• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.378-383
• /
• 2016

Diabetic kidney disease is the most common and severe chronic complication of diabetes. The leaf of Diospyros kaki Thumb (persimmon) has been commonly used for herbal tea and medicinal purposes to treat a variety of conditions, including hypertension and atherosclerosis. However, the effect of persimmon leaf on kidney failure has not been investigated. This study aimed to examine the role of persimmon leaf in protecting the diabetes-associated kidney damage in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes. Mice were fed either a normal chow diet with or without powered persimmon leaf (5%, w/w) for 5 weeks. In addition to kidney morphology and blood markers of kidney function, we assessed levels of oxidative stress markers as well as antioxidant enzymes activities and mRNA expression in the kidney. Supplementation of the diet with powered persimmon leaf not only decreased the concentration of blood urea nitrogen in the plasma but also improved glomerular hypertrophy. Furthermore, the persimmon leaf significantly decreased the levels of hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxide in the kidney. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase and the mRNA expression of their respective genes were also increased in the kidney of persimmon leaf-supplemented db/db mice. Taken together, these results suggest that supplementation with the persimmon leaf may have protective effects against type 2 diabetes-induced kidney dysfunction and oxidative stress.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.211-220
• /
• 2018

Early life exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and low protein diet through complementary foods during weaning is common in parts of Africa and Asia. This study evaluated the effect of co-exposure to AFB1 and low protein diet on the extrahepatic tissues of rats. Twenty-four three-week old weanling male albino rats were used for this study and were randomly assigned into four groups: group 1 served as control and was fed normal protein diet (20% protein), group 2 was fed low protein diet (5% protein), group 3 was fed normal protein diet + 40 ppb AFB1 while group 4 received low protein diet + 40 ppb AFB1, all for eight weeks. Afterward, biomarkers of anemia (packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin) and kidney function (urea, uric acid, and creatinine) were determined in the blood while biomarkers of oxidative stress were determined in the tissues spectrophotometrically. Co-exposure to AFB1 and low protein diet significantly (p < 0.05) decreased body weight gain and PCV, increased biomarkers of kidney functions and induced oxidative stress in the tissues studied. There was significant (p < 0.05) reduction in glutathione concentration while TBARS was significantly increased in the tissues. Co-exposure to AFB1 and low protein diet had additive effects on decreasing the weight gain and potentiation effect of kidney dysfunction in the rats. The co-exposure also decreased antioxidant enzymes and increased oxidant status in the tissues. Our results demonstrate that this co-exposure has deleterious health effects on extrahepatic tissues and should be a public health concern especially in developing countries where AFB1 contamination is common.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.544-549
• /
• 2012

To examine the neuroprotective effects of ginsenoside R0, we investigated the effects of ginsenoside R0 in PC12 cells under an anoxic or oxidative environment with Edaravone as a control. PC12 neuroendocrine cells were used as a model target. Anoxic damage or oxidative damage in PC12 cells were induced by adding sodium dithionite or hydrogen peroxide respectively in cultured medium. Survival ratios of different groups were detected by an AlamarBlue assay. At the same time, the apoptosis of PC12 cells were determined with flow cytometry. The putative neuroprotective effects of ginsenoside R0 is thought to be exerted through enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes Superoxide dismutases (SOD). The activity of SOD and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), were measured to evaluate the protective and therapeutic effects of ginsenoside R0. Ginsenoside R0 treated cells had a higher SOD activity, lower MDA level and lower ROS, and their survival ratio was higher with a lower apoptosis rate. It is suggested that ginsenoside R0 has a protective effect in the cultured PC12 cells, and the protection efficiency is higher than Edaravone. The protective mechanisms of these two are different. The prevent ability of ginsenoside R0 is higher than its repair ability in neuroprotection in vitro.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.371-377
• /
• 1995

The effect of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol and ${\beta}$-carotene supplementation on reducing the oxidative damag in the liver of rats were studied. Forth-five male Sprague Dawley aged 4 weeks were randomly assigned to 9 groups of five for the 12 weeks of the study. Nine groups, sardine oil, sardine oil＋Vt E, sardine oil＋${\beta}$-carotene, soybean oil, soybean oil＋Vt E, soybean oil＋${\beta}$-carotene, lard, lard＋Vt E, lard＋${\beta}$-carotene group, were prepared. Sardine oil, soybean oil, or lard was used for dietary fat and 200% of ${\alpha}$ -tocopherol or 150% of ${\beta}$-carotene was supplemented to each diet. Each diet supplied 65% of total energy as carbohydrate, 15% as protein, and 20% as lipid. The MDA value and protein carbonyl contents of sardine oil group were significantly different(p<0.05) to those of other fat groups indicating that the most severe lipid oxidation occurred in the group fed diet containing highly polyunsaturated fatty acid. When ${\alpha}$-tocopherol or ${\beta}$ -carotene was supplemented to the sardine oil diet, MDA value(-35%, -15%, respectively) and protein carbonyl content(-44%, -32%, respectively) decreased significantly(p<0.05). Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase activities of three different sardine oil groups with or without antioxidants were lower than those of soybean oil or lard group. The reducing effect of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol on oxidative damage in sardine oil group supplemented with ${\alpha}$-tocopherol was noticeable(p<0.05). However the adverse effect of ${\beta}$-carotene was observed. SOD and catalase activities of ${\beta}$-carotene supplemented groups were that the lowest among the same fat groups, but the differences were not statistically significant. The possible cause of decreased enzyme activity seemed to be related to the vitamin A(Vt A) toxicity in the liver where retinol converted from dietary ${\beta}$-carotene in the intestinal mucosa was stored.

• Advances in environmental research
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.179-187
• /
• 2016

This study evaluated some markers of oxidative stress in the organs of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus from Eleyele River in Oyo State, Nigeria. Clarias gariepinus (250 g-400 g) were collected from Eleyele River (a suspected polluted River) and Clarias gariepinus from a clean fish farm (Durantee fisheries) were used as the control. Levels of Malondialdehyde (index of lipid peroxidation), Glutathione (GSH) and activities of antioxidant enzymes- Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase and Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) were evaluated in the liver, kidney and gills of the fish. From the results, there were significant (p<0.001) increases in malondialdehyde and GSH levels in the liver, kidney and gills of Clarias gariepinus from Eleyele River compared with control. The activity of GST increased significantly (p<0.05; p<0.001) in the liver and kidney of fish from Eleyele River compared with control. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05; p<0.001) in SOD activity in all the organs of Clarias gariepinus from Eleyele River compared with conrol and also a significant (p<0.001) decrease in catalase activity in the gills and kidney of the fish but catalase activity increased in the liver. Increase in lipid peroxidation and alterations in antioxidant status in Clarias gariepinus from Eleyele River show that the fish were under oxidative stress. These suggest that the River is polluted probably as a result of various wastes frequently discharged into the River. This could pose serious health risks to consumers of water and aquatic organisms from the River.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.477-483
• /
• 2016

Heat shock factors (Hsfs) are central regulators of abiotic stress responses, especially heat stress responses, in plants. In the current study, we characterized the activity of the Hsf gene HsfA3 in Arabidopsis under oxidative stress conditions. HsfA3 transcription in seedlings was induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS), exogenous hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), and an endogenous $H_2O_2$ propagator, 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone (DBMIB). HsfA3-overexpressing transgenic plants exhibited increased oxidative stress tolerance compared to untransformed wild-type plants (WT), as revealed by changes in fresh weight, chlorophyll fluorescence, and ion leakage under light conditions. The expression of several genes encoding galactinol synthase (GolS), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs), which function as antioxidants in plant cells, was induced in HsfA3 overexpressors. In addition, galactinol levels were higher in HsfA3 overexpressors than in WT under unstressed conditions. In transient transactivation assays using Arabidopsis leaf protoplasts, HsfA3 activated the transcription of a reporter gene driven by the GolS1 or GolS2 promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that GolS1 and GolS2 are directly regulated by HsfA3. Taken together, these findings provide evidence that GolS1 and GolS2 are directly regulated by HsfA3 and that GolS enzymes play an important role in improving oxidative stress tolerance by increasing galactinol biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.267-274
• /
• 2010

We assessed the effect of Se-methylselenocysteine (MSC) treatment, at a dose of 0.75 mg/rat/day for 1 or 2 weeks, on the activities of antioxidant systems in Sprague-Dawley rat tissues. Significant changes in glutathione and antioxidant enzyme activities, with different patterns among tissues, were evidenced. Glutathione content and its reduction state in the liver, lung, and kidney were elevated upon MSC treatment, whereas they were significantly lowered in the spleen. Among the tissues exhibiting glutathione increase, there were different enzymatic responses: $\gamma$-glutamylcysteine ligase activity, the rate-limiting enzyme in the glutathione synthesis pathway, was increased in the liver, whereas the activities of the enzymes associated with glutathione recycling, namely, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, were significantly increased in the lung and the kidney. The superoxide dismutase activity was decreased in all tissues upon MSC treatment, whereas catalase activity was increased in all tissues but the liver. Lipid peroxidation level was transiently increased at 1 week in the lung and the kidney, whereas it was persistently increased in the spleen. The increase was not evident in the liver. The results indicate that the MSC treatment results in an increase in the antioxidant capacity of the liver, lung, and kidney principally via an increase in glutathione content and reduction, which appeared to be a result of increased synthesis or recycling of glutathione via tissue-dependent adaptive response to oxidative stress triggered by MSC. The spleen appeared to be very sensitive to oxidative stress, and therefore, the adaptive response could not provide protection against oxidative damage.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.1369-1378
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of skate skin collagen peptide (SCP) according to its molecular weight (<1,000 Da or >1,000 Da) which was divided using the ultrafilatration method. The 200 mg/kg collagen peptide was administrated to obesity-induced db/db mice for 8 weeks. As the results, in collagen peptide-treated groups, body weight gain was decreased, the plasma and hepatic concentration of reactive oxygen species decreased and oxidative stress was alleviated. In addition, SCP-treated group showed the significant reduction of the protein expressions of nuclear transcription factors($NF-{\kappa}B$), enzymes(COX2, iNOS), and inflammatory cytokine(IL-6) in hepatic tissue, compared with those of the obese control group. There was a slight difference depending on the molecular weight of collagen peptide, but overall it was not significant. Therefore, SCP effectively inhibited the obesity-induced inflammatory response through attenuation of oxidative stress in the liver.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.284-293
• /
• 2018

Objectives: Thymoquinone (TQ) is one of the active ingredients of herbal plants such as Nigella sativa L. (NS) which has beneficial effects on the body. The beneficial effects of TQ on the cardiovascular system have reported. This study aimed to investigate the effect of TQ on cardiac fibrosis and permeability, serum and tissue concentration of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress status in chronic lipopolysaccharide exposure in male rats. Methods: Seventy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups as follows: (1) control; (2) LPS (1 mg/kg/day); (3-5) LPS + TQ with three doses of 2, 5 and 10 mg/kg (n=14 in each group). After 3 weeks, serum and cardiac levels of $IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, and cardiac levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total thiol groups, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, permeability of heart tissue (evaluated by Evans blue dye method) and myocardial fibrosis were determined, histologically. Results: LPS administration induced myocardial and perivascular fibrosis and increased cardiac oxidative stress (MDA), inflammatory markers and heart permeability, while, reduced anti-oxidative enzymes (SOD and CAT) and the total thiol group. Administration of TQ significantly attenuated these observations. Conclusion: TQ improved myocardial and perivascular fibrosis through suppression of chronic inflammation and improving oxidative stress status and can be considered for attenuation of cardiac fibrosis in conditions with chronic low-grade inflammation.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2022

Objectives : This study investigated the protective effect of Ojeok-san (OJS) on cellular damage induced by oxidative stress and whether it induces changes in CYP450 expression. Methods : To investigate the protective effect, we used cells stimulated by oxidative stress caused by the combination treatment of AA+iron. Changes in CYP450 expression were detected by immunoblotting analysis using Huh7 cells. Results : We observed that OJS altered the expression of CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1. OJS increased cell viability against AA+iron-induced oxidative stress and inhibited mitochondrial dysfunction. OJS increased phosphorylation of LKB1, phosphorylation of AMPK, and phosphorylation of ACC, which are related to the LKB1-AMPK pathway. In addition, phosphorylation of LATS1 and phosphorylation of YAP, which are related to the Hippo-YAP pathway, were increased. Conclusions : Our results show that OJS has 1) the ability to protect hepatocytes against oxidative stress, and 2) the potential to induce changes in CYP450.