• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.132-137
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• 2013

Geniposide is an active product extracted from the gardenia fruit, and is one of the most widely used herbal preparations for liver disorders. This study examined the cytoprotective properties of geniposide and its metabolite, genipin, against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 60 min of ischemia followed by 6 h of reperfusion. Geniposide (100 mg/kg) and genipin (50 mg/kg) were administered orally 30 min before ischemia. In the I/R mice, the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase and hepatic lipid peroxidation were elevated, whereas hepatic glutathione/glutathione disulfide ratio was decreased. These changes were attenuated by geniposide and genipin administration. On the other hand, increased hepatic heme oxygenase-1 protein expression was potentiated by geniposide and genipin administration. The increased levels of tBid, cytochrome c protein expression and caspase-3 activity were attenuated by geniposide and genipin. Increased apoptotic cells in the I/R mice were also significantly reduced by geniposide and genipin treatment. Our results suggest that geniposide and genipin offer significant hepatoprotection against I/R injury by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.7031-7038
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• 2015

Background: Arginine may play important roles in tumor progression by providing ornithine for polyamine biosynthesis, required for cell growth. The aim of this work was to determine the expression of arginine metabolic pathway enzymes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in northeast India. Materials and Methods: The expressions of arginase isoforms (ARG1 and ARG2), ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) were examined in fifty paired HNSCC and adjacent non-tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry. Immunocytochemistry, semiquantitative reverse transcription sq-PCR and quantitative real-time qPCR were used to assess protein and mRNA expressions in peripheral blood of fifty HNSCC patients and hundred controls. Results: ARG1 and ODC protein and mRNA were strongly expressed in peripheral blood from HNSCC patients. No ARG2 expression was observed. In vivo, expression of ARG1, ARG2 and ODC was significantly higher in tumor than in non-tumor tissues. Most tumors expressed low levels of OAT, with no difference in tissues or blood, compared to controls. The absolute extent of maximal ARG1 upregulation with qPCR showed 6.23 fold increase in HNSCC. Conclusions: These findings strongly suggest that in HNSCCs, the ARG1 pathway is stimulated leading to the formation of polyamines as indicated by higher ODC expression, which promote tumor growth.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 1993

In the present study, the comparison of liver damage in carbon tetrachloride (CCl$_4$)-treated rats with that those pretreated with ethanol and an effect of liver injury on the serum and liver xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity were evaluated. The increasing rate of liver weight per body wt., the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, and the decreasing rate of hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase activity and the protein contents in the liver cell were higher in carbon tetrachloride-treated animals pretreated with ethanol than the carbon tetrachloride-treated group. Especially, the histopathological findings also showed more severe liver damage in the ethanol-pretreated rats than the rats treated with carbon tetrachloride only. In such a experimental condition the xanthine oxidase activity of serum and liver both of carbon tetrachloride-treated rats and those pretreated with ethanol were higher than that of each control group. And the increasing rate of xanthine oxidase enzyme activity to the control group was higher in carbon tetrachloride-treated group pretreated with ethanol than those treated with CCl$_4$. In addition, the heptic uricase activity and the serum levels of uric acid were more increased in carbon tetrachloride-treated group pretreated with ethanol than those in the CCl$_4$-treated rats. On the other hand, there were no statistical differences in hepatic catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities between the CCl$_4$-treated rats and those pretreated with ethanol. In conclusion, it is assumed that the more severe liver damage in ethanol pretreated rats would be due to oxygen free radical produced by the xanthine oxidase system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1364-1368
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• 1999

This study was carried out to investigate the inhibiton effects of Coprinus comatus ethanol extract of edible mushroom on liver damage in benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) treated mice. The activities of serum aminotransferase, cytochrome P 450 and hepatic content of lipid peroxide after B(a)P treatment were increased than those of control, but those levels were significantly decreased by the treatment of Coprinus comatus ethanol extract. Whereas, the hepatic glutathione content and glutathione S transferase activity were decreased by B(a)P treatment than those of control, but those were increased by the treatment of Coprinus comatus ethanol extract. Also the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase after B(a)P treatment were markedly increased than those of control, but those levels were decreased by the treatment of Coprinus comatus ethanol extract. These results suggest that Coprinus comatus ethanol extract have a protective effect on liver damage by benzo(a)pyrene through the mechanisms of decreasing lipid peroxide and activities of free radical generating enzymes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 1990

This study was undertatken to investigate the effects of dietary vitamin E on the toxicity of cadmium(Cd) in rats. The two variables were the supplmentary vitamin E(400lU/kg) and the protein amount(10.5% in the low protein diet and 18.0% in the normal protein diet) In cadmium treated rats net weight gain and food intake were decreased but improved by supplementation with vitamin E in the normal protein, hematocrit values reduced by Cd were significantly increased by the addition of vitamin E to normal protein diet in Cd intoxicated rats, The supplementation with vitamin E diminished the effect of Cd on aspartate aminotransf-rase and alanine aminotransferase activities in serum In Cd treated rats fed normal protein diet with vitamin E the contents of triglyceride were decreased and total-cholesterol contents were significantly reduced in serum and both of them in liver were markedly decreased. The activity of alcohol dehydrogenase in liver was decreased by Cd however supplementation with vitamin E reduced the effects of Cd on hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase. the results of this experiment indicated that there was some interaction between vitamin E and protein levels and supplementation with vitamin E had an effect more than protein levels oncd toxicity.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.203-207
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• 2008

The present study aimed at assessing the protective effect of water extract from fruit body of the Grifola frondosa (GFW) on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity. Rats orally administered with GFW 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 g/kg for 14 days were treated with $CCl_4$ to induce hepatotoxicity. Pretreatment with GFW remarkably prevented the elevation of serum AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, $\gamma$-GTP, and liver lipid peroxides in $CCl_4$-treated rat and GFW administration in liver injured rats by $CCl_4$ showed significant (p<0.05) protection of liver as evidenced from normal serum enzymes and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. In the ultrastructural changes, administration of $CCl_4$-induced damage of hepatocytes with vacuolation, a highly damaged endoplasmic reticulum, and degenerating nuclei. However, pre-administration with GFW preserved normal ultrastructure of hepatocytes. These results suggest that GFW had an effect to inhibit $CCl_4$-induced liver injury in rat, and that it could be used as an effective hepatoprotective agent against chemical-induced liver damage.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2491-2494
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• 2013

Background: To evaluate the relative effectiveness of different treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) via the hepatic artery. Materials and Methods: The study sample group consisted of 418 patients who were randomly selected from 2008 to 2012 with a first diagnosis of HCC and treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) or without (TAE) chemotherapy or transcatheter arterial infusion (TAI). We collected data including tumor size preoperative and one month thereafter to compare change in areas across the three groups, along with various laboratory indexes for comparison. Results: The overall average change of areas was $240.8{\pm}72.1mm^2$. In the three groups it was $265.0{\pm}58.0mm^2$ vs. $250.5{\pm}51.9mm^2$ vs. $123.7{\pm}26.2mm^2$. In groups TACE and TAE values were larger than in group TAI (p<0.01), but the difference between the two was not statistically significant (p= 0.191). Additionally, U/L change of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in groups TACE and TAE was greater than in the TAI cases ($24.0{\pm}13.5$ vs. $20.9{\pm}12.1$ vs. $5.47{\pm}8.20$ and $25.6{\pm}13.5$ vs.$23.2{\pm}12.28$ vs.$5.48{\pm}14.3$) on the preoperative day and two days thereafter (p<0.01). Between the two groups there was no significant cariation (p= 0.320 and p= 0.609). However, the AST and ALT recovered to normal levels one month later on therapy with liver protecting drugs. Conclusion: The groups TACE and TAE demonstrated more effective reduction of tumor size than group TAI. While lipiodol caused acute liver function damage, this proved reversible.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1386-1392
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• 2006

Kahweol and cafestol significantly reduced t-BHP-induced oxidative injuries in cultured rat hepatocytes, as determined by cell cytotoxicity, intracellular glutathione (GSH) content and lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, kahweol and cafestol provided good protection from the t-BHPinduced production of intracellular reactive oxygen species and DNA damage. The in vivo study showed that pretreatment with kahweol and cafestol prior to the administration of t-BHP significantly prevented the increase in serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase) and reduced oxidative stress, such as GSH content and lipid peroxidation, in the liver in a dose-dependent manner. The histopathological evaluation of the livers also revealed that kahweol and cafestol reduced the incidence of liver lesions induced by t-BHP. Taken together, these results support the anti-oxidative role of kahweol and cafestol and demonstrate that kahweol and cafestol can protect hepatocytes from oxidative stress.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2017

Objectives: The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of YJT on experimental hypothyroidism induced by sodium perchlorate and methimazolein in mice. Methods: 30 one-month-old C57BL6 mice were decided into 4 groups: 1) normal (n=6), 2) sodium perchlorate and methimazolein-induced hypothyroidism control (n=8), 3) hypothyroidism mice treated with low YJT (n=8), 4) hypothyroidism mice treated with high YJT (n=8). Sodium perchlorate and methimazolein were administered for 4 weeks, YJT (low and high) was administered for 2 weeks after sodium perchlorate and methimazolein were initiated for a total duration of 2 week. The changes were observed : weight of body, T3, T4, TSH, follicular cells in the thyroid tissues, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride and free fatty acid, FBG, AST, ALT and so on. Results: YJT did not affect body weight gain. YJT restored free T4 level decreased by sodium perchlorate and methimazolein and prevented shrinking of follicles and proliferation of follicular cells in the thyroid tissues. In addition, YJT lowered total and LDL cholesterol levels elevated by sodium perchlorate and methimazolein respectively and ameliorated distribution of fat in liver tissues. In addition, the effect on fasting blood glucose (FBG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were also investigated. Conclusions: These data suggest that YJT can be used to treat woman patients which are accompanied with hypothyroidism relatively safely.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1464-1469
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of red ginseng by-product (RGB) on the laying performance, blood biochemistry, and microbial population in laying hens. A total of 120 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (75 weeks old) were randomly allotted to 1 of 3 dietary treatments with 4 replicates per treatment. A commercial-type basal diet was prepared, and 2 additional diets were prepared by supplementing 5.0 or 10.0 g/kg of RGB to the basal diet at the expense of corn. The diets were fed to hens on an ad libitum basis for 4 weeks. There were no differences in feed intake, egg weight, and feed conversion ratio during 4 weeks of the feeding trial. However, hen-day egg production was significantly greater (p<0.05) for the RGB treatment groups than that for the basal treatment group. There were no differences in triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase during the 4-week feeding trial. However, RGB supplementation increased (p<0.05) the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM content compared with basal treatment group. The total cholesterol was lower (p<0.05) in the RGB treatments groups than that in the basal treatment group. The intestinal Lactobacillus population was greater (p<0.05) for the RGB treatments groups than that for the basal treatment group. However, the numbers of Salmonella and Escherichia coli were not different among dietary treatments. During the entire experiment, there was no significant difference in egg quality among all the treatments. In conclusion, in addition to improving hen-day production, there were positive effects of dietary RGB supplementation on serum immunoglobulin and cholesterol levels in laying hens.