• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.301-309
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• 2007

Paecilomyces tenuipes (PT), one of the Ascomycetes family, has been used for medicinal purposes due to its broad pharmacological activities. The present study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of PT water extracts against $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. When the extract of PT was directly added into the culture medium at 1, 2, and 5 mg/ml, the extracts not only reduce the $CCl_4$-induced elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase, and lipid peroxide, but also protect cultured hepatocytes from $CCl_4$-induced reduction of reduced glutathione, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase. In addition, the effects of PT water extracts on cytochrome P450 enzymes were relatively marginal, indicating that the hepatoprotective effects of PT extract against $CCl_4$-induced toxicity might not be due to the inhibition of $CCl_4$ activation. In conclusion, the PT extracts were effective in protecting against $CCl_4$ induced hepatotoxicity in hepatocyte cultures, at least in part, by scavenging free radicals, and by modulating enzyme systems involved in cellular oxidative stress.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.331-337
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• 2019

Digitaria exilis L. is an under-utilized crop with high nutritional and medicinal values. It thrives in and is well-adapted to arid areas with low soil nutrients. Using biochemical markers, this study investigates the mechanisms by which D. exilis responds to osmotic stress. Three accessions Dinat Iburua (DIN), Jakah Iburua (JAK) and Jiw Iburua (JIW) were collected from National Cereal Research Institute, Niger State. Two accessions, NG/11/JD/061 and NG/11/JD/062 were also collected from National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Ibadan. Murashige and Skoog medium of approximately 1.2 L was supplemented with polyethylene glycol 6000 to create osmotic pressures of -9.29, -13.93, -20.13, -26.32, -32.51, and 0 MPa (control). Sterilized seeds were inoculated in the medium and placed in the growth room for 4 weeks. Proline accumulation was significantly high in all JAK plants under osmotic stress. Proline and ascorbate peroxidase (p<0.05) activities were directly correlated, thus reinforcing the survivability of JAK during stress. Catalase (CAT) activity was also significantly induced in JAK under osmotic stress, which synergistically improved its tolerability. As a result, >50% of OH-, H₂O₂, and NO radicals were scavenged. However, other accessions including DIN, NG061, NG062, and JIW showed variations in their responses to different levels of osmotic stress, although not significant. Therefore, JAK possesses a well-equipped free radical quenching system that is protected by the accumulation of the osmolyte proline; therefore, accession JAK is considered osmotolerant. CAT and superoxide dismutase activities were osmostabilized against oxidative stress by proline.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2011

The radioprotective efficacy of a methanol extract of the red algae Polyopes lancifolia (Harvey) kawaguchi et wang (mPL) was evaluated in mice subjected to total-body gamma irradiation. mPL protection against radiation-induced oxidative stress was examined by histological evaluation of intestinal crypt-cell survival and liver activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). mPL (100 mg/kg body weight) administered intraperitoneally at 24 h and 1 h prior to irradiation protected jejunal crypt cells from radiation-induced apoptosis (p < 0.01). The pretreatment of mPL attenuated a radiation-induced decrease in villous height (p < 0.05), and improved jejunal crypt survival (p < 0.05). The dose reduction factor was 1.14 at 3.5 days after irradiation. Treatment with mPL prior to irradiation resulted in significantly higher (p < 0.01) levels of SOD and CAT activities, compared to those levels of irradiated control mice with vehicle treatment. These results suggest that mPL is a useful radioprotective agent capable of defending intestinal progenitor cells against total-body irradiation, at least in part through mPL antioxidative activity.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.844-851
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• 2002

Smoking can increase oxidative stress and thereby change the antioxidant defense system in the body. To investigate the relationship between male adolescent smoking and antioxidant status, we surveyed the eating habits and dietary intake of 82 smokers and 44 nonsmokers recruited from a male technical high school. In addition, antioxidant enzyme activity and lipid peroxide values were determined in both the plasma and the erythrocytes. Although the frequency of food intake was not significantly different, most nutrient intake was unexpectedly higher in smokers than in nonsmokers. In comparison with the Korean RDA, especially the average intake of Ca, Fe and vitamin $B_2$ didn t reach 75% of the Korean RDA in either smokers or nonsmokers. An analysis of antioxidant enzyme activity showed that plasma catalase. superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), erythrocyte catalase and GSH-px activities showed no significant difference between smokers and nonsmokers. However, the erythrocyte SOD activity of smokers (1.57 unit/mgHb) was significantly lower than that of nonsmokers (2.00 unit/mg Hb). In addition, the plasma ceruloplasmin concentration of smokers (28.68 mg/$d\ell$) was significantly higher than that of nonsmokers (26.30 mg/$d\ell$), whereas the specific ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity of smokers (0.31 unit/mg) was lower than that of nonsmokers (0.35 unit/mg). The plasma and erythrocyte thlobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) of smokers (2.57 $\mu$mol/L, 0.32 $\mu$mol/gHb) were also significantly higher than those of nonsmokers (2.25 $\mu$mol/L, 0.27 $\mu$mol/gHb). The overall data indicate that adolescent smoking might decrease the antioxidant capacity of the body, in part, by lowering the erythrocyte SOD activity and the specific ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.260-266
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• 2009

The effects of ${\beta}$-glucosidase on the overall growth performance and a set of physiological parameters of broilers were investigated. 240 male, one-day old Avine broiler chickswere randomly allocated to four treatment groups and fed with a corn-soybean meal supplemented with 0% (control), 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6% ${\beta}$-glucosidase. The 0.2% ${\beta}$-glucosidase group, but not the 0.4% and 0.6% ${\beta}$-glucosidase groups, showed a significantly increased average daily weight gain (p<0.05) over that of the control. All three ${\beta}$-glucosidase feed groups showed significantly higher feed conversion ratios than the control group (p<0.05). Feed supplementation of 0.2% ${\beta}$-glucosidase significantly raised the contents of serum isoflavone aglycones as shown by decreases of genistin and daizin (p<0.01) and an increase of daidzein (p<0.01). The 0.2% ${\beta}$-glucosidase feeding significantly increased the intestinal amylase activity while it had little effect on lipase and trypsin activities (p>0.05). 0.2% ${\beta}$-glucosidase feeding also significant elevated the levels of highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol and malate dehydrogenase while lowering the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Finally, ${\beta}$-glucosidase improved the anti-oxidative activities of the animals; the 0.2% ${\beta}$-glucosidase feed group had higher activities of superoxide dismutase (p<0.05), glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in the liver (p<0.05), and malondialdehyde level in the serum (p<0.05).

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.129-149
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• 2003

Liver is an important target of the toxicity of drugs, xenobiotics and oxidative stress. Acetaminophen pverdose causes acute liver injury in both humans and animals. This study was performed to observe the effect of sachunwhan and its component groups on recovery of hepatoxicity in acetaminophen treated rats. The experimental group was divided into 4 groups: sachungwhan(SC), samultang group(SC-1: 當歸, 川芎), chungyul group(SC-2: 龍膽草, 大黃, 梔子), and haepyo group(SC-3:羌活, 防風). Under the same condition Normal group was fed basal diet and water; Control group was injected acetaminophen and fed basal diet for 2 weeks; Experimental groups were injected acetaminophen and fed each extracts for 2 weeks respectively. The results were obtained as follows: 1. In the study on antioxidative defense system in vivo, SC reduced the amount of lipid peroxide in both serum and liver and showed activity on antioxidative enzymes such as catalase, glutathion. Other groups had effect only on glutathion. 2. In the study on hepatotoxicity(GOT, GPT, ${\gamma}$-GTP, ALP, LDH, Bilirubin), SC had a significant effect on recovery of hepatoxicity in acetaminophen treated rats. Other groups had no effect except SC-1 having effect on ${\gamma}$-GTP. As results shown, only Sachungwhan(SC) has significant effects on recovery of hepatoxicity and antioxidative defense system in vivo. These results suggest that Sachungwhan(SC) made antioxidative defense system active and it seemed to be very important to its effect on recovery of hepatoxicity. In the other hand, Component groups had no effect on recoverv of hepatoxicity and antioxidative defense system in vivo. This was thought that component drugs' cooperative synergy effect would be important to Sachungwhan(SC)'s effects mentioned in this paper.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2006

Effects of garlic powder supplementation on blood lipid profile and antioxidant system were investigated in rats with and without swimming exercise. Sprague-Dawley rats of four experimental groups were fed for 4 weeks diets containing $15\%$ beef tallow and $1\%$ cholesterol; control without garlic and exercise, Go with $2\%$ garlic alone, Ex with exercise alone, GoEx with $2\%$ garlic and exercise. Rats were trained 40 min a days a days a week. Group Ex and GoEx showed significant lowering in body weight gain and fat accumulation. In Go, Ex and GoEx, plasm TG and LDL-C were lower and HDL-C was higher, although not significantly, compared to levels in control. Total cholesterol was significantly reduced in group Go, and Ex and GoEx were lower than control. The total/HDL cholesterol ratio was also found to be significantly different, decreasing the ratios in Go, Ex and GoEx. The hepatic TBARS increased significantly in group Ex $(51.7{\pm}3.43nM/g\;liver)$, while TBARS in Go and GoEx were low $(35.68{\pm}3.61,\;39.30{\pm}5.55nM/g\;liver)$ and similar to control's one. The activity of hepatic SOD in Go and GoEx tended higher than control and Ex without garlic. The hepatic catalase showed significantly the highest activity in Go. Activity of GSH-px was significantly low in Ex with $0.14{\pm}0.03$ unit/mg protein, and control, Go and GoEx had higher activities of $0.23{\pm}0.08,\;0.20{\pm}0.07,\;0.22{\pm}0.01\;unit/mg$ protein, respectively. Lower activities of antioxidant enzymes in Ex are likely to associated with the highest level of TBARS. It seems that a decrease in TBARS in GoEx relative to Ex was related to the increase in GSHpx and SOD with garlic supplemented, which led to compensate the oxidative stress from exercise. The results suggests that exercise or garlic supplement exerts blood lipid attenuating effect. In adition, garlic supplementation could strengthen the antioxidant potential against exercise-induced oxidants, partly by modulating oxidant enzyme activity. These effects of garlic may make it a beneficial agent on CVD.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.656-661
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• 2006

Cisplatin (CDDP) is a widely used anticancer drug, but at high dose, it can produce undesirable side effects such as hepatotoxicity. Because silymrin has been used to treat liver disorders, the protective effect of silymarin on CDDP -induced hepatotoxicity was evaluated in rats. Hepatotoxicity was determined by changes in serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST], nitric oxide [NO] levels, albumin and calcium levels, and superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GSHPx] activities, glutathione content, malondialdehyde [MDA] and nitric oxide [NO] levels in liver tissue of rats. Male albino rats were divided into four groups, 10 rats in each. In the control group, rats were injected i.p. with 0.2 ml of propylene glycol in saline 75/25 (v/v) for 5 consecutive days [Silymarin was dissolved in 0.2 ml of propylene glycol in saline 75/25 v/v]. The second group were injected with CDDP (7.5 mg /kg, I.P.), whereas animals in the third group were i.p. injected with silymarin at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day for 5 consecutive days. The Fourth group received a daily i.p. injection of silymarin (100 mg/kg/day for 5 days) 1 hr before a single i.p. injection of CDDP (7.5 mg/kg). CDDP hepatotoxicity was manifested biochemically by an increase in serum ALT and AST, elevation of MDA and NO in liver tissues as well as a decrease in GSH and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, GSHPx in liver tissues. In addition, marked decrease in serum NO, albumin and calcium levels were observed. Serum ALT, AST, liver NO level, MDA was found to decreased in the combination group in comparison with the CDDP group. The activities of SOD, GSHPx, GSH and serum NO were lower in CDDP group than both the control and CDDP pretreated with silymarin groups. The results obtained suggested that silymarin significantly attenuated the hepatotoxicity as an indirect target of CDDP in an animal model of CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2009

Acetaminophen (AP) is widely used as an over-the-counter analgesic and antipyretic drug. AP-induced hepatotoxicity is a common consequence of AP overdose and may lead to acute liver failure. In this study, we investigated the liver damage in mice using single dose (300 mg/kg) of AP and the possible protective effects of administration (50-200 mg/kg body weight) of Joo-Juk on acetaminophen-induced liver damage in mice. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were determined in the plasma of mice. The effect of Joo-Juk on lipid peroxidation product thiobarbituric reacting substances (TBARS) and some antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, d-aminolevulinate dehydratase ($\sigma$-ALA-D) activities, and gluthathione peroxidase (GPx), were also evaluated in the mouse liver homogenate. AP caused liver damage as evident by statistically significant increased in plasma activities of AST and ALT. There were statistically significant losses in the activities of SOD, catalase, $\sigma$-ALA-D, and GPx and an increase in TBARS in the liver of AP-treated group compared with the control group. However, Joo-Juk was able to counteract these effects. These results suggest that Joo-juk can act as hepato-protectant against AP toxicity and is a good candidate for further evaluation as an effective chemotherapeutic agent.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2008

Acetaminophen (N-acety1-p-aminophenol, paracetamol) is widely used as an over-the-counter analgesic and antipyretic drug. Intake of a over dose of acetaminophen may result in severe hepatic necrosis. In this study, we investigated the liver damage in mice using single dose (300 mg/kg) of acetaminophen and the possible protective effects of administration (50-200 mg/kg body weight) of SB-Ex on acetaminophen-induced liver damage in mice. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were determined in the plasma of mice. The effect of SB-Ex on lipid peroxidation product thiobarbituric reacting substances (TBARS) and some antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, d-aminolevulinate dehydratase (${\sigma}$-ALA-D) activities, and gluthathione peroxidase (GPx), were also evaluated in the mouse liver homogenate. Acetaminophen caused liver damage as evident by statistically significant increased in plasma activities of AST and ALT. There were general statistically significant losses in the activities of SOD, catalase, ${\sigma}$-ALA-D, and GPx and an increase in TBARS in the liver of acetaminophen-treated group compared with the control group. However, SB-Ex was able to counteract these effects. These results suggest that SB-Ex can act as hepatoprotectives against acetaminophen toxicity and is a good candidate for further evaluation as an effective chemotherapeutic agent.