• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2001

Objectives : Cordyceps Sinensis (CS) was tested for the effects of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in the liver. Methods : We measured the changes in body weight, enzyme activity, lipid peroxide and the death rate in the hydrocortisone acetate-treated rats. Results : In vitro, CS didn't effect levels of lipid peroxide. the activities, and the ratio of type conversion of xanthine oxidase. In the hydrocortisone acetate-treated rats, lipid peroxide, the activities, the ratio of type conversion of xanthine oxidase, and the death rate all increased. But, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase decreased. In vitro, after CS was administered to hydrocortisone acetatetreated rats, the levels of lipid peroxide in the liver, and the death rate decreased. However, the activities, and the ratio of type conversion of xanthine oxidase decreased. The body weight, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in+creased. The effects of Sinensis Cordyceps Broth did better than the effects of Sinensis Cordyceps Mycelia. Conclusions : These results suggest that CS decrease the activities of free radical generating enzymes which form lipid peroxide and increase the activities of oxygen free radical scavenging enzymes.