• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.285-292
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• 2013

Ginseng is a well-known traditional medicine used in Asian countries for several thousand years, and it is currently applied to medicine, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements due to its many healing and energygiving properties. It is well demonstrated that ginsenosides, the main ingredient of ginseng, produce a variety of pharmacological and therapeutic effects on central nerve system (CNS) disorders, cardiovascular disease, endocrine secretions, aging, and immune function. Korean red ginseng extract is a dietary supplement containing ginsenoside Rb1 and ginsenoside Rg1 extracted from Panax ginseng. While the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of the extract have been well established, its toxicological properties remain obscure. Thus, four-week oral toxicity studies in rats were conducted to investigate whether Korean red ginseng extract could have a potential toxicity to humans. The test article was administered once daily by oral gavage to four groups of male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at dose levels of 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg/day for four weeks. Neither deaths nor clinical symptoms were observed in any group during the experiment. Furthermore, no abnormalities in body weight, food consumption, ophthalmology, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, gross findings, organ weights, or histopathology were revealed related to the administration of the test article in either sex of any dosed group. Therefore, a target organ was not determined in this study, and the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of Korean red ginseng extract was established to be 2,000 mg/kg/day.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.679-688
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• 1999

The combined effects of iron and selenium status on glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity, cytochrome P-450 activity, and lipid peroxidation in the liver and intestinal mucosa of rats were investigated. In experiment one, four experimental groups (+Se+Fe, -Se+Fe, +Se++Fe, -Se++Fe) were manipulated for 3 weeks with intramuscular administration of irondextran (++Fe) and/or normal diet (+Fe) and deionized water (-Se) and/or selenium-supplemented deionized water (+Se). In experiment two, 2% dietary carbonyl iron (instead of the parenteral administration) was fed for 3 weeks to rats. Body weight of rats was significantly decreased in both parenterally and orally iron-overloaded groups (p<0.01), regardless of Se supplement. Serum iron was significantly increased in parenterally iron-overloaded groups but it was marginally increased in orally iron-overloaded groups. There was no significant difference in hemoglobin content among experimental groups in either experiment one or two. Total iron in the small intestine, intestinal mucosa, and livers was significantly high in both parenterally and orally iron-overloaded rats, regardless of selenium status. In the liver and intestine, GSHPx activity was significantly higher in all selenium-supplemented groups, compared to Se-deficient groups (p<0.01) and lipid peroxidation was significantly enhanced in both parenterally and orally iron-overloaded groups, compared to iron-adequate groups. There was no significant difference in cytochrome P-450 activity in the livers between groups in both experiment one and two. These results indicated that GSHPx activity in liver and intestinal mucosa was depended on selenium status, regardless of iron status, and iron-overload enhances lipid peroxidation in liver and intestinal mucosa by increasing the tissue iron content.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.251-264
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• 2017

Objectives : To identify the prevalence and types of spin in randomised controlled trials(RCTs) of obesity with statistically non-significant results for primary outcomes to provide adequate reporting directions. Methods : Spin is specific reporting strategy that could lead the readers to misinterpret the results of RCTs. RCTs on obesity with statistically non-significant primary outcomes published from July 2015 to June 2016 were retrieved from PubMed. All included RCTs were classified into 3 intervention categories. The identification and classification of spin in the included articles was performed by two independent researchers. Results : Among 46 RCTs with statistically non-significant primary outcomes, 32 studies were assessed as having at least one spin in title, abstract or main text. Of these, 9 articles were on complementary and alternative medicine, 7 on western medicine and 16 on dietary supplement and exercise. The frequency of spin among the types of interventions was similar. The most common type of spin was 'focusing on statistical significance within-group comparison' in results section of abstract and main text, and 'focusing only on treatment effectiveness with no consideration of statistical significance' in conclusion section of abstract and main text. Studies where random sequence generation was appropriately done was less likely to have spin. Conclusions : As a majority of obesity RCTs have spin, researchers should pay more attention to adequately interpreting and reporting statistically non-significant results.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2000

Populations both in the US and worldwide are aging. It is projected that by the year 2030 the population of Americans over 65 will increase to 70 million, more than twice their number in 1998. About one-third of elderly over the age of 65 have debilitating chronic health conditions that greatly impede their activities. Age-associated chronic diseases are believed to be associated with free radicals and the imbalance in antioxidant and oxidative stress contributes to development of several chronic health conditions. Diet and nutrients can have great impact in the health status of elderly. Several factors may contributor to the inadequate consumption of nutrients in elderly, including an inability to chew food adequately, polypharmacy, living along and limited income. Low intake of energy and several micronutrients are common among the elderly. Although overt deficiency of nutrients among the elderly is not common. a recent study showed that while elderly consume more fat, the total energy intake is low among the elderly. Inadequate intake of antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin E in elderly may contribute to the development of chronic health problems. Intake of higher than normal RDA levels of vitamin E for long periods of time has been shown to reduce the risk of many degenerative diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases(CVD) and cancer, and improve immune response in elderly. High intake of other antioxidants is also associated with reduced risk chronic diseases. Dietary antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables. However, due to variety of factors, the elderly may not be able to receive these and other micronutrients through diet. Therefore, supplemental intake of micronutrients in the form of multi vitamins/minerals and/or specific micronutrients is a more practical approach to the maintenance of health status in the elderly.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.268-274
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• 2019

Sparassis latifolia is a useful medicinal mushroom that has recently gained popularity in Asia. It has a rich flavor and is a good source of nutrients contains a large number of polyphenols for a functional food or dietary supplement. In addition, S. latifolia is rich in beta-glucan and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). These two compounds have been reported to show immune-stimulating and anticancer effects by numerous studies. In this study, four species of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum, L. acidophilus, L. helveticus, and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus) were used to ferment the fruiting body of S. latifolia. Fermented S. latifolia extracts were found to have a higher polyphenol content and antioxidant activity following fermentation as well as increased protease activity.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.515-524
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• 2013

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is believed to be associated with the intake of antioxidant nutrients and fatty acids due to its immunological dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of nutrition education promoting vegetable, fruit, and fish intake on the severity of AD in children. Children with AD aged 6 months to 5 years were randomly assigned into education and control groups, and followed for 1 year. Seventy-six children completed the study (38 for control, 38 for education). The education group received education promoting the intakes of antioxidant-rich foods (vegetables, fruits) and n-3 fatty acid foods (fish). A 24-hour food recall was collected for the diet information. After education, all vegetables (p < 0.001), fruits (p < 0.01), and fish (p < 0.05) intakes per 1000 kcal increased significantly in the education group, whereas only vegetable intake increased in the control group (p < 0.001). The SCORAD index, the severity of atopic dermatitis, decreased significantly in the education group (p < 0.05). Increased consumption of dietary vitamin E was significantly associated with reduction in the SCORAD index, after adjusting for age and gender (p < 0.05). A nutritional education program to increase vegetable, fruit, and fish intake may be effective in reducing the severity of AD, and vitamin E intake may be associated with the decreased severity of AD. More controlled studies on the relationship between these intakes and severity of AD, with intensive diet and/or supplement intervention programs, are needed to obtain conclusive results.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1091-1095
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• 2009

The aim of this study investigated the fluctuations of 3 characters from 3 ecotypes [early ripening (ER), middle ripening (MR), and late ripening (LR)] of 20 Korean brown rice cultivars in different storage systems [time: 12 and 24 weeks, temperature: low ($10^{\circ}C$) and room ($25^{\circ}C$)]. With increase of storage time and temperature, lipoxygenase activity, and fat acidity increased, whereas germination rate was reduced. ER cultivars exhibited the highest lipoxygenase activity of $35.49{\pm}2.46$ unit/mg protein during 24 weeks storage at $25^{\circ}C$, followed by LR ($32.73{\pm}1.33$) and MR ($32.66{\pm}1.62$) cultivars. The amounts of fat acidity also were observed by the same order (ER: $20.40{\pm}2.12$>LR: $19.68{\pm}1.86$>MR: $19.64{\pm}1.35$ mg KOH/100 g). Germination rate slightly decreased with increase of time and temperature (MR>LR>ER), but MR and LR cultivars showed the most significant changes (ER: $60.90{\pm}23.47%$, MR: $32.66{\pm}13.95%$, and LR: $32.53{\pm}5.87%$). On the basis of above results, MR cultivars were evaluated the highest quality, because high lipoxygenase activity, high fat acidity, and low germination rate have deteriorated in quality and generated off-odor. Thus, MR cultivars might be very important sources in food processing and stored dietary supplement aspects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.1016-1024
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• 2011

The concentrations of bioactive material (polyphenolics and flavonoids) and the biological activities of antioxidative (DPPH [${\alpha},{\alpha}'$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl] free radical scavenging activity, peroxidation of rat liver microsome, and Fe/Cu reducing power), ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition, tyrosinase inhibition, and fibrinolytic activity were tested by in vitro experimental models using 70% methanolic extract from Ganoderma lucidum, Momordica charantia, Fagopyrum tataricum and their mixtures. The highest yield and the concentrations of polyphenolics and flavonoids were shown in the mixture extract. Mixture extract was shown to have the highest activities of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition and tyrosinase inhibition, fibrinolytic, DPPH free radical scavenging, and Fe/Cu reducing power in a concentration-dependent manner. From these results, mixture methanol extract was shown to have the most potent bioactive properties and to contain large amounts of biological materials such as polyphenolics and flavonoids. This mixture could be a good dietary supplement material candidate, such as for antidiabetic functional foods.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.419-423
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• 2011

Chitosan is a natural polymer derived from chitin that has been widely used as a dietary supplement and in a variety of pharmacological and biomedical applications. In addition, water-soluble chitosan has been used to enhance the stability of chitosan in water and reduce cytotoxic activity induced by acetic acid. In this study, the antibiotic activity and mechanism of low molecular weight water-soluble chitosan (LMWSC; MW1, MW3, MW5, and MW10) were examined in pathogenic bacteria cells and vesicles containing bacterial membrane lipids. MW10 displayed potent antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria strains and no cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. In addition, the degree of calcein leakage was examined as a function of lipid composition (PE/PG=7/3 w/w). The results of these experiments demonstrated that MW10 promoted leakage in negatively-charged membranes. Furthermore, confocal microscopy revealed that MW10 was located in the plasma membrane.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.230-236
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of naringin pretreatment on the bioavailability and phar-macokinetics of diltiazem and one of its metabolites, deacetyldiltiazem, in rabbits. Pharmacokinetic parameters of diltiazem and deacetyldiltiazem were determined after oral administration of diltiazem (15 mg/kg) pretreated with naringin (1.5, 7.5 and 15 mg/kg). Absorption rate constant ($k_a$) of diltiazem after oral administration of diltiazem pretreated with naringin was significantly (p<0.05 or p<0.0l) increased compared to the control group. Area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and peak concentration ($C_{max}$) of the diltiazem were significantly (p<0.05 or p<0.01) higher than those of the control. Absolute bioavailability ($AB\%$) of diltiazem pretreated with naringin ranged from $13.5\%$ to $18.6\%$, being enhanced compared to that of the control, $7.2\%$. Relative bioavailability ($RB\%$) of diltiazem was $1.9\~2.6$ times higher than that of the control group. There was no significant change in terminal half-life ($t_{1/2}$) and $T_{max}$ of diltiazem in the presence of naringin. AUC of deacetyldiltiazem pretreated with naringin was significantly (p<0.05) higher than (p<0.05) that of the control. But the metabolite ratios (MR) were significantly decreased (p<0.05), implying that pretreatment of naringin could be effective to inhibit the CYP 3A4-mediated metabolism of diltiazem. In this study, pretreatment of naringin significantly enhanced the oral bioavailability of diltiazem. These results suggested that the diltiazem dosage should be adjusted when it is administered with naringin or a naringin-containing dietary supplement in the clinical setting.