• 대한한의학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.91-103
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• 2006

Objectives : Etiological studies of diabetes and its complications showed that oxidative stress might play a major role. Therefore, many effects have been fried to regulate oxygen free radicals for treating diabetes and its complications. Because Holotrichia has been known to be effective for the treatment of diabetes, the methanol extract of Holotrichia was tested for its effectiveness in reducing the oxidative stress induced by streptozotocin. Methods : Holotrichia was washed, dried in the shade and crushed. The crushed Holotrichia was extracted 3 times, each time with 3 volumes of methyl alcohol at $60^{\circ}C$ for 24h. The extract was filtered and evaporated under a reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to yield 17 g. Holotrichia extract was oral-administed to the diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin 50 mg per 1 kg of body weight for 20 days. The efficacy of the Holotrichia extract was examined with regard to the enzymatic pathways involved in the oxygen free radical production and the glutathione balance. Results : The Effects of the methanol extract of Holotrichia in streptozotocin-induced diabolic rats with regards to body weight, blood glucose level, hepatic lipid peroxide level, hepatic superoxide anion radical content. hepatic xanthine oxidase activity and type conversion rate, hepatic glutathione level, hepatic aldose reductase activity, and hepatic sorbitol dehydrogenase activity were shown to be good enough to cure and prevent the diabetes and its complications. Conclusions : These results indicated that Holotrichia might reduce the oxidative stress in the tissues and organs by regulating the production of oxygen free radicals. Especially, Holotrichia might prevent and cure the diabetes and its complications by reducing the oxidative stress in the ${\beta}$-cells of pancreas. Some suggestions on biophoton experiments were made.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.206-213
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• 2005

This experiment was conducted to find out the therapeutic effect of Artemisia capillaris extracts on hepatic damage in rats induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_{4}$). In this experiment, 96 Sprague-Dawley rats were used as experimental groups, which were divided into 4 groups; control group(A), $CCl_{4}$-treated group(B), $CCl_{4}$+Artemisia extract-treated group(C) and $CCl_{4}$+silymarin-treated group(D). The B, C, D group were administrated single dose of $CCl_{4}$(2.5 ml/kg) to induce acute hepatic injury. C group was administrated with Artemisia capillaris extract(200 mg/kg/day) and D group treated with silymarin(50 mg/kg/day) for 7 days. Hematological, ultrasonographical, histological examinations and examination of antioxidant activity were also performed in all groups. AST and ALT activities of C group were significantly decreased compared with B group. The activities of AST and ALT in C and D groups returned to the normal range more rapidly than those of B group. In ultrasonographic examination, the echogenicity of liver in C group was significantly decreased compared with B group. Also C and D group had tended to recover faster than B group on liver histogram. Histologically, the percentage of degenerative regions and degenerative cell numbers in peri-central vein hepatic parenchyma of C and D group were significantly decreased compared with B group. In examination of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde of hepatic tissue in C group was decreased as compared with B group. In examination of antioxidant enzyme activity in liver, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were significantly increased compared with B group. As results of this study, it is thought that A. capillaris extract has therapeutic effects on hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride, and has the similar therapeutic effects as silymarin in rats.

• 약학회지
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.74-77
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• 2009

Food deprivation decreases hepatic glutathione (GSH) levels, which is ascribed to alterations in availability of hepatic cysteine, a rate limiting factor for the GSH synthesis. The present study examines the effects of food deprivation on hepatic metabolism of sulfur amino acid in male rats. In rats fasted for 24 or 48 hours, hepatic GSH levels were decreased from $6.70{\pm}0.16{\mu}mol/g$ liver to $4.02{\pm}0.20$ or $4.06{\pm}0.07{\mu}mol/g$ liver, respectively. Hepatic S-adenosylmethionine levels were also decreased in fasted rats, but S-adenosylhomocysteine levels were increased. Hepatic methionine levels were not changed by food deprivation for 48 hours. On the other hand, hepatic cysteine or taurine levels were increased from $106.2{\pm}4.1$ to $130.0{\pm}2.7$ nmol/g liver or from $2.45{\pm}0.43$ to $5.07{\pm}0.78{\mu}mol/g$ liver, respectively, in 48-hour fasted rats. Activity of cystathionine beta-synthase catalyzed homocysteine to cystathionine, was markedly decreased, but activity of betaine homocysteine methyltransferase was increased in fasted rats, indicating that methylation of homocysteine to methionine is activated. Also activity of cysteine dioxygenase, involved in taurine synthesis, was increased. These results suggested that hepatic methionine levels were maintained in rats fasted for 48 hours through increase in homocysteine methylation, and hepatic GSH may serve as a cysteine supplier reservoir in fasting state.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2003

In present study, we examined whether or not the pretreatment of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) could protect hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl$_4$) and D-galatosamine (GalN). For this study, we not only tested activity of various plasma enzymes (AST, ALT, SDH, LDH), which are used as indicators of liver disease, but also checked the change of liver components such as lipid, glutathione and cytochromes content, and several liver enzyme activity. Pretreatment of KRG for two weeks significantly reduced the elevated plasma enzyme activities induced by CCl$_4$ and GalN. Pretreatment of KRG also restored the hepatic enzymes, malonedialdehyde formation, and depletion of reduced glutathione content induced by CCl$_4$ and GalN to near normal level. However, ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity was lot affected by KRG. These results suggest that KRG shows the hepatoprotective effect by reducing lipid peroxidation, by reducing the activity of free radical generating enzymes, and by preserving the hepatic glutathione.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.29-36
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• 2010

The present study was aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of ethanol extract from Monochoria vaginalis (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg B/W) on acetaminophen (APAP) induced rat hepatic injury. Monochoria vaginalis is a traditional medicinal plant that is commonly used to treat and improve liver conditions in India and other Asian countries. The development of hepatotoxicity induced by APAP is promoted by oxidative stress. APAP treated group significantly (P < 0.01) elevated the serum enzymatic levels like glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase (SALP), total bilirubin and malondialdehyde (MDA), which were restored towards normalization significantly (P < 0.01) thanol extract of yonochoria vagin is (EEMV). In addition, the EEMV significantly (P < 0.01) elevated the decreased level of total protein and antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-s-transferase and reduced glutathione. Apart from these, histopathological changes also showed the protective nature of the EEMV against APAP induced hepatic damage in liver tissues. The activity of EEMV at 500 mg/kg B/W was comparable to the standard drug silymarin (25 mg/kg B/W). In conclusion, these data suggest that the EEMV possess hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.320-324
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• 2001

To investigate the effect of Sarcodon aspratus methanol extract on liver damage in benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P)-treated mice, mice were divided into 4 groups of control, B(a)P, Sarcodon aspratus methanol extract and Sarcodon aspratus methanol extract-B(a)P. The activities of serum aminotransferase, cytochrome P-450 and hepatic content of lipid peroxide after B(a)P-treatment were increased than control, but those levels were significantly decreased by the treatment of Sarcodon aspratus methanol extract. On the other hand, the hepatic glutathione content and glutathione S-transferase activity were increased by the treatment of Sarcodon aspratus methanol extract. Also the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were decreased by the treatment of Sarcodon aspratus methanol extract. In addition cytochrome P-450 1A1 isozyme protein level, which was remarkably increased by B(a)P treatment from results of immuno blotting, was decreased by the treatment with methanol extract of Sarcodon aspratus. These results suggest that Sarcodon aspratus methanol extract have protective effect on liver damage by decreasing lipid peroxide and activities of free radical generating enzymes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.293-298
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• 2000

Bergenin is a C-glucoside of 4-O-methyl gallic acid that has been isolated from the cortex of Mallotus japonicus (Euphorbiaceae). Acetylbergenin was synthesized by acetylation from bergenin to increase lipophilic and physiological activities. The therapeutic effects of bergenin and acetylbergenin were evaluated against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Bergenin and acetylbergenin were administered orally once daily for successive 5 days, after the intraperitoneal injection of a mixture 0.5 m1/kg of $CCl_4$ in olive oil (1:1). The substantially elevated serum enzymatic activities of alanine/aspartate aminotransferase, sorbitol dehydrogenase and ${\gamma}$-glutamyltransferase induced by $CCl_4$ were restored towards normalization by posttreatment with bergenin and acetylbergenin. Bergenin and acetylbergenin also significantly prevented the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde formation and depletion of glutathione content induced by $CCl_4$ in a dose dependent fashion. In addition, the decreased activities of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase were restored towards normalization. These results suggest that therapeutic effects of bergenin and acetylbergenin may be related complex mechanisms that involve prevention of lipid peroxidation and preservation of hepatic GSH. The results of this study clearly indicate that bergenin and acetylbergenin have potent hepatothrapeutic action against $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. In addition, acetylbergenin 50 mgHg showed almost the same levels of hepatoprotective activity as those of bergenin 100 mgAg, indicating the fact that lipophilic acetylbergenin is more effective in the hepatoprotective action against $CCl_4$ than bergenin.

• 약학회지
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• 제53권6호
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• pp.314-320
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• 2009

We examined metabolic conversion of cysteine into glutathione (GSH) and taurine in rat liver under oxidative stress. Administration of tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP) into the portal vein of male rats resulted in a rapid elevation of serum sorbitol dehydrogenase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase activities, which decreased gradually in 24 hr. Hepatic cysteine concentration was reduced in 3 hr, and recovered progressively, reaching a level greater than 200% of the normal value in 24 hr. GSH was increased both in liver and blood at 9 hr after t-BHP challenge, whereas hypotaurine or taurine was not altered. $\gamma$-Glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS) activity was increased from 9 hr after t-BHP treatment, but protein expression of the GCS-heavy subunit was not changed in liver. Activity or expression of cysteine dioxygenase was not affected by t-BHP treatment. Taken together, these data show that an acute oxidant challenge to the rats may induce upregulation of cysteine availability and GCS activity, resulting in an enhancement of hepatic GSH synthesis, but the increased cysteine level does not stimulate taurine synthesis via cysteine sulfinate pathway. It is indicated that the regulation of GSH and taurine biosynthesis from cysteine is not solely dependent on the cysteine concentration in rat liver under oxidative stress.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.158-161
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• 2003

This study investigated the effects of a ${\gamma}$-irradiated pork (0-30 kGy) diet on lipid peroxidation, cytochrome P-450 content, microsomal glucose 6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) activity and antioxidative defense systems in diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced rat hepatocarcinogenesis. The body weight of rats fed irradiated diets did not change significantly. Liver weight was significantly increased by the administration of DEN, but not by irradiated diets at any dose level. There were no significant effects of gamma irradiation on the content of microsomal malondialdehyde (MDA), cytochrome P-450, or on the activity of G-6-Pase. However, with DEN treatment, cytochrome P-450 content was significantly increased while microsomal G-6-Pase activity was significantly decreased. The ${\gamma}$-irradiated diet supplement did not affect serum retinol or $\alpha$-tocopherol concentrations. However, it did cause a significant decrease in hepatic retinol at 30 kGy. With DEN treatment, hepatic retinol content was even more significantly (p<0.05) decreased compared to the non-irradiated control. The enzyme activities related to antioxidative defense systems, including glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSH-Rx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were not affected by gamma irradiation. Those results suggest that an irradiated pork diet up to 30 kGy may not cause a health hazard in experimental animals.

• 한국식생활문화학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.52-60
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the effect of Lycii fructus beer on serum lipid profiles and antioxidant activity in rat Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats weighting about 190g were divided into the following 5 groups ; distillate water (Control), 5% ethanol in distillate water (Ethanol), commercial beer (CB), Lycii fructus beer (LFB) and 5% alcohol red wine diluted with distillate water (RW). Body weight, total food intake, FER and percent organ (liver, kidney) weight per body weight were not significantly changed by Lycii fructus beer drinking. After 6 weeks, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL cholesterol level were not significantly different. But, Lycii fructus beer intake tended to decrease serum triglyceride level and atherogenic index. Also, GOT and GPT levels were expressed lower than Ethanol group. There was not significantly different in hepatic glutatiione (GSH) content and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities among 5 groups. Lipid peroxidation in the hepatic was decreased by Lycii fructus beer intake. The results demonstrated that Lycii fructus beer was potential and effective antioxidant that can protect the decrease associated with alcohol.