• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.111-116
• /
• 2007

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Lycii fructus (LF) on serum lipid and the collagen content of the connective tissues in ovariectomized rats. From day 2 until day 37 after the ovariectomy, Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to the following groups : sham-operated rat (Sham), ovariectomized control rat (OVX-control), and ovariectomized rats supplemented with the LF 50mg/kg bw/day (OVX-LF). The LF ethanol extract were orally administrated 1ml per day. Body weight gain was not significantly different in groups. Although total-cholesterol and triglyceride were increased in the ovariectomized control, supplementation with the LF extract decreased the levels. Moreover, the serum HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly increased after supplementation with the LF extract(p<0.05). Supplementation with the LF extract prevented a decrease in the collagen level in bone and cartilage tissues. These results are consistent with the conclusions based on the estrogenic activities of LF. Therefore, it may be used to possibly improve the quality of life in menopausal women.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.295-301
• /
• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of chelated Cu and Zn on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and fecal noxious gas emission in weanling pigs. A total of 90 weanling pigs with an initial body weight (BW) of $5.27{\pm}0.04kg$ were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments for 42 d. Pigs were then fed a control diet (CON) or a Zinpro diet (CON + 0.1% chelate copper and zinc). There were nine replicate-pens with five pigs in each pen. During d 0 to 14 and d 14 to 28, the ADFI decreased (p<0.05) and the G/F increased (p<0.05) in pigs fed the Zinpro diet compared with those that received the CON diet. During d 28 to 42, the ADFI increased (p<0.05) in pigs fed the Zinpro diet relative to those fed the CON diet. Additionally, the apparent total tract digestibility of DM, N, and energy increased (p<0.05) in the Zinpro group when compared to the CON group on d 14 and 28. The lymphocyte percentage was also greater (p<0.05) in the Zinpro group than in the CON group. Overall, dietary supplementation with 0.1% chelate copper and zinc improved the growth performance and nutrient digestibility in weanling pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.108-115
• /
• 2013

The effects of dietary Coptis chinensis herb extract (CHE) on growth performance, blood characteristics, nutrient digestibility and meat quality of growing-finishing pigs were investigated in an 18-wk feeding trial. A total of 36 Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire-Duroc pigs with an initial body weight of $20{\pm}1.0$ kg were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments with 6 replications per treatment and 2 pigs per pen. A maize-soybean meal-based diet was formulated as a control diet and other treatment diets were supplemented with 0.5, or 1 g CHE/kg, respectively. After the feeding period, meat samples were collected from those pigs that had reached the market BW. During the experimental periods, growth performance and apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen were unaffected (p>0.05) by the dietary supplementation of CHE. Plasma erythrocytes counts were increased (Linearly, p<0.05) in response to application of CHE at the end of the experiment. Moreover, pigs fed the CHE diets had better (p<0.05) meat color, pH and water holding capacity (WHC) than pigs fed the control diet. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with CHE could increase blood erythrocytes counts and improve meat quality in growing-finishing pigs but not improve growth performance.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.784-788
• /
• 2000

Hypolipidemic effect of exo-polymers(EPs) form submerged mycelial culture of Cordyceps militaris was investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. For a dose-dependent study, EPs were administered at the level of 50-100 mg/kg body weight (BW) and the data was compared with the saline administered control group. A significant reduction of both the plasma total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) was registered under the influence of EPs. It reduced the lowe density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level as much as 40.5%. Levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) choloesterol did not vary significantly within the different experimental groups, but the HDL: TC ratio showed consistently a high value with the increasing dose. The effects of cultural conditions (pH and temperature) in mycelial growth and EPs production were studied. Both the biomass and EPs were produced in a wide range of pH and temperature.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.41-44
• /
• 2020

The Chinese many-toothed snake (Sibynophis chinensis) is an endangered species in South Korea. To determine its reproductive activity, here we captured a gravid S. chinensis from Mulyeongari Oreum Wetland Conservation Area, Jeju Island, on May 27, 2018, and reared it at Animal Taxonomy and Morphology Laboratory, Jeju National University, South Korea. The snake oviposited a clutch of six eggs between June 12 and 20, 2018, with an average size of 24.86 ± 1.36 mm in length and 9.86 ± 0.49 mm in width, which were artificially incubated at a constant temperature of 27 ℃. After incubating for 34-41 days, five of these six eggs successfully hatched. Average snoutvent length (SVL), tail length (TL), and body weight (BW) of hatchlings were 136.5 ± 5.17 mm, 47.76 ± 2.80 mm, and 1.66 ± 0.12 g, respectively. This study observed the reproductive activity of S. chinensis and characterized its eggs and hatchlings for the first time, providing valuable information for the long-term conservation plan of S. chinensis in South Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.972-977
• /
• 2004

The hypoglycemic effect of an exo-biopolymer (EXO) and endo-biopolymer (ENDO) produced from submerged mycelial culture of Ganoderma lucidum was investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Both the EXO and ENDO showed hypoglycemic potential, however, the former proved to be more potent than the latter. The administration of the EXO at the dose of 100 mg/kg body weight (BW) significantly reduced the plasma glucose level (23.5%) and increased the plasma insulin level (2.2 fold) in the diabetic animals. The EXO also lowered the plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and athrogenic index by 14.7, 31.4, 24.1, and 45.4%, respectively, and reduced the liver total cholesterol and triglyceride levels by 6.7 and 25.8%, respectively. It increased the plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (37.7%), compared to the control group. Furthermore, the alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) showed lower activities in the EXO administered groups than the other experimental groups. Taken together, these results suggest that the exo-biopolymer may alleviate the blood glucose level by increased insulin secretion.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.406-412
• /
• 2014

To evaluate the influence of burrowing substrate on the rearing performance and ambicoloration of cultured flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, we compared the daily food intake (DFI), feed efficiency (FE), survival, growth, proportion of pigmented skin on the blind side, and proportion of ambicolored fish. We reared juvenile flounders [total length (TL) $4.46{\pm}0.06cm$, body weight (BW) $0.77{\pm}0.03g$] in dark-green fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) aquariums without (control) or with gravel substrate at a density of 200 fishes/ton for 120 days. While there was no difference in survival rate or growth, the DFI was lower and FE higher in the group raised with substrate than in the control. The proportions of pigmented area on the blind side and ambicolored fish were significantly higher in the control tank. Therefore, the supplement of substrate on the aquarium bottom positively affects the feeding efficiency, and inhibits abnormal pigmentation on the blind side in flounder farming at high density.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.313-317
• /
• 2017

Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is a new renal biomarker for kidney function. It is almost exclusively eliminated by renal filtration. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the changes in serum ceatinine (CREA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and SDMA concentrations in dogs with chronic mitral valve insufficiency (CMVI), according to the severity of CMVI. The evaluation of the severity of CMVI was performed according to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) classification of heart failure. The dogs were classified into two groups: group 1 (ACVIM B; n = 11) and group 2 (ACVIM C; n = 15). In dogs with advanced CMVI, the serum SDMA concentrations were significantly increased above the normal reference range and were independent of body weight (BW), systolic blood pressure (SBP), or sex. No dog in either group had higher serum CREA concentrations than the upper limit. The serum SDMA concentration may be a better renal marker than serum CREA concentrations for the early diagnoses of renal dysfunction in dogs with CMVI.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.18
• /
• pp.8119-8126
• /
• 2016

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Due to the toxic side effects of the commonly used chemotherapeutic drug cyclophosphamide (CTX), the use of herbal medicines with fewer side effects but having potential use as inducing anti-cancer outcomes in situ has become increasingly popular. The present study sought to investigate the effects of a methanolic extract of Bauhinia tomentosa against Dalton's ascites lymphoma (DAL) induced ascites as well as solid tumors in BALB/c mice. Specifically, B. tomentosa extract was administered intraperitonealy (IP) at 10 mg/kg. BW body weight starting just after tumor cell implantation and thereafter for 10 consecutive days. In the ascites tumor model hosts, administration of extract resulted in a 52% increase in the life span. In solid tumor models, co-administration of extract and CTX significantly reduced tumor volume (relative to in untreated hosts) by 73% compared to just by 52% when the extract alone was provided. Co-administration of the extract also mitigated CTX-induced toxicity, including decreases in WBC count, and in bone marrow cellularity and ${\alpha}$-esterase activity. Extract treatment also attenuated any increases in serum levels of $TNF{\alpha}$, iNOS, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, GM-CSF, and VEGF seen in tumor-bearing hosts. This study confirmed that, the potent antitumor activity of B.tomentosa extract may be associated with immune modulatory effects by regulating anti-oxidants and cytokine levels.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.8
• /
• pp.3989-3995
• /
• 2012

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of A.nilotica extract against Dalton's ascitic lymphoma (DAL) induced solid and ascitic tumors in BALB/c mice. Experimental animals received A.nilotica extract (10 mg/kg.bw) intraperitoneally for 10 and 14 consecutive days before induction of solid and ascitic tumors, respectively. Treatment with A.nilotica extract significantly decreased the development of tumor and percentage increase in body weight when compared to DAL induced solid tumor control group, also increasing the life span, restoring the total white blood cell count and hemoglobin content and significantly decreasing the levels of serum aspartate transaminase (SGPT), alanine transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and nitric oxide (NO) when compared to DAL induced ascitic tumor controls. The treatment also reduced significantly the cellular glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide levels in treated animals. Histopathological studies also confirmed protective influence. The outcome of the present work indicates that A.nilotica extract could be used as natural anticancer agent for human health.