity.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.860-868
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• 2014

The study was performed to investigate changes in hematological responses and antioxidative enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT) of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica following exposure to 0 (control), 2.33, 4.60, 6,64 and 8.78 mM nitrite-N in fresh water for 48 h. Hematological parameters such as plasma nitrite, electrolytes, cortisol, glucose, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), hemoglobin (Hb), methemoglobin (metHb) and NADH-methemoglobin reductase (NMR) were measured. Plasma nitrite, cortisol, metHb and NMR increased directly with increasing ambient nitrite concentration, while Hb content showed a progressive decline. Levels of plasma potassium, GOT and GPT of the eel exposed to 6.64 mM ambient nitrite were significantly higher than the control fish. The activity of SOD and CAT in plasma, gill and liver of the eel following exposure to nitrite were augmented by increasing ambient nitrite. Levels of plasma nitrite, metHb, NMR, cortisol, glucose and antioxidative enzyme activities of the eel exposed to 2.33 mM ambient nitrite were significantly higher than the control fish. This study suggested that the eel acutely exposed to elevated ambient nitrite causes nitrite-induced stress responses, changes in antioxidative enzyme activities and hematological parameters.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.194-200
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• 2013

Korean red ginseng (KRG) is prepared by the process of steaming the roots of Panax ginseng. In this study, the feeding effects of KRG-water extract (KRGE) on ethanol-induced liver damage were elucidated by measuring serum biomarkers in rats. Serum ${\gamma}$-glutamyltranspeptidase (g-GT) activity and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly increased by short-term and long-term ethanol treatment in rats, whereas the activities of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) did not respond. Pretreatment with KRGE maintained the activity of serum GPT, and the MDA concentration induced by short-term ethanol ingestion remained within the normal range. However, co-feeding of KRGE to rats decreased the concentration of MDA but failed to modulate the serum ${\gamma}$-GT activity induced by long-term ethanol treatment. Our studies suggest that in rats, it appears that KRGE does not sufficiently reverse the physiological response evoked by long-term ethanol ingestion to maintain normal conditions, in view of the serum biomarker ${\gamma}$-GT, regardless of KRGE's favorable antioxidant activity.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.241-247
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• 2020

Ulmus davidiana Nakai (UDN) has been traditionally used as a herbal medicine in Korea. In the present study, we investigated the anti-ecotoxic potential of a 116 kDa glycoprotein isolated from UDN (UDN glycoprot ein) in regulating fecal malodor and feed efficiency in mice. We found that UDN glycoprotein (200 μg/ml) has an inhibitory effect on the cell death induced by an ecotoxicological endocrine disrupting chemical, bisphenol A, in colon epithelial HT-29 cells. UDN glycoprotein did not show significant differences regarding the weight of ecotoxicity-related organs (liver, heart, kidneys, and spleen) and the levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, and lactate dehydrogenase in mice for 2 weeks, compared to the control. Additionally, UDN glycoprotein reduced the levels of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia as markers of fecal malodor in mice. Interestingly, UDN glycoprotein can improve the mouse feed efficiency. In conclusion, our data indicate that anti-ecotoxicological UDN glycoprotein has the ability to increase the feed efficiency and reduce the fecal malodor by maintaining the viability of colonic epithelial cells in mice.