• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.91-100
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• 2003

In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of the Lycii Fructus water extracts (LFE) against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity and the mechanism underlying these protective effects in the rats. The pretreatment of LFE has shown to possess a significant protective effect by lowering the serum alanine and aspartate aminoteansferase (AST and ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). This hepatoprotective action was confirmed by histological observation, In addition, the pretreatment of LFE prevented the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and the depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) content and catalase activity in the liver of CC1₄-injected rats. The LFE also displayed hydroxide radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 83.6 μg/ml), as assayed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping technique. Moreover, the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) mRNA, as measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), was significantly decreased in the liver of LFE-pretreated rats when compared with that in the liver of control group. Based on these results, it was suggested that the hepatoprotective effects of the LFE may be related to antioxidant effects and regulation of CYP2E1 gene expression.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.367-386
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• 2012

Objectives : The object of this study was to observe the effects of Gamioryung-san (GOS), which consists of 22 types of herbs, on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy rats. Methods : Three different dosages of GOS were orally administered once a day for 28 days from 3 weeks after STZ treatment. Six groups, each of 8 rats per group were used. Changes on the body weights, blood glucose levels, serum BUN and creatinine levels, urine volumes, and UAER were observed with changes on the kidney malondialdehyde contents and glutathione, dismutase and catalase contents. In addition, histopathology of kidney, pancreas, thymus and spleen were observed. The results were compared with antioxidant silymarin 100 mg/kg, of which the effects on STZ -induced diabetes and related complications are already confirmed. Results : As a result of treatment of GOS 800, 400 or 200 mg/kg for 28 days, STZ-induced decreases of body weights, hyperglycemia, atrophic changes of pancreatic islets with decreases of insulin-immunoreactive cells and decreases of glucagon -immunoreactive cells were inhibited dose-dependently. Increases in kidney weight, serum BUN and creatinine levels, urine volumes, UAER, vasodilated atrophic glomerulus and abnormal tubules were inhibited dose-dependently. Also increases of kidney MDA contents and decreases of GSH contents, SOD and CAT activities, decreases of thymus and spleen weights, and atrophic changes at histopathological observation were also inhibited. The effects of GOS 400 mg/kg showed similar effects to silymarin 100 mg/kg. Conclusions : These results suggest that 400 mg/kg of GOS retarded the STZ-induced diabetic nephropathies as similarly to silymarin 100 mg/kg, through modulations of oxidative stress and immune systems.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.135-142
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• 2018

Recently, research on the processing of raw functional materials with the aim of improving various physiological activities has been conducted. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activity of royal jelly (RJ) hydrolysates obtained from three commercial proteases. Enzyme-treated royal jelly (ERJ), in which the RJ hydrolysates were converted into easy-to-absorb shorter chain monomers through the removal of two known allergen proteins, showed no difference in the content of (E)-10-hydroxydec-2-enoicacid (10-HDA) or the freshness parameter and showed a significant increase in total free amino acid content. The antioxidant activity of ERJ was determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and chemical assays. The ERJ showed about 80% DPPH-radical scavenging activity at same concentration of ascorbic acid. The antioxidant effect of ERJ was confirmed to be due to reduction of intracellular reactive oxidative species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-treated macrophages. Moreover, ERJ significantly increased the activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, these antioxidant activities of ERJ were stronger than those of non-treated RJ. These findings indicate that ERJ has high potential as an antioxidant agent for use in human and animal diets.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.251-259
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• 2018

Objective : Kurarinone is one of the flavonoids isolated from Sophorae Radix with various biological activities including anti-microbial effect. In this study, we investigated the effects of Kurarinone on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP)-induced oxidative stress finally leading to apoptosis in human hepatoma cell line HepG2. Methods : To determine the effects on cell viability, the cells were exposed to tBHP ($100{\mu}mol/l$) after pretreatment with kurarinone (0.5 and $1{\mu}g/ml$). Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. To reveal the possible mechanism of cytoprotectivity of kurarinone, levels of reactive oxygen species, intracellular glutathione, mitochondrial membrane potential, and expression of caspase were examined. Results : tBHP-induced cell death was due to oxidative stress and the resulting apoptosis. Kurarinone dose-dependently protected cells from apoptosis when determined by MTT and TUNEL assay. Consistent with this observation, decreased expression of pro-caspase 3/9 protein by tBHP was restored by kurarinone. Kurarinone also showed anti-oxidative effects by inhibiting generation of ROS and depletion of GSH in tBHP-stimulated HepG2 cells. In addition, kurarinone significantly recovered disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) as a start sign of hepatic apoptosis induced by oxidative stress. Conclusion : From these results, it was concluded that kurarinone protected tBHP-induced hepatotoxicity with anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic activities. Our results suggest that kurarinone might be beneficial to hepatic disorders caused by oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.282-289
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• 2001

The study evaluated the effectiveness of intervention for male adolescent smokers by making an assessment in terms of changes in food habits, nutrition knowledge, plasma catalase, superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase peroxidase(GSH-px) activities and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS) after Vit C supplementation and nutrition education. The subjects, male adolescent smokers, were assigned into four groups : Control group(19 students), education(Educ.) group(19 students), Vit C supplementation (suppl) group(19 students), and Educ. + Vit C suppl. group(19 students). The Educ. group and Educ. + Vit C suppl. group received nutrition education once a week for 2 weeks. The Vit C suppl. group Educ. + Vit C suppl. group received 500 mg ascorbic acid for 35 days. All data were collected before intervention and after intervention. Nutrition knowledge of those who received education increased, and the frequency of fruit and yellow-green vegetable consumption also increased. Plasma antioxidant enzyme activities were not different except for the SOD activity in the Educ. + Vit C suppl. group, which was significantly increased. The plasma ceruloplasmin level of groups that received Vit C supplementation was reduced more than any other groups, and the specific ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity of groups that received Vit C supplementation was elevated more than other groups. These intervention programs had an impact on food habits, nutrition knowledge, plasma antioxidant enzyme activities, and plasma TBARS in male adolescent smokers. Various nutrition education programs must be implemented for adolescent smokers, and further studied are needed regarding sorts and amount of antioxidant nutrients and supplementation duration.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.771-779
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary $\beta$-carotene supplementation on lipid metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activities in hyperlipidemic rats. Fifty Sprague-Dawley male rats aging 7 weeks were fed the control diet (CD,5% corn oil) and the high fat diet (HFD,15% beef tallow +1% cholesterol) for 4 weeks and then 0.02% $\beta$-carotene was supplemented to CD and HFD group for 8 more weeks. Serum lipid compositions, lipid peroxides and antioxidative enzymes in liver were analyzed at 4, 8 and 12week of the experiment. Serum levels of total lipid, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol were higher in HFD groups than in CD groups (p < 0.001), Serum levels of HDL-cholesterol were higher in CD groups than in HFD groups (p < 0.01) . The effect of $\beta$-carotene supplementation was not significant in all groups but tended to be lower in total lipid, total cholesterol and Triglyceride. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels in plasma and liver were showed significantly higher in HFD groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.05). The effects of $\beta$-carotene supplementation on the level of plasma and liver TBARS were not found except HFD groups at 12 week. Liver conjugated diene levels in HFD groups were higher than in CD groups (p < 0.01), but the effect of $\beta$-carotene supplementation did not show any differences. Liver lipofuscin levels were not significantly different among all groups. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were significantly lower in HFD groups at 8 week (p < 0.001) but were not significantly different at 4 and 12week. The activity of SOD in $\beta$-carotene supplemented HFD group was significantly higher at 8 week (p < 0.01). Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was significantly lower in HFD groups (p < 0.01) and was significantly increased in groups supplemented $\beta$-carotene (p < 0.05). It is suggested that $\beta$-carotene supplementation partly decreases the serum lipid and lipid peroxide levels and increases the activities of antioxidant enzymes in hyperlipidemic rats.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.81-97
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• 2007

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-oxidative effect of electroacupuncture at Kokchi($LI_{11}$) in rats. Methods: A study administer AAPH to the abdominal cavity of rats and stimulate Kokchi($LI_{11}$) of the rat that lead to oxidative stress by electropuncture. And the study survey serum albumin, total bilirubin, LDL-cholesterol, LDH, Glucose, GOT, GPT and measure SOD activity, GSH concentration, catalase activity, NO concentration, MDA concentration. Results: 1. At the analysis of blood chemistry Albumin and Glucose significantly increase at $LI_{11}$-NR group, $LI_{11}$-EA group than at control group and holder group. LDL cholesterol, GOT, GPT decrease meaningfully. 2. As results of measurement at liver, SOD, Catalase represnet significantly increase at $LI_{11}$-NR group and $LI_{11}$-EA group than at control group and holder group. 3. Glutathione has some increases at the $LI_{11}$-NR group and $LI_{11}$-EA group than at the control group and the holder group. 4. As a result of measurement of NO and MDA's content, the content of NO decrease at the $LI_{11}$-NR group than at the control group. That reduces more meaningfully at the $LI_{11}$-EA group than at the control group. MDA has a significant decrease at the $LI_{11}$-NR group and the $LI_{11}$-EA group. 5. At the histological analysis, the study confirm that the density of intracellular cytoplasm in the liver tissue decreases at the control group as compared with the Normal group and the size of cell increases. Conclusions : These results suppose that electroacupuncture at $LI_{11}$ has an anti-oxidant effect in human.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.983-989
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• 2008

Two flavonoids, isorhamnetin 3-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (1) and quercetin 3-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (2), from slander glasswort (Salicornia herbacea, Korean name hamcho) were isolated. Antioxidative and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) inhibitory effects of these compounds were investigated in HT 1080 cell lines. These compounds suppressed the electron spin resonance (ESR) signal intensity on generation of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical in a free-cellular system. Their scavenging effects on generation of intercellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) also exhibited similar trends with DPPH radical in the free cellular system. Also, a control group combined only with Fe(II)-$H_{2}O_2$ resulted in DNA apoptosis by oxidative stress, whereas treatments with these compounds suppressed radical-mediated DNA damage. Intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels were slightly increased in the presence of compound 1 and 2. Moreover, these compounds led to the reduction of the expression levels of MMP-9 without cytotoxic influence. These results suggest that these compounds have a potential as a valuable natural antioxidant and MMP inhibitor related to oxidative stress. Therefore, these compounds not only can be developed as a candidate for a therapeutic potential but also a source for use as ingredients of health foods or functional foods to prevent metastasis involving MMP-9, closely related to ROS.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.181-200
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• 2007

Objevtives & Methods : Effects of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at BL18 and LI11 on lipid composition, cytokine level, liver function, anti-oxidative capacity and histological characters were investigated in diet-induced obese rats. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 400g were divided into 4 groups of control, BL18, LI11 and BL18 plus LI11 pharmacopuncture groups and raised for 4 weeks. Results : 1. Plasma ${\beta}$-lipoprotein, free fatty acids level and TNF-${\alpha}$ levels significantly decreased in the pharmacopuncture groups compared to those of no treatment group. Plasma and liver total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels were also significantly lower than those of no treatment group. There was, however, no difference in TBARS level among pharmacopuncture groups. Liver total cholesterol level of BL18 pharmacopuncture group was lower than those of the other two pharmacopuncture groups. In LDL-cholesterol level, BL18 pharmacopuncture and BL18 plus LI11 pharmacopuncture groups only had significantly lower levels than that of no treatment group. 2. There was no significant difference between cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture groups and no treatment group in IL-6, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartic acid transaminase (AST) levels. 3. Compared with \ those of no treatment group, pharmacopuncture groups had significantly higher levels of HDL-cholesterol, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase activities. There was, however, no significant difference among pharmacopuncture groups. 4. Histological characters of heart, kidney and liver of BL18 pharmacopuncture group were similar to those of normal rats. Conclusions : These results indicate that cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at BL18 and LI11 may suppress adipose tissue mass and lipid peroxidation and activate antioxidant system.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2013

Objective: The study was carried out to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant potential of Ziziphus mucronata (ZM) fruit extract. Methods: The different types of fruit extract were prepared by soaking the dry powdered fruit in different solvents followed by rotary evaporation. Each extract was tested for its phenol content and antioxidant activities. An in vivo study was performed in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Thirty adult male SD rats (aged 21 weeks) were divided into six groups of five rats each and treated as follows: The normal control (NC) received distilled water while the dimethoate control (DC) received 6 mg/kg.bw.day-1 dimethoate dissolved in distilled water. The experimental groups E1, E2, E3, and E0 received dimethoate (6 mg/kg.bw) + ZMFM (100 mg/kg.bw-1), dimethoate (6 mg/kg.bw) + ZMFM (200 mg/kg.bw-1), dimethoate (6 mg/kg.bw) + ZMFM (300 mg/kg.bw-1), and ZMFM (300 mg/kg.bw-1) only. Both the normal control and the dimethoate control groups were used to compare the results. After 90 days, rats were sacrificed, blood was collected for biochemical assays, and livers were harvested for histological study. Results: High phenol content was estimated, and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl radical (DPPH) spectrophotometric, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and 2, 2-Azobis-3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) assays showed a high antioxidant activity among the extracts. The preventive effects observed in the E1, E2 and E3 groups proved that the extract could prevent dimethoate toxicity by maintaining normal reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin C and E, superoxide dismutase, catalase, cholineasterase and lipid profiles. The preventive effect was observed to be dose dependent. The EO group showed no extract-induced toxicity. Histological observations agreed with the results obtained in the biochemical studies. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that ZM methanol fruit extract is capable of attenuating dimethoate-induced toxicity because of its high antioxidant activity.