• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.207-215
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• 2006

Sachungwhan reduced hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride($CCl_4$). Improved liver function was observed by measuring the activities of aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), creatinine(CRE), total cholesterol(TCHO), triglyceride(TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-CHO), high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-CHO), total protein(TP), albumin(ALB) and total bilirubin(BIL) in serum. Hepatic parameters monitored were levels of cholesterol(CHO), triglyceride(TG), malondialdehyde(MDA), content of cytochrome P450(CYP), level of glutathione(GSH), and activities of NADPH-CYP reductase, superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT), glutathione S-transferase(GST), glutathione reductase(GR), glutathione peroxidase(GPx). The histopathological examination showed that the treatment of Sachungwhan relieved the ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes which had been generated by $CCl_4$. The results suggested that hepatoprotective effects of Sachungwhan possibly are due to their promising antioxidative activity.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.250-258
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• 2009

Male reproductive function seems to have deteriorated considerably in the past 4 to 5 decades. It was observed a significant decline in mean sperm counts from $113{\times}10^6/ml$ in 1940 to $66{\times}10^6/ml$ in 1990; a fall of $0.94{\times}10^6/ml/year$. We reported that Yacon tuber extracts have spermatogenic effects in rat. In the present study, we tested the spermatogenic effect of Yacon tuber extracts in healthy male volunteers. Subjects were assigned randomly to the control group and the Yacon ethanol extracts administered group (each 12 subjects). And, placebo or Yacon tuber extracts (100 ml) were administered two times daily, by oral for 3 months. Sperm numbers, biochemical parameters and hormone levels were recorded before starting administration, then every month. The Yacon tuber extracts administered group showed significant time dependant increases in according to administration period. Especially, the numbers of sperm increased by 54% after 3 months of administration. And, in Yacon tuber extracts administered group, testosterone and estradiol level were significantly higher than placebo group. On the other hands, Yacon tuber extracts didn't show any toxicity in glucose and lipid metabolism and liver and kidney function. The results of the present study suggest that Yacon tuber extract is a possible therapeutic for the treatment of sperm deficiency.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.513-519
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• 2012

Aged garlic extract (AGE) is known to have a protective effect against immune system, endothelial function, oxidative stress and inflammation. We examined the effects of exercise with and without aged garlic extract administration on body weight, lipid profiles, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress marker in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. Forty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a HFD (HFD, n = 40) or a normal diet (ND, n = 5) for 6 weeks and thereafter randomized into ND (n = 5), HFD (n = 10), HFD with AGE (n = 10), HFD with Exercise (n = 10), or HFD with Exercise+AGE (n = 10) for 4 weeks. AGE groups were administered at a dose of 2.86 g/kg body weight, orally. Exercise consisted of running 15-60 min 5 days/week with gradually increasing intensity. AGE (P<0.01), Exercise, and Exercise+AGE (P<0.001) attenuated body weight gain and food efficiency ratio compared to HFD. Visceral fat and liver weight gain were attenuated (P<0.05) with all three interventions with a greater effect on visceral fat in the Exercise+AGE than AGE (P<0.001). In reducing visceral fat (P<0.001), epididymal fat (P<0.01) and liver weight (P<0.001), Exercise+AGE was effective, but exercise showed a stronger suppressive effect than AGE. Exercise+AGE showed further additive effects on reducing visceral fat and liver weight (P<0.001). AGE significantly attenuated the increase in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol compared with HFD (P<0.05). Exercise+AGE attenuated the increase in triglycerides compared with HFD (P<0.05). Exercise group significantly decrease in C-reactive protein (P<0.001). These results suggest that AGE supplementation and exercise alone have anti-obesity, cholesterol lowering, and anti-inflammatory effects, but the combined intervention is more effective in reducing weight gain and triglycerides levels than either intervention alone.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.71-85
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of tongue color and the correlation of the tongue colors with clinical laboratory parameters. Methods : Statistical analysis on the frequency of each tongue color and the results of the clinical laboratory parameters in each tongue color group. Results : Tongue colors that appeared most frequently were 702c, 695c, 493c, 694c, 701c, 500c, 7432c, 7431c, 7634c, 7419c in that order. Following them, 494c and 507c were rarer colors, and 501c, 673c, 687c, 693c, 696c, 703c, 7418c were equally rarest colors. Among each tongue color group, a significant difference was found in the result of complete blood cell count (CBC). The level of red blood cell (RBC) of 7432c group was significantly higher than that of the other groups except 694c group. The level of hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct) of 7432c group were significantly higher than those of all the other groups. The level of RBC of 7431c group was lowest and significantly different from 694c, 7432c group. In results of the other tests were not significantly different. However the level of total cholesterol was higher in 695c, 694c, 500c group, and the level of triglyceride was higher in 500c, 7431c, 694c group. Those four colors have a low chroma and 7431c, 695c take blue violet color. Conclusions : The tongue color is distributed throughout following colors by order of frequency: 702c, 695c, 493c, 694c, 701c, 500c, 7432c, 7431c, 7634c, 7419c, 708c, 494c, 507c, 501c, 673c, 687c, 693c, 696c, 703c, 7418c. Some parameters of CBC has a significant correlation with some tongue colors. Other results including lipid profile, renal function test, and liver function test had no significant difference according to tongue color. However, the colors which have low chroma or take blue violet color tented to be higher in the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.309-318
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• 2005

Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) has been used as a food supplement and a traditional herbal medicine. In this study, we prepared various flavonoid fractions (RS, RW1, RW2 and RWE) from a hot water extract of RVS and their influence on male reproductive organs and spermatogenesis were studied in rats which were orally administered 200 mg/kg of them for 8 weeks. All experimental groups did not show any significant changes in body weight and blood clinical chemistry for liver function. Plasma testosterone level was elevated about 3.7, 5.2 and 6.3 folds in RW1, RW2 and RWE groups, respectively. The weights of testes and epididymides tended to increase slightly without the statistical significance in RW2 and RWE. The spermatozoon motility and epididymal sperm concentration were significantly increased (P<0.05) in RWE and RW1, respectively, when compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in histology and apparent shape of testes and epididymides among the control and the experimental groups. Collectively, RWE showed effectively the elevation of plasma testosterone level, spermatozoon motility and the epididymal sperm concentration without the significant increase of testis and epidiymides weights. When the component HPLC profile among the flavonoids fractions of RVS was compared, the ratio of components were only different. These findings suggest that the Rhus flavonoid fraction, particularly RWE, can stimulate the androgen-dependent male sexual function and it can be applied to the material of functional food for enhancing the sexual function.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.661-674
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• 2023

Abstract: This retrospective study delved into the effects and safety considerations associated with the concomitant usage of hypoglycemic agents and herbal extracts, specifically Pyeongwi-san (PWS) or HyangsaPyongwi-san (HSPWS) in the context of type 2 diabetes mellitus management. Methods: The investigation involved 38 inpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who received PWS or HSPWS treatment at Kyung Hee University Korean Medical Hospital from January 2012 to December 2022. By investigating clinical attributes and conducting laboratory assessments, this study aimed to discern the impact of these herbal extracts on blood glucose levels, encompassing fasting blood sugar (FBS) and mean 2-hour postprandial glucose (PP2) levels. Furthermore, the safety profile of the herbal extracts was assessed by comparing liver function indicators, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alongside kidney function markers, such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr). Results: Following the administration of the herbal extracts, no statistically significant alterations in FBS and mean PP2 levels emerged compared to the baseline levels. Notably, the safety evaluation revealed no significant differences in liver and kidney function parameters following herbal extract administration. Conclusion: The results of this research indicate that using PWS or HSPWS alongside hypoglycemic medications could be a beneficial additional method for addressing digestive symptoms in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Notably, this combination seems to have no negative interactions with other drugs.

• Mycobiology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.159-167
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• 2018

This study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo hypolipidemic effects of the medicinal mushroom Phellinus pini. The methanol extract (ME) of the fruiting body of Ph. pini was active against pancreatic lipase and cholesterol esterase with 99.14% and 67.23% inhibited activity at 1.0 mg/mL, respectively. It also inhibited 81.81% and 55.33% of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase activities, respectively, at 2.0 mg/mL. Hyperlipidemia as induced by feeding rats with a high fat and cholesterol diet (HFC). HFC supplemented with a 5% fruiting body powder of Ph. pini (HFC + PhP) significantly reduced plasma total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides in rats compared with HFC. The reduced levels were comparable to rats fed the normal control diet (NC). The atherogenic index of HFC + PhP rats was significantly lower than that of the HFC rats. The excretion of fecal total lipid and cholesterol in the HFC + PhP rats was significantly higher than those in the NC and HFC rats. Histopathological examinations demonstrated scant deposition of lipids in the liver of rats fed HFC + PhP. The dietary supplementation with the fruiting body powder provided natural plasma lipid and glucose lowering effects in experimental rats without adverse effects on the plasma biochemical parameters and liver function related enzyme activities. Therefore, the hypolipidemic effects of Ph. pini may be due to the inhibitory effects on pancreatic lipase, cholesterol esterase, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, and ${\alpha}$-amylase, and excretion of excess lipids and cholesterol in the feces.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.161-165
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• 2003

The effects of Saururus chinensis Baill administration on the biochemical parameters of function in liver of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) treated rats were investigated. Saururus chinensis Baill (200mg/kg) was administered into rats intraperitoneally for four weeks, seven days after the injection of TCDD(1 ${\mu}g/kg$). We examined the antioxidative enzymatic activity by measuring the level of AST and ALT in serum and SOD, Catalase, GPx, GSH and GSSG in liver tissue of rats. STT group showed 70.7% of inhibitive effect in AST acrivity compared to TTA group. ALT level of STT group was decreased to the level of NTT group. SOD and Catalase in TTA group were lower than in NTT group, but SOD and Catalase in STT group were increased by 82% and 55.45% respectively compared to TTA group. GSH contents in STT group were 74.20% increased compared to TTA group. GSSG contents in STT group were 61.08% decreased compared to TTA group. These results suggest that Saururus Chinensis Baill has a potent hepathprotective effect against TCDD intoxicated rats.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1367-1370
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• 2015

Diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is difficult when patients do not show jaundice. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of using the total serum bile acid (TSBA) level as an aid for the diagnosis of CCA in patients without jaundice. For this purpose, TSBA of the following groups were measured using a Beckman Synchron CX4 clinical chemistry analyzer: 60 cases of CCA with total serum bilirubin ${\leq}2mg/dL$ (low total bilirubin group, LTB); 32 cases of CCA with total serum bilirubin >2 mg/dL (high total bilirubin group, HTB); and 115 healthy controls. Liver function parameters such as serum cholesterol, albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were also examined. The results showed that the TSBA of both LTB and HTB groups of the CCA patients were significantly higher than that of the healthy controls. Also, significant correlation was observed between TSBA and total bilirubin levels in the HTB group of CCA patients. However, no such correlation was seen in the LTB group. The cut-off value of TSBA was determined for the LTB group of CCA patients using the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and it was $6.05{\mu}mol/L$ with the sensitivity and specificity of 46.7% and 84.4%, respectively. In addition, the ALP level was correlated well with the TSBA level and ALP in HTB group was significantly higher than that of LTB group. Moreover, the combination of high TSBA and high ALP levels gave higher specificity up to 97.4%. TSBA might be useful for the diagnosis of CCA patients without jaundice.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.471-474
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• 1994

Five experimental groups with five adult male rats in each, were exposed to 20, 35, 40 and $45^{\circ}C$ air temperature for 50-70 minutes, and to $50^{\circ}C$ for 30-50 minutes, respectively. Food and drinking water were not permitted during the exposure. Blood samples were obtained by heart puncture immediately after the thermal treatment. All the rats were hyperthermic (p<0.01) as compared to the controls ($20^{\circ}C$). Hyperthermia was associated with hypoglycemia which was significant (p<0.01) at 45 and $50^{\circ}C$ exposures. Plasma levels of GOT and GPT declined at 35 and $40^{\circ}C$ reaching the lowest (p<0.05) level at $45^{\circ}C$, while at $50^{\circ}C$ GOT level was elevated by 45% but GPT was normal as compared to the controls. Differences between groups were significant (p<0.01) for GOT and insignificant for GPT. Hematocrit value increased significantly (p<0.01) at 45 and $50^{\circ}C$, indicating hemoconcentration. It could be concluded that severe heat stress (45 and $50^{\circ}C$) resulted in critical hyperthermia, hypoglycemia, disturbed liver function, body dehydration, and hemoconcentration leading to death.