• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.577-584
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• 2018

Background: Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a widely used traditional herbal supplement that possesses various health-enhancing efficacies. Various ginseng products are available in market, especially in the Korean peninsula, in the form of drinks, tablets, and capsules. The different ginseng types include the traditional red ginseng extract (RGE), white ginseng, and black red ginseng extract (BRGE). Their fermented and enzyme-treated products are also available. Different treatment regimens alter the bioavailability of certain compounds present in the respective ginseng extracts. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to compare the antioxidant and immune-stimulating activities of RGE, BRGE, and fermented red ginseng extract (FRGE). Methods: We used an acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress model for investigating the reduction of oxidative stress by RGE, BRGE, and FRGE in Sprague Dawley rats. A cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression model was used to evaluate the immune-stimulating activities of these ginseng extracts in BALB/c mice. Results: Our results showed that most prominently, RGE (in almost all experiments) exhibited excellent antioxidant effects via increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in the liver and decreasing serum 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels compared with the groups treated with FRGE and BRGE. Moreover, RGE significantly increased the number of white blood cells, especially T and B lymphocytes, and antibody-forming cells in the spleen and thymus, and it also activated a number of immune cell subtypes. Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicate that RGE is the best supplement for consumption in everyday life for overall health-enhancing properties.

• 약학회지
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.55-61
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• 2010

Gardenia jasminoides is one of the most widely used herbal preparations for the treatment of liver disorders. This study evaluated the potential beneficial effect of G. jasminoides in a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver injury. The mice were treated intraperitoneally with $CCl_4$ (10 ${\mu}l$/kg). They received G. jasminoides (30, 100, 300 mg/kg) 48 h, 24 h and 2 h before and 6 h after administering $CCl_4$. The serum activities of aminotransferase and the hepatic level of malondialdehyde were significantly higher 24 h after the $CCl_4$ treatment, while the concentration of reduced glutathione was lower. These changes were attenuated by G. jasminoides. $CCl_4$ increased the level of circulating tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) markedly, which was reduced by G. jasminoides. The levels of hepatic inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression were markedly higher after the $CCl_4$ treatment. G. jasminoides diminished these alterations. $CCl_4$ increased the level of TNF-$\alpha$, iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expressions, and these increases were attenuated by G. jasminoides. These results suggest that G. jasminoides alleviates $CCl_4$-induced liver injury, and this protection is likely due to the reduced oxidative stress and the downregulation of proinflammatory mediators.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.325-335
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• 2008

The protective effects of the Naringin, on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity and the possible mechanisms involved in this protection were investigated in mice. Pretreatment with Naringin prior to the administration of $CCl_4$ significantly prevented an increase in serum alanine, aspartate aminotransferase activity and hepatic lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, pretreatment with Naringin also significantly prevented the depletion of glutathione (GSH) content in the livers of $CCl_4$-induced mice. However, reduced hepatic glutathione levels was unaffected by treatment with Naringin alone. In addition, Naringin prevented $CCl_4$-induced apoptosis and necrosis, as indicated by a liver DNA laddering. To determine whether caspase-8,-3 pathway involved in $CCl_4$-induced acute liver injury, caspase-8, -3 activities were tested by ELISA. Naringin attenuated $CCl_4$induced caspase-8, -3 activities in mouse livers. $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity was also prevented, as indicated by a liver histopathologic study. The effects of Naringin on the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2E1, the major isozyme involved in $CCl_4$ were also investigated. Treatment of mice with Naringin resulted in a significant decrease of the CYP2E1-dependent hydroxyl at ion and aniline in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that protective effects of Naringin against the $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity may be due to its ability to block CYP2E1-mediated $CCl_4$ bioactivation and that is also protects against caspase-8, -3 pathway mediated apoptosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.373-384
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• 2020

Paeonol, quercetin, β-sitosterol, and gallic acid extracted from Moutan Cortex had been reported to possess anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor activities. This work aimed to illustrate the potential anti-oxidative mechanism of monomers in human liver hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells-induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and to evaluate whether the hepatoprotective effect of monomers was independence or synergy in mice stimulated by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Monomers protected against oxidative stress in HepG2 cells in a dose-response manner by inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen species, increasing total antioxidant capacity, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and activating the antioxidative pathway of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Nrf2/Keap1) signaling pathway. We found that the in vitro antioxidant capacities of paeonol and quercetin were better than those of β-sitosterol and gallic acid. Furthermore, paeonol apparently diminished the levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase, augmented the contents of glutathione and SOD, promoted the expressions of Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 proteins in mice stimulated by CCl₄. In HepG2 cells, paeonol, quercetin, β-sitosterol, and gallic acid play a defensive role against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress through activating Nrf2/Keap1 pathway, indicating that these monomers have anti-oxidative properties. Totally, paeonol and quercetin exerted anti-oxidative and hepatoprotective effects, which is independent rather than synergy.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2013

Objectives: The present study investigated the potential subacute toxicity of 1,4-dichlorobutane (1,4-DCB) by a 2-week repeated oral dose in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Materials and Methods: The test chemical was administered once daily by gavage to male rats at dose levels of 0, 74, 222, 667, and 2000 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks. All rats were sacrificed at the end of treatment period. During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food and water consumption, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, gross findings, and organ weights were examined. Results: At 2000 mg/kg/day, treatment-related clinical signs, as evidenced by hypothermia, decreased locomotor activity, piloerection, lying on side, and prone position were observed. All the rats were found dead on test day 2. At 667 mg/kg/day, polyuria, suppressed body weight gain, food consumption, and spleen and thymus weights, and increased adrenal gland and liver weights were observed.Hematological and serum biochemical investigations revealed increases in the alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphataseand total bilirubinand decreases in the serum $Na^+$ level, white blood cell count and lymphocyte ratio. There were no treatment-related adverse effects in the 74 and 222 mg/kg/day groups. Conclusions: In the present experimental conditions, target organs were determined to be spleen, thymus,and liver. The no-observed-adverse-effect level was considered to be 222 mg/kg/day in male rats.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.642-646
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• 2007

It was examined that the effect of fermented traditional wine made by using mycelium of Phellinus linteus (TWPL) on the expression of inflammation-related proteins in rat liver. Levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was significantly increased in the serum of ethanol-treated rats compared to normal. However, the level of AST showed no significant changes in the TWPL-treated rat compared normal. Slight histopathological changes of liver such as cloudy swelling, inflammatory cells infiltration, Kupffer cell reaction were demonstrated in the rats challenged with ethanol compared with normal. Fewer scores of these changes were observed in TWPL-treated rat with recovered glycogen in hepatocytes of whole hepatic lobule. The RT-PCR and Western analysis showed that the expression of inflammatory proteins such as cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ were decreased in the TWPL-treated rat compared with ethanol-treated ones. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the expression of interleukin-lf and TNF-${\alpha}$ tended to decrease in TWPL-treated rat compared with ethanol-treated ones. These results suggest that TWPL may contains some protective agent for alcohol-induced liver injury through a regulating inflammation-related proteins.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.263-269
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate repeated-dose toxicities of Clean natural, a new disinfectant, in Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. In the 4-week repeated oral toxicity study, Clean Natural was orally administered once daily via gavage to male and female rats at dose levels of 0, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg body weight for 4-weeks. There were no deaths and clinical signs during the dosing period. In both sexes, there were no statistically significant differences between the administered and control groups in urinalysis indicators and hematological parameters. In serum biochemistry, aspartate aminotransferase(AST) was significantly decreased and sodium content was increased in the 2,000 mg/kg male group, while chlorine was significantly decreased in the 2,000 mg/kg female group. Also, albumin, total cholesterol and total bilirubin were significantly increased in the 2,000 mg/kg male and female group. In histopathological examinations, centrilobular hepatocellular hypertrophy in the liver was observed in the 2,000 mg/kg male and female groups. And pigmentation in the spleen was observed in the 2,000 mg/kg male group. In conclusion, four-week repeated oral dose of Clean Natural to rats did not cause apparent toxicological change at the dose less than 2,000 mg/kg body weight. Thus it is suggested that no-observed adverse-effect level(NOAEL) for Clean Natural in rats was considered to be 1,000 mg/kg/day.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.123-128
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• 2017

Hangover due to alcohol consumption causes social and physical problems. There is a growing interest in edible insects worldwide. We have previously published a new technology to make hard mature silkworm, Bombyx mori, into edible form, steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworm larval powder (SMSP). In this study, AIN-76 or SMSP (0.1 and 1 g/kg rat body weight) containing diets in SD rats were pretreated for 2 weeks, and ethanol (3 g/kg rat body weight) was administered as an oral gavage and sacrificed after 3 hours. As a result, blood alcohol and aldehyde levels were significantly decreased in SMSP fed rats. In addition, liver injury markers, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly decreased in SMSP group compared to ethanol group. $TNF-{\alpha}$, an inflammatory cytokine, and malondialdehyde (MDA), an oxidative stress marker, also showed a dose-dependent decrease in the group receiving SMSP. Conclusively, consumption of SMSP not only reduced hangover induced by ethanol, but also decreased liver damage, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제41권6호
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• pp.1022-1035
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• 2021

This study estimated the effect of exposure to propiconazole through implementation and residues in finishing pigs. We analyzed the expression of fibrosis-related genes and performed histological analysis of the blood, liver, kidney, muscle, ileum, and fat tissues. The animals were exposed for 28 d to different concentrations of propiconazole (0.09, 0.44, 0.88, 4.41, and 8.82 mg/kg bw/d). Quantitative, gene expression, and histological analyses in tissues were performed using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, real-time PCR, and Masson's trichrome staining, respectively. Final body weight did not differ among groups. However, genes involved in fibrosis were significantly differentially regulated in response to propiconazole concentrations. Glucose, alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin levels were significantly increased compared with those in the control group, while alkaline phosphatase level was decreased (p<0.05) after exposure to propiconazole. The residue limits of propiconazole were increased in the finishing phase at 4.41 and 8.82 mg/kg bw/d. The liver, kidney, and ileum showed blue staining after propiconazole treatment, confirmed by Masson's trichrome staining. In conclusion, these findings suggest that propiconazole exposure disturbs the expression of fibrosis-related genes. This study on dietary propiconazole in pigs can provide a basis for determining maximum residue limits and a better understanding of metabolism in pigs and meat products.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.68-73
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• 2019

We determined the risk factors for displacement of the abomasum (DA), and the relationships between DA and postpartum disorders, milk yield, and reproductive performance in dairy cows. Initially, we identified the risk factors for DA using data regarding cow health and calving season from 2,208 lactations. Then, we compared the incidence of postpartum disorders, culling, death, and reproductive performance between cows with DA and their control herdmates (each n = 57). In addition, serum metabolites concentrations and milk yield were compared between cows with DA and controls (each n = 33). Ketosis (odds ratio [OR] = 9.27, p < 0.0001) and twin calves (p = 0.06) increased the risk of DA. Cows with a parity of three had a higher risk (OR = 5.23, p < 0.01) of DA than primiparous cows. Serum total cholesterol concentration was lower but non-esterified fatty acid, ${\beta}-hydroxybutyrate$, and alanine aminotransferase concentrations were higher after calving in cows with DA than in controls (p < 0.05). The removal rate from the herd by 2 months after calving was higher (p < 0.05) but milk yield 1 and 2 months after calving (p < 0.01) and the rate of first insemination by 150 days postpartum were lower (hazard ratio = 0.49, p < 0.05) in cows with DA than controls. In conclusion, higher parity, twin calves, and ketosis are risk factors for DA in dairy cows, which is associated with a higher removal rate from the herd, lower milk yield, a longer calving to first insemination interval, and unfavorable levels of metabolites related to energy and liver function.