• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.244-249
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• 2003

To investigate the hepatic oxygen free radical metabolizing system and changes of serum cholesterol levels in rats fed a diet supplemented with Monascus pigment (MP), Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 300 g have been fed a diet supplemented with 2% or 4% MP for a month. The rats fed 2% MP supplemented diet gained less body weight than the control rats and those fed 4% W supplemented diet. Those fed 2% or 4% MP supplemented diet had no remarkable changes in liver function on basis of liver weight/body weight, serum levels of xanthine oxidase, alanine amino transferase activity In rats fed 2% and 4% MP supplemented diet, hepatic cytochrome P45O dependent aniline hydroxylase activity significantly (p<0.05) declined about 32%, 37% respectively and showed no significant differences between rats fed 2% and 4% MP supplemented diet whereas those fed 2% MP supplemented diet showed about 29% increased hepatic xanthine oxidase activity. And hepatic glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase activites in rats fed 2% MP supplemented were more increased by about 17%, 28% respectively than the control rats. There were no significant differences both in between those fed 2% and 4% MP supplemented diet. Especially rats fed 2% or 4% MP supplemented diet showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in hepatic catalase activity by 41%, 25% compared with control rats and those fed 4% MP supplemented diet showed more decrease in tendency of catalase activity than those 2% MP supplemented diet. But hepatic superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione content were appeared to be similar value among three groups. On the other hand, rats fed 2% MP supplement diet showed 17% increased levels of serum HDL-choresterol and 26% decreased value of LDL-cholesterol and serum level of triglyceride. But no different value were appeared between those fed 2% and 4% MP supplemented diet. Especially in those fed 2% and 4% MP supplemented diet, artherogenic index were significantly (p<0.05) declined by 37%, 29% respectively compared with control. In conclusion, it is likely that rats fed a diet supplemented with a proper quantity of MP may have the potential of oxygen free radical detoxication and lowering of artherogenic index.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.919-926
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to inspect trends of the paper of Korean medical treatment on Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Hepatotoxicity and try to establish the future direction for development of Korean herbal medicine. We reviewed 79 papers which had been published from 1981 to 2010 in journals published in Korea. According to these studies, Carbon Tetrachloride-induced hepato-celluar degeneration and necrosis induced to increase in serum aspartate amintransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), ${\gamma}$-Glutamyl transferase (${\gamma}$-GTP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and albumin levels. In biochemical analyses, antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione S-transferase (GST) and catalase in hepatic tissue were remarkably incresed by Carbon Tetrachloride treatment. We found that some of the herbal extracts have a protective effect against Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Hepatotoxicity. More studies of oriental medicinal herbs are required for developing a treatment of hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.123-126
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• 1993

Effects of chronic administration of ginseng extracts (30 or 150 mg/kg/day for 52 days, p.o.) to mice on the activities of DT-diaphorase and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the liver and the brain were studied. The DT-diaphorase activity in the liver was increased over 2-fold at the dose of both 30 and 150 mg/kg/day, while there was no change in the activity of the enzyme in the brain. The GST activity in the liver was increased in a dose-dependent fashion up to 142% of the control value at the dose of 150 mg/kg/day. while there was no change in the activity of the enzyme in the brain. The ginseng-induced increase in the activities of these hepatic phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes which are involved in the detoxification of carcinogens, is suggested to underlie, at least in part, the anticarcinogenic activity of Panax ginseng.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.311-320
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• 2007

The present study was designed to estimate the protective effect of (-) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on ethanol-induced liver injury in rats. Chronic ethanol administration (6 g/kg/day ${\times}$ 60 days) caused liver damage that was manifested by the elevation of markers of liver dysfunction - aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubin and ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transferase in plasma and reduction in liver glycogen. The activities of alcohol metabolizing enzymes such as alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase were found to be altered in alcohol-treated group. Ethanol administration resulted in the induction of cytochrome p450 and cytochrome-$b_{5}$ activities and reduction of cytochrome-c reductase and glutathione-S-transferase, a phase II drug metabolizing enzyme. Further, ethanol reduced the viability of isolated hepatocytes (ex vivo) as assessed by trypan blue exclusion test and induced hepatocyte apoptosis as assessed by propidium iodide staining. Treatment of alcoholic rats with EGCG restored the levels of markers of liver injury and mitigated the alterations in alcohol metabolizing and drug metabolizing enzymes and cyt-c-reductase. Increased hepatocyte viability and reduced apoptotic nuclei were observed in alcohol + EGCG-treated rats. These findings suggest that EGCG acts as a hepatoprotective agent against alcoholic liver injury.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.337-342
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• 1991

Caffeine이 랫트의 간조직에서 diethylnitrosamine(200mg/kg B.W., DEN)에 의해 유도되는 preneoplastic altered foci형성의 initiation단계에 미치는 효과를 관찰한 바 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. Altered foci의 지표로 사용되는 glutathione S-transferase(GST-P)-positive foci의 수는 caffeine 음수수 ml 당 2mg병행투여군 $(7.48{\pm}3.33)$ 및 1mg 병행 투여군 $(7.50{\pm}3.32)$ 모두에서 DEN 단독투여대조군$(14.08{\pm}5.16)$에 비하여 현저히 낮게 나타났으며, 면적 또한 caffeine 2mg병행투여군 $(0.29{\pm}0.17)$, 1mg병행투여군 $(0.30{\pm}0.13)$에서 DEN단독투여대조군 $(0.46{\pm}0.21)$에 비하여 유의성 있는 낮은 수치가 관찰되었다. 이러한 결과는 caffeine이 간암발생의 initiation 단계에 작용하여 억제효과를 나타냄을 암시하였다.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary mushroom powder on blood glucose levels, seam lipid levels, glucose 6-phosphtase (G6Pase), thiobarbituric arid reactive substance (TBARS) and glutathione enzymes in diabetic rats treated with streptozotocin (STZ). Four groups of rats (Sprague-Dawley male rats, 180-200 g) were fed as follows: normal rats were fed a control diet (C), diabetic rats were file a control diet (CD), normal fats were fed a mushroom powder diet (M), and diabetic rals were find mushroom powder diet (MD). Diabetes was induced by single injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg B.W.). The animals were fed ad libium each of the experimental diets for five weeks. Food and water intake was determined every day. Blood glucose and serum total cholesterol levels were determined every week. After five weeks, the rats were sacrificed and blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride levels and glutathione enzymes were measured. HDL-cholesterol levels were analyzed and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were calculated by equation. There was body weight loss in the diabetic rats, but the MD group showed less body weight loss than the CD group. Blood glucose and serum total cholesterol level of the MD group were lower than those of the CD group (p < 0.05). Also, serum total cholesterol of the M group was lower than that of the C group (p < 0.05). But the serum triglyceride level of the diabetic rats (CD and MD) was higher than that of the normal rats (C and M). However, there was no significant difference between the control diet group and the mushroom diet group. Serum HDL-cholesterol levels of the C group and CD group were higher than that of the M group (p < 0.05), and the MD group was not significantly different. But the serum LDL-cholesterol levels of the M group were lower than those of the C group (p < 0.05). Activity of hepatic microsomal G6Pase significantly increased in the CD and MD, reaching levels higher than those of the C and M groups. Hepateic gutathione S-transferase (GST, glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity was not significant. But renal GST, GR and GPX activity in the MD group was lower than that of the CD group (p < 0.05). These results suggest that dietary mushroom reduces renal disorders such as oxidation and aging of tissue. In conclusion, dietary mushroom groups reduced blood glucose and cholesterol levels in STZ-induced diabetic rats and renal glutathione enzymes activity was averted in diabetic rats.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2003

In this study, we investgated the effect of Red Ginseng (KRG) on liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CTC) and galactosamine (GalN) in rats using indicator enzymes such as serum alanine/aspartate aminotransferases, sorbital dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, and ${\gamma}$-glutamyltransferase. Treatment of KRG restored these enzyme activities to near normal level compared to CTC or GalN treatment alone. Treatment of KRG also enhanced hepatic microsomal enzyme system, malondialdehyde formation, and depletion of reduced glutathione content, which were reduced by CTC or GalN. We also found that the decreased activities of glutathione S-transferase and glutathine reductase but not ${\gamma}$-glutamycysteine synthetase after KRG treatment restored to normal level. These results indicate that KRG has potent therapeutic activity against CTC- and GalN-induced hepatotoxicity in rat.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.911-913
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• 2002

Rubi Fructus (fruit of Rubus coreanus Miq.), oriental medicine, has been used for remedy of the liver diseases and for tonic. In order to investigate the oxygen free radical, a harmful factor of aging, in liver of rats fed diets supplemented with the Rubi Fructus water extract(RX), Sprague-Dawley male rats have been fed a diet supplemented with 3% or 5% RX for a month. In rats fed 3% RX supplemented diet, hepatic cytochrome P-450 contents appeared to be increased, and catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly increased compared with the control. There was no difference in glutathione peroxide and glutathione-S-transferase activities between the rats fed RX supplemented diets and the control diet. In conclusion, it is likely that rats fed a diet supplemented with RX may have the oxygen free radicals detoxication potential.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.105-112
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• 2001

Insect pests can be controlled through direct application of insecticides. Insect control by residual protectants is relatively inexpensive and has an advantage of destroying all stages of infestations. The efficacy of control is largely determined by the concentration of insecticides to which the pest species is exposed. A reduction in the period of control in the field afforded by a specific level of a protectant indicates that resistance has developed. An increase in the level of protectant is required to maintain control, and the efficacy of currently used insecticides has been severely reduced by insecticide resistance in pest species. Development of resistance to particular insecticide varies with species because insecticide resistance is often correlated with increased levels of certain enzymes, which are cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases, glutathione S-transferases and esterases. Some sections of insecticide molecules can be modified by one or more of these primary enzymes. A reduction in the sensitivity of the action site of a xenobiotic also constitutes a mechanism of resistance. Acetylcholinesterase is a major target site for insecticide action, as are axonal sodium ion channels and ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid receptors. Development of reduced sensitivity of these target sites to insecticides usually occurs. This review not only may contribute to a better understanding of insecticide resistance, but also illustrates the gaps still present for a full biochemical understanding of the resistance.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.287-295
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• 1998

Acetolactate synthase (ALS) is the first common enzyme in the biosynthesis of L-Ieucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine. The sulfonylurea-resistant ALS gene from Nicotiana tabacum was cloned into the bacterial expression vector pGEX-2T. The resulting recombinant plasmid pGEX-ALS3 was used to transform Escherichia coli strain XL1-Blue, and the mutant tobacco ALS (mALS) was expressed in the bacteria as a protein fused with glutathione S-transferase (GST). The fusion product GST-mALS was purified in a single step on a glutathione-Sepharose column. ALS activities of 0.9-2.5 ${\mu}mol/min/mg$ protein were observed in the GST-mALS, and the Km values for pyruvate, FAD, and TPP were 10.8-24.1, $(1.9-8.9){\times}10^{-3}$, and 0.14-0.38 mM, respectively. The purified GST-mALS was resistant to both the sulfonylurea and the triazolopyrimidine herbicides, and lost its sensitivity to end products, L-valine and L-leucine. For comparision, the tobacco wild-type recombinant ALS fused with GST, GST-wALS, was also characterized with respect to its pyruvate and cofactor bindings. These results suggest that the purified mutant recombinant tobacco ALS was functionally active, that the mutations resulting in herbicide resistance has affected pyruvate and cofactor bindings," and that the two classes of herbicides interact at a common site on the plant ALS.