• Mycobiology
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.382-387
• /
• 2018

The entomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps militaris is a valuable medicinal ascomycete, which degenerates frequently during subsequent culture. To avoid economic losses during industrialized production, scratching stimuli of mycelia was introduced to improve the fruiting body production. The present results indicated that higher yields and biological efficiency were obtained from two degenerate strains (YN1-14 and YN2-7) but not from g38 (an insertional mutant in Rhf1 gene with higher yields and shorter growth periods). Furthermore, the growth periods of the fruiting bodies were at least 5 days earlier when the mycelia were scratched before stromata differentiation. Three ROS-scavenging genes including Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (CmSod1), Glutathione peroxidase (CmGpx), and Catalase A (CmCat A) were isolated and their expression profiles against scratching were determined in degenerate strain YN1-14 and mutant strain g38. At day 5 after scratching, the expression level of CmGpx significantly decreased for strain g38, but that of CmSod1 significantly increased for YN1-14. These results indicated that scratching is an effective way to promote fruiting body production of degenerate strain, which may be related at least with Rhf1 and active oxygen scavenging genes.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.585-593
• /
• 1999

The water and methanol extracts of Artemisia argyi showed significant cytotoxicities against J774A.1 cells but not so much against normal leukocytes. The cytotoxicities were found to be dependent on the extract concentration and the incubation time. The concentration of water and methanol extracts inhibiting 50% of cell proliferation ($IC_{50}$) were estimated to be 44.2 mg/ml and 71.6 mg/ml, respectively. In the presence of Artemisia argyi water extract, total superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD and MnSOD) activities of media, cytoplasmic and mitochondrial fractions of J774A.1 cells increased in accordance with cytotoxicity. MnSOD was found to be the main component of enhanced total SOD activities, particulary in the mitochondrial fraction. In contrast to SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were not found in any instance of the current investigation. In addition, substantial amount of $O_2^-$ appeared to be generated in the mitochondrial fraction under the influence of Artemisia argyi. All data put together, it is postulated that Artemisia argyi extracts seem to stimulate $O_2^-$ generation in mitochondria of J774A.1 cells with concomitant increases of SODs. Since $H_2O_2$, the reaction product of SOD on $O_2^-$, is known to be readily converted to very toxic $OH{\cdot}$ in the absence of catalase and/or GPx cooperation, toxicity derived from ROS such as $O_2^-$, $H_2O_2$, and $OH{\cdot}$ may be the main cause of necrosis and/or apoptosis of J774A.1 cells.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.269-277
• /
• 2010

Selenium is an essential micronutrient for normal body function and functions as an essential constituent of selenoproteins. This study was carried out to investigate effect of selenium on the formation of colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and tumor formation in a mouse model. Five-week old ICR mice were acclimated for one week and fed different selenium diet (0.02, 0.1, and 0.5 ppm) for 12 weeks. Animals received three intraperitoneal injections of azoxymethane (10 mg/kg B.W. in saline for 3 weeks), followed by 2% dextran sodium sulfate in the drinking water for a week. There were four experimental groups, including a normal control group and three different selenium levels groups. After sacrifice, the total numbers of aberrant crypt (AC) and ACF were measured in the colonic mucosa after methylene blue staining. The number of tumors was noted for tumor incidence. Liver selenium concentration was measured using ICP-AES method. Gutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was determined using a GPx assay kit in the liver and colon. TUNEL assay and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining were performed to examine the cell apoptosis and cell proliferation, respectively. Immunohistochemistry of $\beta$-catenin was also performed on the mucous membrane tissue of colon. The activity of GPx in the liver and colon was decreased in the selenium-deficient diet group while it was increased in the selenium-overloaded diet group. Apoptotic positive cells were increased in the selenium-overloaded diet group but decreased in the selenium-deficient diet group. PCNA staining area was decreased in the selenium-overloaded diet group. In addition, the $\beta$-catenin protein level in the selenium-deficient diet group was increased but decreased in the selenium-overloaded diet group. These results indicate that dietary selenium might exert a modulating effect on colon cancer by inhibiting the development of ACF and colon tumor formation in this mouse model.

• Journal of Aquaculture
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.157-165
• /
• 2006

Expression of major antioxidant enzyme (AOE) including Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and 3 glutathione peroxidase isotypes (GPXs) at mRNA levels during heat stress was examined in mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis) liver. Based on the semi-quantitative RT-PCR, real-time RT-PCR and/or northern dot blot hybridization, the antioxidant enzyme genes were generally up-regulated during elevation of water temperature from $23^{\circ}C$ up to $32^{\circ}C$. GPXs and SOD displayed the most significant elevation of mRNA levels (up to 3 and 2 folds, respectively) while CAT showed the steady-state expression irrespective of thermal conditions. GST represented the relatively moderate response (1.3-fold increase) in its transcription to thermal stress. The transcriptional activation of AOE genes was not significant at the treatment temperature lower than $29^{\circ}C$. Increased mRNA levels of GPX (extracellular form) and SOD genes in the fish exposed to $32^{\circ}C$ was readily detectable 1 day after exposure to heat stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.689-696
• /
• 1997

The effects of Aralia canescens and Phellodendron amurense(AP) extracts on the experimental diabetes in ICR mice were investigated. 96male ICR mice were induced diabetes mellitus by intrape-ritoneal streptozotocin injection(75mg/kg B.W.) and divided into two injection groups which are 5 day injection and 10 day injection group. Then, each injection group was subdivided into 8 groups of 6 animals repspectively. CIC served as control and CI1, CI2 and CI3 were treated with 50, 150, 250mg/kg B.W. of AP extracts powder in 0.9% NaCl solution. Animals of groups DIC, DI1, DI2 and DI3 were strepto-zotocin-induced diabetes. DIC served as diabetic control and the rest groups received 50, 150, 250mg/kg B.W of AP extracts powder in saline solution respectively. The body weight, liver and kiney weight changes and blood levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride were measured. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS), and glutathione reductase(GR) and glutathione peroxidase(GPx) activities were also measured for determining antioxidant effects. AP extracts increased the body weight in diabetic groups. The liver and kidney weight/100g B.W. in DIC group were greater than those of normal ICR group but after AP extracts injection, liver and kidney weight were decreased significantly. These effects were more efficient at 10 days injection group. The total, LDL, VLDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in DIC group and the extent of decrement responded to AP injection dose. The contents of TBARS and antioxidant enzyme activities were relatively decreased after AP extracts injection. These results suggest that the intraperitoneally administered AP extracts may have not only hypoglycemic effect but act as antioxidants by reducing lipid peroxidation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.460-463
• /
• 2012

The present study was aimed to evaluate and compare the oxidative stress status of isoflurane and propofol in pigs undergoing surgery with measuring the activities of antioxidant enzymes. The pigs were divided into 2 groups according to the type of anesthesia used for the surgical procedure. In the isoflurane group (group 1), anesthesia was induced and maintained with 2-2.5% isoflurane under 100% oxygen. The propofol group (group 2) received 8 mg/kg/h of IV propofol with 0.5-1% isoflurane under 100% oxygen. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities of isoflurane group were significantly lower at the end of surgery than at induction of anesthesia, while that of the propofol group maintained their baseline values. There were significant differences in all enzymes activities between groups at the end of surgery. These results indicate that propofol is capable of preserving the antioxidant capacity in pigs anesthetized with the combination of isoflurane and propofol infusion.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.303-309
• /
• 2009

Hepatic antioxidant defense systems were examined in rats treated with tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA), a brominated flame retardant, at the doses of 0, 250, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg for four weeks. Hepatic ratio of glutathione disulfide to glutathione (GSH) and levels of malondialdehyde, oxidative stress markers were not changed in rats treated with TBBPA. Hepatic expression of antioxidant enzymes including GSH peroxdiase-1 (GPX-1)/GSH reductase (GR), alpha-, mu- and pi-class glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and gamma-glutamylcysteine ligase catalytic subunit was determined using immunoblot analysis. Alpha-class GSTs, GPX-1 and GR levels were significantly decreased in rats treated with TBBPA at the dose of 500 or 1,000 mg/kg. These results show that TBBPA results in down-regulation of hepatic expression of antioxidant enzymes related with GSH, suggesting the liver in TBBPA-treated rats may be more sensitive to oxidants.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.464-470
• /
• 2018

All the parts of the Cedrela sinensis A. Juss., including the seeds, roots, and leaves, have been known to exert medicinal effects. The C. sinensis and its major compound, quercetin, were previously reported to exhibit the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. However, the hepatoprotective effects of the C. sinensis leaves against the alcohol-induced oxidative stress in the HepG2 cells have not been studied. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activities and analyzed the flavonoid contents of the C. sinensis-leaf extract (CE). The total flavonoid contents of the CE is 1,874.5 mg/100 g dry weight (DW), while the total quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside (quercitrin) contents, which was identified as the major flavonol in the CE, is 1,456.0 mg/100 g DW. In the ethanol-stimulated HepG2 cells, the CE effectively prevented the cytotoxic effect and increased the gene expression of the antioxidant enzymes, such as the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and the glutathion peroxide (GPx). The level of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was significantly decreased in the CE-treated HepG2 cells. In conclusion, the C. sinensis extract suppressed the alcohol-induced oxidative stress in the HepG2 cells via the induced GPx and HO-1 gene expressions. It is expected the CE positive effects will likely be attributed to the flavonoids, like the quercetin, within the CE.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.469-475
• /
• 2000

The purpose of this study was to examine the chemopreventive potential of taurine at various levels on the diethylnitrosamine (DEN)·induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on diets containing 0, 1, 2, 3% taurine or 5% ${\beta}-alanine$ for taurine depletion. Then they were treated with DEN and 2/3 partial hepatectomy. The number of placental glutathione S-transferase positive ($GST-P^+$) foci, as a preneoplastic marker in the 1 % taurine group was lower than the control diet group. However the difference was insignificant. Although taurine diets reduced the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) level, the number of $GST-P^+$ foci was increased in 3% taurine diet group. The 1 % taurine diet increased the glutathione (GSH) level and GST activity, however they unfortunately did not suppress the foci formation. In the 3% taurine group, the GSH level and GSH peroxidase (GPx) activity were significantly decreased. Excess taurine supplementation of the pharmaceutical dose worked against hepatic chemoprevention, which might result from modulation of GPx activity and GSH utility. On the contrary, taurine might work as an antioxidant against TBARS production as the 1 % taurine diet increased GSH level. The potency of the cancer preventive effect of taurine still remains and further studies should investigate the effect of taurine with less than 1 % levels on the prevention of hepatic cancer.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.110-121
• /
• 2003

Objective : This research was performed to investigate the protective effect of Angelicae Dahuri Radix against ischemic damage using PC12 cells and global ischemia in gerbils. Methods : To observe the protective effect of Angelicae Dahuri Radix on ischemia damage, viability and changes in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase and production of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed after treating PC12 cells with Angelicae Dahuri Radix during ischemic insult. Gerbils were divided into three groups : a normal group, a 5-min two-vessel occlusion (2VO) group, and an Angelicae Dahuri Radix administered after 2VO group. The CCAs were occluded by microclip for 5 minutes. Angelicae Dahuri Radix was administered orally for 7 days after 2VO. The histological analysis was performed at 7 days after surgery. For histological analysis, the brain tissue was stained with 1% cresyl violet solution. Results : 1. Angelicae Dahuri Radix has a protective effect against ischemia in the CA1 area of the gerbil hippocampus 7 days after 5-minute occlusion, 2. In the hypoxia/reperfusion model using PC12 cells, Angelicae Dahuri Radix has a protective effect against ischemia in the dose of $0.2\mu\textrm{g}/ml$, $2\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ and $20\mu\textrm{g}/ml$, 3. Angelicae Dahuri Radix increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase. 4. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was increased by ischemic damage, which might represent self protection. This study suggests that Angelicae Dahuri Radix has some neuroprotective effect against neuronal damage following cerebral ischemia in vivo with a widely used experimental model of cerebral ischemia in Mongolian gerbils, and it also has protective effects on a hypoxia/reperfusion cell culture model using PC12 cells. Conclusions : Angelicae Dahuri Radix has protective effects against ischemic brain damage at the early stage of ischemia.