• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.234-240
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• 2014

Cisplatin is one of the most potent chemotherapy agents. However, its use is limited due to its toxicity in normal tissues, including the kidney and ear. In particular, nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin is closely associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), the rate-limiting enzyme in the heme metabolism, has been implicated in a various cellular processes, such as inflammatory injury and anti-oxidant/oxidant homeostasis. Capsaicin is reported to have therapeutic potential in cisplatin-induced renal failures. However, the mechanisms underlying its protective effects on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity remain largely unknown. Herein, we demonstrated that administration of capsaicin ameliorates cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction by assessing the levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) as well as tissue histology. In addition, capsaicin treatment attenuates the expression of inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress markers for renal damage. We also found that capsaicin induces HO-1 expression in kidney tissues and HK-2 cells. Notably, the protective effects of capsaicin were completely abrogated by treatment with either the HO inhibitor ZnPP IX or HO-1 knockdown in HK-2 cells. These results suggest that capsaicin has protective effects against cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction through induction of HO-1 as well as inhibition oxidative stress and inflammation.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.535-540
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Propolis has a rich source of bioactive compounds and has renal and hepatic protective properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the beneficial effect of hydro-ethanolic extract of propolis against paracetamol-induced liver damage and impairment of kidney function, as well as hematological changes in rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Six groups of rats were used; the first group was served as a control; the second and third groups were treated by propolis extract at a dose of 50 and 100 mg/kg.B.WT. respectively; the fourth group was treated by paracetamol (200 mg/kg.B.WT.); the fifth group was treated by propolis (50 mg/kg.B.WT.) for eight days and then received similar dose of propolis for following seven days with paracetamol at a dose of 200 mg/kg.B.WT. daily for the seven days; and the sixth group was treated with propolis (100 mg/kg.B.WT.) for eight days and then received similar dose of propolis for following seven days with paracetamol at a dose of 200 mg/kg.B.WT. daily for the seven days. All the animals were treated for a period of 15 days. At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were collected for measurement of the liver enzymes, serum albumin, protein and creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, hematological parameters, and urine volume, protein and albumin. RESULTS: Paracetamol over dose significantly lowered hemoglobin, serum total protein, albumin, and uric acid, while it significantly increased blood creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities, white blood cells, and platelet count as compared to the control. However, these alterations were significantly attenuated by the use of propolis extract and the effect was dose dependent. Interestingly, propolis prevented paracetamol induced proteinuria, low hemoglobin and body weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: Propolis significantly prevented paracetamol induced renal, hepatic and hematological toxicity and might be useful in the management of liver and renal diseases particularly proteinuria.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.688-696
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• 2018

This study investigated the effects of ozone-produced oxidants (OPO) on the growth, hematology, and histology of olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus (average weight 500 g), raised in an ozonated semi-recirculating aquaculture system. The system was ozonated to maintained OPO concentrations of 0.004 (Control), 0.014 (OPO15), and 0.025 (OPO25) mg $Cl_2/L$ in culture tanksfor 26 days. The specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and survival rate did not significantly differ among the groups (P>0.05), while the daily feeding rate decreased OPO-dose-dependently (P<0.05). OPO appeared to affect the gill, hepatopancreas, and kidney tissues of fish from ozonated tanks. Hematologically, OPO affected some blood indices. The levels of chloride, glucose, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and glutamic pyruvic transaminase were significantly increased in the ozonated groups, while the total cholesterol and cortisol decreased dose-dependently. These results imply that long-term exposure of olive flounder to an OPO concentration ${\geq}0.014mg\;Cl_2/L$ might result in damage to the gill, hepatopancreas, and kidney tissues and cause physiological stress, albeit with no apparent short-term effects on growth or survival.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

Objectives: Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder, which is characterized by proteinuria, edema (swelling), and hyperlipidemia. Maydis Stigma (Corn silk) has been widely used in Asia as a traditional medicine and is known to have a diuretic effect and is used for the treatment of edema and indigestion. Methods: The aim of this study is to investigate the improvement effect of Maydis Stigma in treating nephrotic syndrome induced by puromycin aminonucleoside. Sprague-Dawley rats were intravenously injected with 75 mg/kg/day puromycin aminonucleoside, then treated with either Losartan or 200 mg/kg/day Maydis Stigma for seven days. Results: Maydis Stigma significantly decreased ascites and proteinuria level. Plasma levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and plasma creatinine reduced significantly by Maydis Stigma. In addition, treatment with Maydis Stigma attenuated histological damage. Treatment with Maydis Stigma also restored podocin expression and reduced inflammation markers such as intracellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1). Conclusions: Maydis Stigma ameliorates kidney injury in nephrotic syndrome rat models. Maydis Stigma exerts a renoprotective effect owing to its anti-inflammatory effects and reductions of ascites and proteinuria. Thus, these results indicate that Maydis Stigma is likely to be a promising agent in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.24 no.2 s.62
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• pp.102-111
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• 2006

The increased occurrence of hyperglycemia and oxidative stress in streptozotocin (STZ) induced type I diabetes has been implicated in the etiology and pathology of disease complication. STZ has known to be genotoxic in a variety of assays including tests for microbial mutagenesis and unscheduled DNA synthesis in rat kidney. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a pathologic condition, resulting in severe metabolic imbalances and non-physiologic changes in many tissues. We examined the effect of gamma radiation and KWNP on preventing the development of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus using streptozotocin-induced Fisher 344 diabetic rats. The hematological values (red blood cell and white blood cell), serum biochemical constituents-alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin-were checked and the organs (testis, spleen and kidney) were weighed. The gonad indices of the STZ treated groups were much lower than the value of the control group. But the gonad indices of the KWNP treated groups were higher than those of the treated groups. The ratio of the weight of kidney to the body weight of the STZ treated groups was higher than that of the control group. The value of the diabetic group treated with KWNP after irradiation (F group) was lower than the other STZ treated groups. The white blood cell and ALP values of the F group were lower than the other STZ groups, as well. The cholesterol and triglyceride values of all the KWNP treated groups were significantly lower than the other groups. A significant increase (about 10 times) of insulin was detected in the F group. The results of hematological assay showed the distinctive damage in the irradiated and STZ treated groups. The quantity of apoptotic cells in seminiferous tubule of testis confirmed a serious damage as assessed in the STZ treated groups. These experimental results have revealed that treatment of the products of KWNP after irradiation has the antidiabetic effect in the STZ-induced diabetic rats. But the F group showed higher recuperative power. These experimental results have revealed that treatment of the gamma irradiation and KWNP have the recovering effect in the STZ-induced diabetic rats.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.831-837
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• 1999

Ochratoxin A (OA), a naturally occurring mycotoxin, has been known to cause renal and hepatic lesion in human and animals. This study was carried out to investigate the modulation effects of antioxidant vitamins on OA-induced lipid peroxidation associated with oxidative damage. Vitamin C (10 mg/kg/day) and vitamin E (63.8 mg/kg/day) were administered by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection to male ICR mice, and 1 hr later, OA which was dissolved in 0.1 M $NaHCO_3$, treated 4 mg/kg/day by i.p. injection. During 4 days repeated, and then measured superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) formation in microsomes of liver and kidney. Additionally, the relationship between cell damage and modulation effects of antioxidant vitamins was evaluated by comet assay. Results were as followed; i) SOD, catalase activity and MDA level were significantly increased by OA treated, ii) SOD, catalase activity and MDA formation were significantly decreased by antioxidant vitamins combine treated, iii) blood cell damage associated with lipid peroxidation, induced by OA, also modulated by antioxidant vitamins. These results indicated that antioxidant vitamins might be used for prevention of renal and hepatic damage due to ochratoxicosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2010

White-skinned sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) has been traditionally used for diabetes treatment and management in many countries. In this experiment, methanol extract of white-skinned sweet potato (WSPMe) at a dose of 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight was tested to evaluate its effect on renal damage in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Its efficacy was compared with that of insulin secretogogue, glimepiride ($50\;{\mu}g/kg$ body weight). Experimental diabetes was induced by a single dose of STZ (45 mg/kg, i.p.) injection. The WSPMe and glimepiride were administered orally for 14 days and the effects on glucose, renal markers including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lipid peroxide (LPO) level, antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathion-S-transferase (GST) activities in kidney were studied. An increase in BUN, creatinine, LDH, glucose, LPO levels and decrease in SOD, CAT, GPx and GST features were observed in diabetic control rats. Administration of WSPMe at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight caused a significant improvement in blood glucose, LPO level, renal markers, lipid peroxidation markers and increased antioxidant levels in diabetic kidney. In conclusion, the WSPMe was found to be effective in reducing oxidative stress, thus confirming the ethnopharmacological use of I. batatas L. in protecting diabetes and its complications.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.284-289
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• 2017

Background: Compound FK506 is an immunosuppressant agent that is frequently used to prevent rejection of solid organs upon transplant. However, nephrotoxicity due to apoptosis and inflammatory response mediated by FK506 limit its usefulness. In this study, the protective effect of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) against FK506-induced damage in LLC-PK1 pig kidney epithelial cells was investigated. Methods: LLC-PK1 cells were exposed to FK506 with KRG and cell viability was measured. Western blotting and RT-PCR analyses evaluated protein expression of MAPKs, caspase-3, and KIM-1. TLR-4 gene expression was assessed. Caspase-3 activities were also determined. The number of apoptotic cells was measured using an image-based cytometric assay. Results: The reduction in LLC-PK1 cell viability by $60{\mu}M$ FK506 was recovered by KRG cotreatment in a dose-dependent manner. The phosphorylation of p38, p44/42 MAPKs (ERK), KIM-1, cleaved caspase-3, and TLR-4 mRNA expression was increased markedly in LLC-PK1 cells treated with $60{\mu}M$ FK506. However, with the exception of p-ERK, elevated levels of p-p38, KIM-1, cleaved caspase-3, and TLR-4 mRNA expression were significantly decreased after cotreatment with KRG. Activity level of caspase-3 was also attenuated by KRG cotreatment. Moreover, image-based cytometric assay showed that apoptotic cell death was increased by $60{\mu}M$ FK506 treatment, whereas it was decreased after cotreatment with KRG. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that the molecular mechanism of KRG in the FK506-induced nephrotoxicity may lead to the development of an adjuvant for the inhibition of adverse effect FK506 in the kidney.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.208-211
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• 2006

Microalbuminuria is most frequently caused by kidney damage from diabetes. Moreover, many other conditions can lead to kidney damage, such as high blood pressure, heart failure, cirrhosis, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The measurement of the microalbumin in urine may be useful for the early diagnosis or as a predictor of nephropathy in diabetes. The most common method for getting a quantitative measurement of urinary protein relies on a 24-hour urine collection. The result of this method is accurate. But 24hr urine collection is difficult to obtain and variations in volume are frequent. Also the patients complain about urine collection. We tried to measure reference values for microalbumin using fasting urine and compare them with the albumin/creatinine ratio using 24hr urine. The concentrations of microalbumin in fasting urine and 24hr urine were $7.1{\pm}3.8mg/L$, $5.7{\pm}2.9mg/L$ (r=0.61, p=0.27), respectively. The albumin/creatinine ratios using fasting urine and 24hr urine were $8.7{\pm}4.2{\mu}g/mg$, $8.7{\pm}4.0{\mu}g/mg$ (r=0.76, p=0.88), respectively. This study indicated that the measurement of microalbumin in fasting urine was an easy and simple method for early diagnosis or to predict nephropathy in diabetes. Thus, setting up the reference value using fasting urine may be useful in the screening test for the diabetic nephropathy patients instead of using the 24hr albumin excretion rate (AER).

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.267-272
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• 2006

The effect of methanol extract from Agaricus blazei Murill on the hepatotoxicity was investigated $CCl_4$ is one of the oldest and most widely used toxins for the induction of hepatic damages and fibrosis in experimental animals. In this study, male Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of the control(C), $CCl_4(T),\;CCl_4$ and high fat group(TL) with matching sub-groups of Agaricus blazei Murill extract-fed groups of CA, TA and TLA. Methanol extracts of Agaricus blazei Murill were fed 50 mg/kg B.W daily via drinking water. A 1.2 mL of $CCl_4/kg$ body weight was administered by oral intubation twice a week for total of six times. The levels of total-cholesterol, TG, LDL and LDL-phospholipids were elevated by $CCl_4$ treatment as compared to the control(C). However, Agaricus blazei Murill methanol extract feeding in the group of TA and TLA significantly(p<0.05) decreased TG by 53.1 % and 17.9% compared to the internal control of T and TL, respectively. Triglyceride of TL was increased by 3.33 times(p<0.05) compared to the control(C) with $CCl_4$ and high fat administration from 3.78 mg/g to 12.60 mg/g liver. The extract(CA) also reduced kidney weight compared to the control(C). With the administration of high fat and $CCl_4$(TLA), the extract reduced the organ weight of both liver and kidney and further, significantly reduced TG, total cholesterol and GTP activity. Hepatoprotective effects of Agaricus blazei Murill on GOT, GPT, AP and LDH activities were enhanced by the extract feeding. Electronmicrograph showed that $CCl_4$ deteriorated the structure of cytoplasmic matrix with its uneven distribution. However, the extract reconstituted the damaged cytoplasm and stimulated mitochondriogenesis. The above results suggest that Agaricus blazei Murill may have a possible protective effect against chemically induced liver damage and further help to reduce the symptoms of fatty liver.