• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.120-129
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• 2024

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a significant risk factor in the global disease burden. The stem bark of the Betulaceae plant Alnus japonica, which is indigenous to Korea, has been used as a popular folk medicine for hepatitis and cancer. However, the preventive effect of Alnus japonica leaf extracts on alcohol-related liver damage has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of the extracts of Alnus japonica leaf (AJL) against ethanol-induced liver damage in HepG2/2E1 cells. Treatment with AJL significantly prevented ethanol-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2/2E1 cells by reducing the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). This protective effect was likely associated with antioxidant potential of AJL, as evidenced by the attenuation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) production and restoration of the depleted glutathione (GSH) levels in ethanol-induced HepG2/2E1 cells. Our findings suggest that FCC might be considered as a useful agent in the prevention of liver damage induced by oxidative stress by increasing the antioxidant defense mechanism.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2003

The preparation method of a soluble dietary fiber from oak wood (Quercus mongolica) and the effect of the soluble dietary fiber on physiological function in rat fed high cholesterol diets was investigated. The best condition for steam explosion method was 25 kgf/㎤ pressure for 6 min. The exploded samples were delignified by the filtration treatment with 1% NaOH for several times, which is the best condition. The enzymatic hydrolysis of Cellusoft cellulase was more effective than Onozuka R-10 cellulase. The manufactured soluble dietary fiber was assayed using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and it was dissolved in water. Average molecular weight distribution of manufactured soluble dietary fiber was about 348-1,200 and it was assumed the oligomer form fraction. In order to compare the manufactured soluble dietary fiber with commercial soluble dietary fiber (pectin) on the physiological function, Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100$\pm$10 g were randomly assigned to one normal diet and five high cholesterol diet containing 1% cholesterol. The high cholesterol diet groups were classified to fiber free diet (FF group), 5% pectin (5P group), 10% pectin (l0P group), 5% manufactured soluble dietary fiber (5M group) and 10% manufactured soluble dietary fiber (10M group). Body weight gains in all soluble dietary fiber groups were lower than FF group. Food intakes were increased in all soluble dietary fiber groups than that of FF group. Food efficiency ratio (FER) was significantly decreased in all soluble dietary fiber groups than that of the FF group, and it was especially was highest in 10% supplemented soluble dietary fiber group. The weight of liver of the soluble dietary fiber supplemented groups were lower than those of the FF group, but weights of cecum and small intestine of all supplemented soluble dietary fiber groups were significantly increased, compared with that of FF group. The weights and water contents in feces were significantly increased by the soluble dietary fiber. The activity of the glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase in soluble dietary fiber groups were significantly decreased than those of FF group. The hepatic glutathione S-transferase activity in all soluble dietary fiber supplemented groups were higher than that of FF group. The physiological effects of the manufactured soluble dietary fiber are the same as the commercial soluble dietary fiber (pectin). The preparation method of the soluble dietary fiber from the oak chips suited to its purpose. (Korean J Nutrition 36(1) : 9~17, 2003)

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.212-220
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• 2001

To investigate the modifying effect of Kwao Kreu, Pueraria mirifica (PM), we performed two kind of studies which are the non-surgical medium-term carcinogenicity study and the modulation of gap junctional intercellular communication study. The first study, a non-surgical medium-term carcinogenicity bioassay was done to investigate the modifying effect of Kwao Keru, Pueyaria mirifca (PH), a rejuvenating folk medicine from Thailand, on the male F344 rat liver. Specific pathogen free, male 6-week-old F3444 rats were divided into ten groups. To induce hepatocarcinogenesis, those in all groups were given a single i.p. injection of DEN (200 mg/kg) and were received two i.p. injection of DGA (300 mg/kg) at the ends of weeks 2 and 5. Rats of group 3-6 were given sodium phenobarbital (PB 0.05% in drink). A diet containing 10 mg/kg PM was given to group 2 during the post-initiation phase and to groups 4 and 5 during promotion and initiation phase, respectively. Group 6 was given the experimental diet alone throughout the experiment (8 weeks). Rats of group 7, 8, 9 and 10 were fed 1000 mg/kg PH in the same manner as group 2, 4, 5 and 6. All animals were sacrificed at 8 weeks after DEN administration. Result of the immunohistochemical staining of the glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-p) indicated that the numbers and areas of the preneoplastic leisions were not significantly changed in all PM treatment group comparing to control group. Also the numbers and areas of GST-p positive foci among group 7, 8, 9 and 10 were not significantly changed in comparing to control group. To study the effect of PM on the modulation of gap junctional intercellular communication, the present study was performed scrape-loading dye transfer (SL/DT) assay in human keratinocytes. The results showed that PM could not modulate GJIC. These results indicate that Pueraria mirifica may have no carcinogenic effects on experimental hepatocarcinogenesis in rats and gap junctional intercellular communication in human keratinocyte.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.429-439
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• 2011

Objectives: Ethylene oxide (EtO) is classified as a human carcinogen, but EtO is still widely used to sterilize heat-sensitive materials in hospitals. Employees working around sterilizers are exposed to EtO after sterilization. The aim of the present study was to assess the exposure of EtO level, coupled with occupationally induced micronuclei from hospital workers. The influence of genetic polymorphisms of detoxifying genes (GSTT1 and GSTM1) and DNA repair genes (XRCC1 and XRCC3) on the frequencies of micronuclei in relation to exposure of EtO was also investigated. Methods: The study population was composed of 35 occupationally exposed workers to EtO, 18 student controls and 44 unexposed hospital controls in Korea. Exposure to EtO is measured by passive personal samplers. We analyzed the frequencies of micronuclei by performing cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN assay) and GSTM1, GSTT1, XRCC1, and XRCC3 were also genotyped by performing polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: The frequencies of micronuclei in EtO exposure group, student controls and hospital controls were $18.00{\pm}7.73$, $10.47{\pm}7.96$ and $13.86{\pm}6.35$ respectively and their differences were statistically significant, but no significant differences according to the level of EtO were observed. There was a dose-response relationship between the frequencies of micronuclei and cumulative dose of EtO, but no significantly differences were observed. We also investigated the influence of genetic polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1, XRCC1, and XRCC3) on the frequencies of micronuclei, but there were no differences in the frequencies of micronuclei by genetic polymorphisms. Conclusions: The frequencies of micronuclei in EtO exposure group was significantly higher than control groups. A dose-response relationship was found between the level of EtO exposure and the frequencies of micronuclei, but no statistically differences were observed. We also found that the frequencies of micronuclei were increased according to cumulative EtO level. There was no association of the genetic GSTM1, GSTT1, XRCC1, and XRCC3 state with the frequency of micronuclei induced by EtO exposure.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2010

To investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) and Eucommia ulmoides (EU) on antioxidant defense system in laying hens, a total of three hundreds sixty 20-wk old Hyline brown commercial laying hens were assigned to five dietary groups for 10-wk: (1) control diet, (2) control diet supplemented with AS at 0.5%, (3) control diet supplemented with AS at 1.0%, (4) control diet supplemented with EU at 0.5% and (5) control diet supplemented with EU at 1.0%. Total antioxidant status (TAS) in blood and antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), gluthathione -S- transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and lipid peroxidation in the small intestine and liver were measured. There were no changes in body weight for 10-wk dietary treatment. TAS in blood significantly (P<0.05) increased in birds fed the diet supplemented with 1% AS and 0.5 and 1.0% EU compared with those fed control diet. Especially, dietary EU showed much higher (P<0.05) TAS compared with AS. In the antioxidant defense enzymes, GST activity of the small intestine was shown to be significantly (P<0.05) increased in birds fed the diets supplemented with 0.5 and 1.0% EU compared with those fed the control diet. In addition, intestinal SOD activity significantly (P<0.05) increased in birds fed the diets supplemented with 0.5% of AS and EU. However, we could not observe any significant dietary treatment effect of those antioxidant parameters in the liver. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 0.5% AS and EU in a laying hen diet could be applied as a potential antioxidant source to improves bio-activity of antioxidant and economical aspect in laying hens.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.183-194
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin E on the synthesis of the metallothionein in the liver of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats($220{\pm}10mg$) were randomly assigned to one control and three STZ-diabetic groups. Diabetic groups were classified to STZ-0E(vitamine E free diet), STZ-40E(40mg vitamin E/kg of diet) and STZ-400E(400mg vitamin E/kg of diet) according to the level of vitamin E supplementation. Blood glucose levels of STZ-diabetic rats were three times higher than that of control. The contents of vitamin E in liver were lower signifciantly STZ-0E, STZ-40E groups by 50%, 36% compared with that of control. Lipid peroxide values(LPO) in liver were higher 5.6 and 2.5 times in STZ-0E and STZ-40E groups than that of control. Plasma cortisol levels were higher STZ-0E and STZ-40E groups compared with those of control, but cortisol levels were lower significantly in STZ-400E group compared with those of the STZ-0E and the STZ-40E groups. The plasma insulin levels were lower in all three STZ-diabetic group compared with that of control, but were not affected by the level of dietary vitamin E. The metallothionein (MT) contents in liver, kidney and small intestine were five times higher in STZ-0E, STZ-40E and STZ-400E compared with that of control, but STZ-400E group was lower in the MT contents in tissues compared with that of STZ-40E group. Zn-MT peak in STZ-diabetic rats liver increased than that of control by Sephadex G-75, and Zn-MT peak divided into MTI and MTII peaks by DEAE Sephadex A-25 column chromatography. The present results indicate that STZ-induced diabetic rats are more sensitive to oxidative stress, leading to the acceleration of lipid peroxidation process, which can be more promoted low level of dietary vitamin E. And the result may that increase synthesis of MT induced in the liver of diabetic rats increased so it can be sure that the diabetes is one of the MT induce factor by free radical generation. And high vitamin E supplementation reduced total MT contents of liver, kidney and small intestine and the peak of purified Zn-MT. Through the results of these experiments, we can conclude that MT might be the free radical scavenger.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.1415-1421
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• 2008

Preventive effects of 3-(4'-hydroxyl-3',5'-dimethoxyphenyl)propionic acid (HDMPPA), an active compound in Korean cabbage kimchi with anti-atherogenic effects, on the accumulation of lipids in the vital organs of $apoE^{(-/-)}$ mice fed atherogenic diet (AD) were studied. Each group of 10 mice was fed AD for 8 weeks with intraperitoneal injection of either HDMPPA (1 mg HDMPPA/100 g BW/day) or phosphate buffered saline as a vehicle. The organs used for this study were liver, kidney, spleen, lung, testis, and brain. Total cholesterol (TC) concentration of lung was the highest followed by spleen and brain. TC level for the liver was the lowest. In contrast to the results of TC, triglyceride (TG) concentration in the liver was the highest followed by kidney and testis. $ApoE^{(-/-)}$ mice did not have any problem uptaking chylomicron remnant by the liver which carries an extra TG after delivering it to the adipose tissue. HDMPPA retarded TC and TG accumulations in the vital organs. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the brain and spleen were the highest and that in the testis were the lowest. Poly-unsaturated fatty acids in the brain and activated peroxisome in the spleen might be responsible for high TBARS levels in these organs. The greatest antioxidant effect of HDMPPA against lipid peroxidation was observed in the spleen, showing 21.47% decrease. The most noticeable effect of HDMPPA was observed in glutathione (GSH) level. GSH levels of six organs in the HDMPPA group were significantly higher than those of the control group. GSH-peroxidase activity was negatively related to GSH level of the organs except liver and spleen. In conclusion, HDMPPA from Korean cabbage kimchi inhibits the lipid accumulation as well as increases the antioxidant status in the vital organs of $apoE^{(-/-)}$ mice fed an atherogenic diet.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.269-277
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• 2010

Selenium is an essential micronutrient for normal body function and functions as an essential constituent of selenoproteins. This study was carried out to investigate effect of selenium on the formation of colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and tumor formation in a mouse model. Five-week old ICR mice were acclimated for one week and fed different selenium diet (0.02, 0.1, and 0.5 ppm) for 12 weeks. Animals received three intraperitoneal injections of azoxymethane (10 mg/kg B.W. in saline for 3 weeks), followed by 2% dextran sodium sulfate in the drinking water for a week. There were four experimental groups, including a normal control group and three different selenium levels groups. After sacrifice, the total numbers of aberrant crypt (AC) and ACF were measured in the colonic mucosa after methylene blue staining. The number of tumors was noted for tumor incidence. Liver selenium concentration was measured using ICP-AES method. Gutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was determined using a GPx assay kit in the liver and colon. TUNEL assay and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining were performed to examine the cell apoptosis and cell proliferation, respectively. Immunohistochemistry of $\beta$-catenin was also performed on the mucous membrane tissue of colon. The activity of GPx in the liver and colon was decreased in the selenium-deficient diet group while it was increased in the selenium-overloaded diet group. Apoptotic positive cells were increased in the selenium-overloaded diet group but decreased in the selenium-deficient diet group. PCNA staining area was decreased in the selenium-overloaded diet group. In addition, the $\beta$-catenin protein level in the selenium-deficient diet group was increased but decreased in the selenium-overloaded diet group. These results indicate that dietary selenium might exert a modulating effect on colon cancer by inhibiting the development of ACF and colon tumor formation in this mouse model.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.401-410
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• 2016

Purpose: Water is magnetically charged upon contact with a magnet. Although magnetic water products have been promoted since the 1930's, they have not received wide acceptance since their effectiveness is still in question; however, some have reported their therapeutic effects on the body, especially the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. Methods: In this study, the effect of magnetized water on glycemic control of 14 diabetic mice (CB57BK/KsJ-db/db) in comparison with 10 control mice (CB57BK/KsJ-db/+(db/+)) was investigated. Seven diabetic control (DMC) mice and seven diabetic mice + magnetized water (DM+MW) were kept for 16 weeks, followed by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT). Weekly blood glucose was measured from tail veins. Blood obtained from heart puncture was used for HbA1c analysis. Results: Blood glucose level showed a significant difference starting from the $10^{th}$ week of study ($496.1{\pm}10.2mg/dl$ in DMC vs. $437.9{\pm}76.9mg/dl$ in DM+MW). Blood glucose followed by IPGTT showed no significant difference between groups at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min, although glucose level at 180 min was significantly reduced in DM+MW mice. Plasma insulin level in DM+MW groups was only 39.5% of that of DMC groups ($5.97{\pm}1.69ng/ml$ in DMC vs. $2.36{\pm}0.94ng/ml$ in DM+MW). Levels of HbA1c were 12.4% and 9.7% in DMC and DM+MW groups, respectively. Conclusion: These results show the promising therapeutic effect of magnetized water in regulating blood glucose homeostasis; however, long-term supplementation or mechanistic study is necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1310-1317
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• 2003

Effects of dietary cholesterol and/or taurine supplementation on plasma and hepatic lipid peroxidation status and antioxidant enzyme activities were evaluated in rats fed one of the following semisynthetic diets for 5 weeks: control diet (CD, cholesterol-free and taurine-free diet); high cholesterol diet (HCD, CD+1.5% cholesterol): high taurine diet (HTD, CD+1.5% taurine): high cholesterol and high taurine diet (HCHTD, HCD + 1.5% taurine). Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) level was not influenced by dietary cholesterol or taurine supplementation, while hepatic MDA level was 70% higher in rats fed HCD compared to the value for CD rats (p<0.05). Our observation that taurine supplementation significantly decreased the hepatic MDA level of rats fed HCD, but failed to decrease lipid peroxidation of rats fed CD indicates that the protective effect of taurine in the liver against lipid peroxidation is manifested only under the hypercholesterolemic environment. Plasma and hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were not affected by dietary supplementation of cholesterol or taurine. However, hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly reduced by dietary taurine supplementation (p <0.05), and thus significantly lower in rats fed HTD compared to the value for CD (p<0.05). Plasma total cholesterol concentration was positively correlated with hepatic cholesterol concentration as expected (r=0.712, p<0.001). Plasma (r=0.399, p<0.05) and hepatic cholesterol levels (r=0.429, p<0.05) showed a significantly positive correlation with hepatic MDA concentration, respectively. Plasma taurine concentration was negatively correlated with hepatic SOD activity (r=-0.481, p<0.01), and tended to be negatively correlated with hepatic GSH-Px activity without showing statistical significance (r=-0.188, p<0.05). These results indicate an antioxidative effect of taurine in rats with elevated level of lipid Peroxidation due to high intake of dietary cholesterol. Future application of taurine as a safe candidate for a hypolipidemic agent without adversely affecting body's antioxidant defense system is speculated.