• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.4 s.147
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• pp.235-240
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• 2006

We investigated the antioxidant activities such as DPPH radical scavenging capacity, xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, and superoxide radical scavenging capacity of the aqueous EtOH extract and its solvent fractions of Artemisia scoparia. The ethyl acetate fraction showed high antioxidant activity, compared to positive controls such as ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA), trolox, and allopurinol in these assay systems. Moreover, we examined the inhibitory effect of solvent fractions of A. scoparia on the production of pro-inflammatory factors that the nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 $(PGE_2)$ production activated with LPS $(1{\mu}g/ml)$ in murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7. The amounts of protein levels were determined by immunoblottting. Tn the sequential fractions of hexane and dichloromethane inhibited the NO and $PGE_2$ production and the protein level of iNOS and COX-2. These results suggest that A. scoparia may have anti-inflammatory activity through the antioxidant activity and inhibition of pro-inflammatory factors.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.4 s.147
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• pp.246-252
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• 2006

Processing of traditional herbal medicine is one of the pharmaceutical technique in oriental medicine. Most frequently used processing method in oriental medicine are roasting and steaming. In this studies, to elucidate the pharmacological transformation of traditional herbal medicine by means of processing them, Ginseng Radix (root of Panax ginseng, Araliaceae) was used as a sample. Processed ginseng radix (SGR, Sun Ginseng) was prepared by steaming of roots of white ginseng (GR) for 3 hours at $120^{\circ}C$. The biological activities of methanol extract of GR and SGR were investigated. According to DPPH radical scavenging effects, and inhibitory effects of xanthine oxidase and AAPH induced hemolysis, PGR exhibited more effective than those of GR in vitro. And, the antifatigue effect of GR and SGR were investigated using a weight-loading forced swimming test by monitoring swimming times and prolonged intensity exercise model rats by measuring blood biochemical parameters. GR and SGR were significantly prolonged swimming times in 8% body weight ratio loaded mice. Also, they had the inhibitory effects on the decrease of blood glucose levels, the elevation of serum creatinine, lactic acid and free fatty acid, and lactic dehydrogenase activities in forces swimming rats with 1% of the body weight attached to the neck for 3 hours. SGR was more excellent than GR on these effect. Also, these effects were transformed to the n-butanol fraction of methanol extract of SGR. From these results, it can be considered that SGR has antifatigue effect.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2014

After harvesting the medicinal parts of Curcuma longa, the remaining underground parts were discarded. From the remaining underground parts of Curcuma longa quercetin-3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside-7-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranoside (Q37) was isolated. The antioxidant activities in vitro and lifespan-extension effect of Q37 were elucidated using the Caenorhabditis elegans. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect of Q37 showed similar potent activities in comparison with vitamin C. Q37 also showed potent superoxide quenching activities as measured by the riboflavin- and xanthine-originated superoxide quenching activity tests. Q37 prolonged lifespan of worms under normal culture condition. In terms of protective effect of Q37 on the stress conditions such as thermal and oxidative stresses, Q37-treated worms exhibited enhanced survival rate, as compared to control worms. To know the possible mechanism of Q37-mediated increased lifespan and stress resistance of worms, we examined the activities of Q37on superoxide dismutase (SOD), and invested intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The results revealed that Q37 was able to elevate SOD activity of worms and reduce intracellular ROS accumulation in a dose-dependent manner.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1982

The effect of acetylcholine, oxytocin and prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ ($PGF_{2{\alpha}}$) on cyclic nucleotide levels in estrogen-primed rabbit whole uterus were studied in the presence and absence of 1-methyl-3-isobutyl xanthine (MIX), a phosphodiestrase inhibitor, and indomethacin, a prostagandin inhibitor. In the absence of MIX, acetylcholine increased guanosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP), but had no effect on adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels. In contrast, oxytocin had no influence on cGMP, but decreased cAMP levels. $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ increased cGMP and decreased cAMP levels. MIX increased both cAMP and cGMP levels. Oxytocin and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ further increased cGMP levels, indicating activation of guanylate cyclase activity. The ratio of cAMP/cGMP was decreased by uterine stinulants both in presence and absence of MIX. Indomethacin elevated cAMP and cGMP revels. The effects of uterine stimulants in the presence of indomethacin on cyclic nucleotide levels were varied from tissue to tisse. In general, oxytocin decreased cGMP and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ increased cAMP/cGMP levels, but the effects were statisically nonsignicficant. The cAMP/cGMP ratio was increased by uterine stimulant in the presence of indomethacin. In conclusion, uterine stimulants eased cAMP/cGMP ratio which indicates that the uterine stimulants have opposing effects on adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase activities. The endometrium plays a role in the regulation of cyclic nucleotide levels and uterine contraction by means of PG synthesis. Indomethacin has an unknown activities besides both of PG synthetase and phosphodiesterase inhibitions.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate the antioxidant mechanism of tomato wine with varying lycopene content in rats fed a high fat diet (HFD). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=10 per group) and fed an HFD (35% of total energy from fat) plus ethanol (7.2% of total energy from alcohol), tomato wine with varying lycopene content (0.425 mg%, 1.140 mg% or 2.045 mg% lycopene) or an isocaloric control diet for 6 weeks. Mice fed HFD plus ethanol significantly increased erythrocyte hydrogen peroxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels with increases in activities of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GR) compared to pair-fed rats. Supplementation of tomato wine with varying lycopene content decreased ethanol-mediated increases of erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in HFD-fed rats, and tomato wine with higher lycopene appeared to be more effective. Tomato wine also dose-dependently lowered TBARS levels with decreased pro-oxidant enzyme, xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity in plasma of HFD-fed rats. In contrast to erythrocytes, the inhibitory effects of tomato wine on hepatic lipid peroxidation were linked to increased hepatic antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) and alcohol metabolizing enzyme (alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase) activities. There were no significant differences in hepatic XOD and cytochrome P450-2E1 activities among the groups. Together, our data suggest that tomato wine fortified with lycopene has the potential to protect against ethanol-induced oxidative stress via regulation of antioxidant or pro-oxidant enzymes and alcohol metabolizing enzyme activities in plasma, erythrocyte and liver.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 1986

The purpose of the present experiment is to make certain the exsistence of cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) in mouse oocytes and confirm its possible role on meiotic resumption. The results showed two types of cAMP in the oocytes with different Michaelis constants (Km) with specific maximum (Vmax); The Km and Vmax of one of two types of PDE were estimated at $0.14 \\pm 0.01 \\muM$ and $0.42 \\pm 0.07$ fmol cAMP hydrolyzed/oocyte/minute, and the other at $14.5 \\pm 2.0 \\muM$ and $2.2 \\pm 0.5$ fmol cAMP hydrolyzed/oocyte/minute. cAMP hydrolysis by PDE was reversibly inhibited in vitro by presence of theophylline or isobutyl-methyl-xanthine (IBMX), which is well known as an inhibitor of oocyte maturation. Consequently, it can be assumed that maturation of oocyte is affected by the high level of intracellular cAMP, and its level is well maintained by presence of PDE inhibitor, such as theophylline and IBMX.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.729-736
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of glucuronic acid (isolated from xylan) on antioxidative defense system in rat after aerobic exercise. The glucuronic acid was isolated from xylan. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 150$\pm$10 g were randomly assigned to one normal group and three exercise training groups. Exercise training groups were classified to T (glucuronic acid free diet), TU (250 mg glucuronic acid/kg bw) and 2TU (500 mg glucuronic acid/kg bw) according to the level of glucuronic acid supplementation before exercise training. The experimental rats in exercise training groups (T, TU and 2TU) were exercised on glucuronic acid supplementation or rats in normal group (N) were confined in cage for 4 weeks. And rats were sacrificed with an overdose of pentobarbital injection just after running. Body weight, food intakes and food efficiency ratio (FER) were lower in the exercise training group than in the normal group. White gastrocnemius xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity in the T group was 85% greater than that of the normal group, whereas in the TU and 2TU groups it did not differ from the normal group. White gastrocnemius superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in T group, that was decreased by 22% compared with that of N group, but those of TU and 2TU groups were increased by 38% and 42%, respectively, compared with that of T group. White gastrocnemius glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) activity in T group, that was decreased by 42% compared with that of N group, but those of TU and 2TU groups were increased by 67% and 68%, respectively, compared with that of T group. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity of white gastrocnemius in N group was not significantly different from that in the T and TU groups, but 2TU group were increased by 12%. Contents of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in T group was increased by 54%, compared with that of normal group but those of TU group and 2TU group were lower 44% and 36% than that of T group. In conclusion, the effects of glucuronic acids in exercise training rats would appear to reduce peroxidation of tissue as an antioxidative defense mechanism.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.1 s.132
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• pp.45-54
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• 2003

We have conducted to characterize the physico-chemical change and pharmacological transformation of traditional herbal medicines by means of processing. Processed Gardeniae Fructus was prepared by heating of fruit of Gardenia jasminoides(GF) for $30{\sim}50\;minute$ in the roster designed for herb processing. The contents of drying loss, water extract, diluted ethanol extract, ether extract and geniposide in non-processed GF and processed GF were examined. The contents of drying loss, water extract and geniposide in processed GF showed a decrease as compared with those of non-processed GF, however the contents of dilute ethanol and ether extract showed a increase as compared with those of non-processed GF. The rate of decrease/increase of those index were in proportion to heating time. And, biological activities of methanol extract of non-processed GF and processed GF were investigated. DPPH scavenging effects and inhibitory effect of xanthine oxidate and hemolysis of processed GF exhibited more effective than those of non-processed GF in vitro. Accelerating effect of large intestinal transport and purgative action of non- processed GF were discriminated by processing of GF. Methanol extracts of non-pro- cessed GF and processed GF showed the protective effects against the hepatotoxicity induced by ${\alpha}-naphthylisothiocyanate$ in rats. These results suggested that the transformation of biological activities of GF by means of processing may be due to the physico-chemical change of the constituents in GF by heating.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.277-287
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• 2004

Objective : Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Etiological studies of diabetes and its complications showed that oxidative stress might playa major role. Therefore, many efforts have been made to regulate oxygen free radicals for treating diabetes and its complications. Because Jindangwon has been known to be effective in treatment of diabetes, the methanol extract of Jindangwon was tested for its effectiveness in reducing the oxidative stress induced by Streptozotocin. Methods : Jindangwon was washed, dried in the shade and crushed. The crushed Jindangwon was extracted 3 times, each time with 3 volumes of methyl alcohol at $60^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours. The extract was filtered and evaporated under reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to yield 30.6 g. Jindangwon extract was oral-administered to the diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin 50 mg per 1 kg of body weight for 15 days. The efficacy of the Jindangwon extract was examined with regard to the enzymatic pathways involved in the oxygen free radical production and the glutathione balance. Results : he effects of the methanol extract of Jindangwon in streptozotocin-induced diabetics rats with regard to body weight, blood glucose level, hepatic lipid peroxide level, hepatic xanthine oxidase activity and type conversion rate, hepatic glutathione level, hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity, hepatic glutathione reductase activity, hepatic aldose reductase activity, and hepatic sorbitol dehydrogenase activity were favorable enough to suggest that it is a cure for diabetes and its complications. Conclusions :These results support Jindangwon as an effective reducing agent for oxidative stress in the tissues and organs by regulating the production of oxygen free radicals. Jindangwon, in particular, shows promising results for its use as a cure, or preventative medicine for diabetes and its complications by reducing oxidative stress in beta-cells of the pancreas.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 2003

TO evaluate an effect of cyclohexane treatment on the degree of liver damage, rats were induced liver damage with 10 or 17 times $CCl_4$ injection (0.1 m1/100 g body wt., 50% $CCl_4$ dis-solved in olive oil) at intervals of every other day. Cyclohexane (1.56 g/kg body wt., i.p.) was administrated to the animals at 48 hours after the last pretreatment of $CCl_4$ . Rats were sacrificed at 4 hours after injection of cyclohexane. On the basis of histopathological findings, liver weight/body weight (LW/ BW, %), activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), xanthine oxidase (XO) and akaline phosphatase (ALP), and contents of liver protein and manlondialdehyde (MDA), $CCl_4$ -pretreatment induced liver damage. And $CCl_4$ 17 times treated group showed more severe liver damage than $CCl_4$ 10 times treated group. Administration of one dose of cyclohexane to $CCl_4$ 10 times treated animals resulted in the enhanced liver damage; liver necrosis with proliferation of fibroblast and bile duct abnormality, and increase in hepatic MDA content and the activities of serum ALP and ALT, But the enhanced liver damage was not found in $CCl_4$ 17 times treated animals. Serum cyclohexanone concentrations at 4 or 8 hours after injection of cyclohexane were higher in all liver damaged groups than normal group and were somewhat higher In $CCl_4$ 17 times treated animals than $CCl_4$ 10 times treated ones. Among the oxygen free radical metabolizing enzymes, hepatic cytochrome P45O dependent aniline hydroxylase (CYPdAH) activity in cyclohexane metabolizing enzyme system was meaningfully increased by the injection of cyclohexane to the liver damaged rats, with increased Vmax and high affinity to aniline. LW/BW (%) and activities of serum XO and ALT were more significantly increased in liver damaged groups than normal group by administration of cyclohexanone. In conclusion, it is assumed that an enhancement of liver damage by injection of one dose of cyclohexane to liver damaged animals might be caused by oxygen free radicals and cyclohexanone.