• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.259-266
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• 2006

The current study examined the effect of quercetin supplements on the lipid-lowering and antioxidant metabolism in ethanol-fed rats. The control $group(E_8)$ received ethanol only diet for 8 wks, whereas the other group$(E_8Q_4)$ received a diet including quercetin supplementation(0.05% wt/wt) for 4 wks while on the ethanol diet for 8wks. The hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity was significantly higher in the $E_8Q_4$ group than in the $E_8$ group. Supplementation with quercetin significantly elevated the HDL- cholesterol concentration, the HDL-C/total-C ratio, and lowered the atherogenic index(AI) compared to the $E_8$ group. The hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol contents were significantly lowered by the quercetin supplement compared to those of the control group. The hepatic HMG-CoA reductase and ACAT activities of the $E_8Q_4$ group were significantly lower than those of the $E_8$ group. The overall potential for antioxidant defense was significantly enhanced by the quercetin supplement, as indicated by a decrease in plasma and hepatic TBARS levels. The hepatic GSH-Px and G6PD activities were significantly higher in the $E_8Q_4$ group compared to the $E_8$ group. The current results suggest that dietary quercetin leads to the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase and ACAT, which in turn lowers cholesterol levels and normalizes antioxidant enzyme activities.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.169-175
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the effect of acorn supplementation on the lipid profile and redox antioxidant enzyme activities in obese rat. Obesity in the rats was induced by feeding diet contained 10％ lard and 0.5％ cholesterol for 4 week. After 4 weeks, rats were divided into the following 5 groups; high fat diet (Control), high fat diet plus 10％ Acorn powder (APlO％), high fat diet plus 20％ Acorn powder (AP20％), high fat diet plus 0.2％ Acorn extract (AE0.2％), high fat diet plus 0.5％ Acorn extract (AE0.5％). Total food intake and food efficiency ratio (FER) was not significantly different by acorn powder and extract supplementation. But, body weight was decreased by 20％ acorn powder. Acorn powder and extract supplementation for 4 weeks tend to decrease total cholesterol and triglyceride level on the serum and hepatic tissue. There was no significant difference in hepatic glutathione (GSH) content among all the groups. The hepatic GST activity in acorn supplemented groups was lower than that of control. Glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were higher in acorn supplemented groups than that of control. Hepatic TBARS levels of experimental groups were also significantly lower than that of control group. Our finding suggest that acorn powders and extract might have potential role for improving lipid profiles and antioxidant enzyme activities in obese rats.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2000

Inhibitory effects of the methanol extract, hexane extract, methanol soluble fraction (MSF) and juice from 3 weeks fermented Kimchi on the tumor formation in sarcoma-180 cell transplanted mice were studied. Effects of the solvent extracts and juice of the Kimchi on the levels of lipid peroxide, glutathione, and the enzyme activities of the liver were also investigated in normal and sarcoma-180 cell transplanted mice. At 32 days following trans-plantation, MSF reduced the tumor formation by 54% compared with the control group, resulting in the smallest tumor weight. Lipid peroxided content in liver increased by the transplantation of sarcoma-180 cells. However, it decreased when MSF of Kimchi was treated to the mice. MSF also suppressed xanthine oxidase activity in cytosol of the liver cells in mice transplanted by sarcoma-180 cells. Kimchi extracts had no inhibitory effect on hepatic aminopyrine-N-demethylase activity in sarcoma-180 cell transplanted or normal mice. Methanol extract and hexane extract of Kimchi slightly increased hepatic glutathione contents in sarcoma-180 treated mice. The injection of MSF from Kimchi markedly increased glutathione levels in the liver of sarcoma-180 treated mice. The injection of MSF from Kimchi markedly increased glutathione levels in the liver of sarcoma-180 treated mice compared to the controls. The MSF recovered the activities of hepatic glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase that decreased by the injection of sarcoma-180 cells. These results showed that MSF of Kimchi could suppress the growth of tumors, inhibiting lipid peroxide production and xanthine oxidase activity, in mice. We also suggested that Kimchi extract might play an important role in the prevention of cancer by enhancement of the glutathione level itself as well as via glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.215-220
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• 2012

The effects of inorganic mercury on hematological parameters and hepatic oxidative stress enzyme activity were studied in olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Fish were injected twice intraperitoneally with mercuric chloride (2, 4, or 8 mg Hg/kg BW). The major hematological findings were significant decreases in the red blood cell count, hematocrit value, and hemoglobin level in olive flounder exposed to 8 mg Hg/kg BW. Remarkably low levels of calcium and chloride, and reduced osmolality, were also observed at 8 mg Hg/kg BW. In hepatic tissue, significant increases in glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity were observed above 4 mg Hg/kg BW Inorganic mercury also increased glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase activity at 8 mg Hg/kg BW in hepatic tissue. The present findings suggest that exposure to a low concentration (${\geq}4$ mg Hg/kg BW) of inorganic mercury can cause significant changes in hematological and antioxidant parameters.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.237-242
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• 2003

Hepatic lipase is a key enzyme that is involved in HDL-C metabolism. The goal of this study was to find out the frequency of the hepatic lipase C514T polymorphism, and evaluate its relationship with plasma HDL-C levels and coronary artery disease (CAD) in Koreans. Two hundred and twenty four subjects with no previous history of lipid-lowering therapy, 118 patients with significant CAD, and 106 controls were examined with respect to their genotypes, lipid profiles, and other risk factors for CAD. The frequency of the -514T allele was 0.37 in men and 0.35 in women, which were higher than the frequency that was reported in Caucasians, but lower than the frequency that was reported in African-Americans. The -514T allele was associated with significantly higher HDL-C levels in women. After controlling for age, gender, BMI, DM, and smoking, the non-CC genotype was significantly associated with HDL-C levels, and explained 6% of the HDL-C variation in this study. When the genotypes-distribution was compared between the CAD and non-CAD patients, the hepatic lipase C-514T polymorphism was not associated with the presence of CAD. Koreans have a higher frequency of the hepatic lipase gene 514T allele than Caucasians, and the -514T allele is associated with higher plasma HDL-C levels in Korean women, and perhaps non-smoking men. However, our data does not suggest an association between the polymorphism and an increased risk of CAD.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate the antioxidant mechanism of tomato wine with varying lycopene content in rats fed a high fat diet (HFD). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=10 per group) and fed an HFD (35% of total energy from fat) plus ethanol (7.2% of total energy from alcohol), tomato wine with varying lycopene content (0.425 mg%, 1.140 mg% or 2.045 mg% lycopene) or an isocaloric control diet for 6 weeks. Mice fed HFD plus ethanol significantly increased erythrocyte hydrogen peroxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels with increases in activities of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GR) compared to pair-fed rats. Supplementation of tomato wine with varying lycopene content decreased ethanol-mediated increases of erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in HFD-fed rats, and tomato wine with higher lycopene appeared to be more effective. Tomato wine also dose-dependently lowered TBARS levels with decreased pro-oxidant enzyme, xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity in plasma of HFD-fed rats. In contrast to erythrocytes, the inhibitory effects of tomato wine on hepatic lipid peroxidation were linked to increased hepatic antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) and alcohol metabolizing enzyme (alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase) activities. There were no significant differences in hepatic XOD and cytochrome P450-2E1 activities among the groups. Together, our data suggest that tomato wine fortified with lycopene has the potential to protect against ethanol-induced oxidative stress via regulation of antioxidant or pro-oxidant enzymes and alcohol metabolizing enzyme activities in plasma, erythrocyte and liver.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.299-304
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• 1991

In this study the effects of water extracts of endocarps and seeds of omija(Schizandra chinensis Baillon)on alcohol metabolism in rats were investigated. 25% alcoholic solution(v/v,0.75g/200g B.W.)and 40% alcoholic solution(v/v,0.80g/200g B.W.)were orally administered to rats for 2 hours. The levels of metabolites and enzyme activities both on serum and liver were not changed by acute oral adminiatration of 25% and 40% alcoholic solution. Blood alcohol levels were significantly lowered by treatment of water extracts of endocarps and seeds of omija in rats administered with 25% and 40% alcohol. In 25% alcohol treated group, serum GPT level was decreased but hepatic G-6-P DH and pyruvate levels were increased. In 40% alcohol treated group, water extracts of endocarps and seeds of omija resulted in a significant decreased in serum levels of FFA, GPT but increased in serum glucose level. Hepatic levels of cytosolic protein, glycogen and pyruvate were increased by water extracts of omija parts in 40% alcohol treated group.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2002

Effect of cyclohexanone treatment on the activities oxygen free radical and cyclohexanone metabolizing enzyme in acute liver damaged rats, was investigated. Acute liver damage was induced in rats with pretreatment of 50% $CCl_4$ in olive oil(0.1ml/100g body wt) intraperitoneally 3 times every other day. Cyclohexanone(1.56g/kg body wt, i.p.) was administered to the animals 24 hours after the last Pretreatment of CC1$_4$. Rats were sacrificed at 4 hours after injection of cyclohexanone. On the basis of liver weight/body weight(％), serum levels alanine aminotransferase activity and hepatic protein content, cyclohexanone treatment to acute liver damaged animals led to the more enhanced liver damage. On the other hand, injection of cyclohexanone to the rats led to the increased activities of hepatic cytochrome P-450 dependent aniline hydroxylase and xanthine oxidase. Furthermore, by treatment of cyclohexanone to the acute liver damaged rats hepatic xanthine oxidase activity was more increased than the $CCl_4$ treated rats. In case of oxygen free radical scavenging system, the hepatic glutathione content and the activities of hepatic glutathione S-transferase, catalase, superoxide dismutase were generally increased by injection of cyclohexanone to rats, and the hepatic glutathione content, catalase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities were more decreased in liver damaged rats by the treatment of cyclohexanone. In conclusion, the cyclohexanone treatment to acute liver damaged rats led to enhancement of liver damage that may be due to oxygen free radical together with cyclohexanone.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.30
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• pp.6.1-6.7
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• 2015

Objectives This study aimed to estimate the effects of 4-nonylphenol (NP), a ubiquitously present surfactant in aquatic environments, on the anti-oxidant systems of the liver in the Far Eastern catfish Silurus asotus. Methods Changes in biochemical parameters involved in glutathione (GSH)-related and other anti-oxidant systems were analyzed following 4 weeks of 4-NP administration (0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg diet) via a formulated diet to catfish. Results 4-NP exposure induced an elevation in hepatic lipid peroxide levels and an accompanying decrease in reduced state GSH after 2 weeks, suggesting pro-oxidant effects of the chemical in catfish. This oxidative stress was associated with an inhibition of the GSH-utilizing enzyme glutathione peroxidase at the same time point. This inhibition was restored after 4 weeks. The activities of other anti-oxidant enzymes, i.e., glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were increased after 4 weeks. These enzyme increases occurred more strongly at the higher 4-NP concentration (1.0 mg/kg diet). Conclusions 4-NP given to catfish at 0.1 to 1.0 mg/kg diet, concentrations relevant to environmental levels, depletes the endogenous anti-oxidant molecule GSH and temporarily inhibits GSH-related anti-oxidant enzymes. Such declines in anti-oxidant capacity and elevated oxidative stress seem to be compensated eventually by subsequent activation of various anti-oxidant enzyme systems.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.280-284
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• 1996

Licorice has been widely used in combination with other herbs or synthetic drugs for various disorders. In an effort to study the effect of licorice roots (Glycyrrhizae Radix, GR) and glycyrrhizin on the hepatic glucuronidation, we have previously found that the pretreatment of GR or glycyrrhizin for 6 days resulted in a marked increase in the enzymatic activity of 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC)-inducible hepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isozyme that has high affinity toward phenolic substrates (p-nitrophenol form, UGTIA) in Sprague-Dawley rats. As an approach to elucidate the mechanism for the enzyme activation by licorice in rat liver, we examined the levels of hepatocellular mRNAs for UGTIA upon the treatment of GR or glycyrrhizin. The hepatic mRNAs were extracted from Sprague-Dawley rats and Wistar rats after the treatment of the methanol extract of GR (1 g/kg, p.o.), glycyrrhizin (23 mg/kg, p.o.) for 6 days, or 3-MC (40 mg/kg, i.p.) for 3 days. Using the UGT1A1 CDNA as a probe, we found that the mRNAs for the enzyme were induced by 3-MC treatment while those were influenced neither by GR nor by glycyrrhizin in both strains of rats. These results indicate that the activation of rat liver UGTI A by licorice and glycyrrhizin was not due to the induction of mRNAs for the enzyme.