• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.834-840
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• 2003

To examine the effect of Saengshik on parameters related to hepatoprotective, anthropometric, blood pressure, serum lipid and blood related indices, nonalcoholic fatty liver subjects were treated with two meal portion of Saengshik in the replacement of meals for a period of three months. Weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and systolic blood pressure were significantly decreased after the treatment. Chronically elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-Glutamyl transferase (r-GTP) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) levels showed reduction to the near normal range. Serum total triglyceride level were reduced following the treatment. Whereas, there were no changes of serum total cholesterol with Saengshik consumption. Also, additional study was conducted to investigate the effect of Saengshik supplementation to high cholesterol and fat diet on lipid metabolism in rats. Male Spraque-Dawley rats were administrated hyperlipidemiainducing diet containing 1% cholesterol and 10% lard to induce hyperlipidemia for 4 weeks and were fed on diet containing Saengshik (30%, w/w) for 7 weeks. The feeding of diet containing 30% Shaengshik significantly decreased total cholesterol (TC) contents and total triglyceride. These results demonstrate Saengshik may be beneficial for fatty liver patients in improving their lipid metabolism.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.2093-2098
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• 2010

Insulin resistance plays a central role in fatty liver, a part of the metabolic syndrome. This study examined the relationship between fatty liver, metabolic abnormalities and mitochondrial DNA [mtDNA] copy number in peripheral blood that is correlated with diabetes or metabolic markers. Fatty liver was assessed by questionnaire on alcohol consumption and abdominal ultrasonography. MtDNA copy number in peripheral leukocytes was measured by a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. Among 445 subjects, 148 subjects had hepatic steatosis and 297 were controls. mtDNA copy number was significantly lower in fatty liver group in comparison with that of normal finding group. This result is similar in both groups, alcoholic or non-alcoholic fatty liver group. MtDNA copy number was inversely correlated with alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], gamma-glutamyltransferase [$\gamma$-GTP], body mass index [BMI], waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, and free fatty acid. MtDNA copy number in peripheral leukocytes was associated with fatty liver and insulin resistance related factors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.5
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• pp.485-493
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• 1997

We investigated the effect of ${\alpha}-adrenergic$ and cholinergic receptor agonists on $Ca^{2+}$ current in adult rat trigeminal ganglion neurons using whole-cell patch clamp methods. The application of acetylcholine, carbachol, and oxotremorine ($50\;{\mu}M\;each$) produced a rapid and reversible reduction of the $Ca^{2+}$ current by $17{\pm}6%,\;19{\pm}3%,\;and\;18{\pm}4%$, respectively. Atropine, a muscarinic antagonist, blocked carbachol- induced $Ca^{2+}$ current inhibition to $3{\pm}1%$. Norepinephrine ($50\;{\mu}M$) reduced $Ca^{2+}$ current by $18{\pm}2%$, while clonidine ($50\;{\mu}M$), an ${\alpha}2-adrenergic$ receptor agonist, inhibited $Ca^{2+}$ current by only $4{\pm}1%$. Yohimbine, an ${\alpha}2-adrenergic$ receptor antagonist, did not block the inhibitory effect of norepinephrine on $Ca^{2+}$ current, whereas prazosin, an ${\alpha}1-adrenergic$ receptor antagonist, attenuated the inhibitory effect of norepinephrine on $Ca^{2+}$ current to $6{\pm}1%$. This pharmacology contrasts with ${\alpha}2-adrenergic$ receptor modulation of $Ca^{2+}$ channels in rat sympathetic neurons, which is sensitive to clonidine and blocked by yohimbine. Our data suggest that the modulation of voltage dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel by norepinephrine is mediated via an α1-adrenergic receptor. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin (250 ng/ml) for 16 h greatly reduced norepinephrine- and carbachol-induced $Ca^{2+}$ current inhibition from $17{\pm}3%\;and\;18{\pm}3%\;to\;2{\pm}1%\;and\;2{\pm}1%$, respectively. These results demonstrate that norepinephrine, through an ${\alpha}1-adrenergic$ receptor, and carbachol, through a muscarinic receptor, inhibit $Ca^{2+}$ currents in adult rat trigeminal ganglion neurons via pertussis toxin sensitive GTP-binding proteins.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.94-98
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• 2003

Effect of mixture of food material water extracts(modouri) composed of Job's tears, maize, buckwheat Japanese mushroom, lovage, licorice and jujube(13 : 50 : 15 : 2 : 5 : 5 : 5, v/v)] on the content of testosterone(T) and dihydrotestosterone(DHT), biochemical and histological changes of rat were investigated. Animal experiments(30 rats) were divided into 3 experimental groups(control, modouri and propecia). The summarized results were as follows: Activities of GOT, GPT, ALP, ${\gamma}$-GTP and content of total cholesterol and total lipid are normal in modouri group. Therefore modouri does not give rise to any damage in the liver. Also in the histological view, modouri does not have any hepatotoxic effect and increase the number of hair folicle. Total(T+DHT) and DHT content in rat serum and skin are significantly decrease in modouri group compare to the control but there is not any significant difference with propecia.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.92-96
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• 2001

The present study was investigated effect of each water extract from Pueraria flos (PF) and Pueraria radix (PR) on serum several biomarkers in ethanol-treated rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: Normal (None-treated group); Ethanol (only ethanol-treated group); EPF I (ethanol-treated, supplemented group); EPR (ethanol-treated, PF II-supplemented group); EPR I (ethanol-treated, PR I-supplemented group) ; EPR (ethanoltreated, PR II-supplemented grou). Five groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered 25% ethanol (5 g/kg body weight/day) and sacrified 5 weeks post treatment. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and ${\gamma}-glutamyl$ transpeptidase activities were significiantly lowered by feeding of PF or PR than those of only ethanol-treated group. Whereas serum glucoseand liver glycogen contents were significantly decreased (p<0.05) by ethanol administration and increased decreased (p<0.05) by PF or PR supplement. This results indicate that Pueraria flos and radix water extract supplement improves alcoholic disorder.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.279-288
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• 1995

To apply the serum xanthine oxidase (XO) determining for the index of the toluene intoxication, the serum XO activity was compared with the other parameters, the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), 5'-nucleotidase(5'-NT), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), guanase(GDA) and $\gamma$-gIutamyl transpeptidase(T-GTP). Concomitantly, the cause of increased level of serum XO was clarified in the present experimental conditions. Although the other serum enzyme activities, ALT, AST, 5'-NT, ALP, GDA and $\gamma$-GTP were respectively not found to be different between control group and toluene-treated group, the serum XO activity in toluene-treated group showed the higher levels than that in the control group. These suggested that the determination of serum XO activity could be used for monitoring the intoxication of toluene. On the other hand, the activities of XO both in the serum and liver were higher in toluene-treated or benzaldehyde-treated rats than those in each control group. In the pooled liver XO from each group, toluene-treated or benzaldehyde-treated group showed the higher $V_{max}$ value than the control group, whereas no changes were observed in liver XO activities between the control liver specimen and that preincubated with bertzaldehyde in vitro. The present results indicate that the increased level of XO in toluene-treated rats is due to the result of enzyme protein induction in liver cell by the benzaldehyde metabolized from toluene. All the more, the benzaldehyde may be acted as a substrate for XO, since the benzaldehyde induced the increased activity of both liver and serum XO, and no changes were found in purine catabolite, uric acid in serum or urine and liver purine catabolizing enzymes, adenosine deaminase, GDA, uricuse except XO in toluene-treated rats.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.129-149
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• 2003

Liver is an important target of the toxicity of drugs, xenobiotics and oxidative stress. Acetaminophen pverdose causes acute liver injury in both humans and animals. This study was performed to observe the effect of sachunwhan and its component groups on recovery of hepatoxicity in acetaminophen treated rats. The experimental group was divided into 4 groups: sachungwhan(SC), samultang group(SC-1: 當歸, 川芎), chungyul group(SC-2: 龍膽草, 大黃, 梔子), and haepyo group(SC-3:羌活, 防風). Under the same condition Normal group was fed basal diet and water; Control group was injected acetaminophen and fed basal diet for 2 weeks; Experimental groups were injected acetaminophen and fed each extracts for 2 weeks respectively. The results were obtained as follows: 1. In the study on antioxidative defense system in vivo, SC reduced the amount of lipid peroxide in both serum and liver and showed activity on antioxidative enzymes such as catalase, glutathion. Other groups had effect only on glutathion. 2. In the study on hepatotoxicity(GOT, GPT, ${\gamma}$-GTP, ALP, LDH, Bilirubin), SC had a significant effect on recovery of hepatoxicity in acetaminophen treated rats. Other groups had no effect except SC-1 having effect on ${\gamma}$-GTP. As results shown, only Sachungwhan(SC) has significant effects on recovery of hepatoxicity and antioxidative defense system in vivo. These results suggest that Sachungwhan(SC) made antioxidative defense system active and it seemed to be very important to its effect on recovery of hepatoxicity. In the other hand, Component groups had no effect on recoverv of hepatoxicity and antioxidative defense system in vivo. This was thought that component drugs' cooperative synergy effect would be important to Sachungwhan(SC)'s effects mentioned in this paper.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.336-340
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• 1988

This study was performed to investigate the influence of mixtures of 0(control), 1, 2 and 3% ethanol and water respectively on growth and various blood parameters of growing broiler chicks. At the end of the 7 weeks' experiment, body weight gain in 1% ethanol group and liver weight in 3% ethanol group were significantly higher than those of control group. It was found that the levels of red blood cell, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum protein were within normal ranges. Serum GOT and r-GTP activities were significantly increased in 2 and 3% ethanol groups compared with those in control group. But serum CPT activity was slightily decreased in all ethanol groups. Serum LDH activity was increased in all ethanol groups compared with that In control group. Serum alkaline phosphatase was not affected by the ethanol. Serum glucose concentration in 3% ethanol group was significantly lower than that in control group.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.7-19
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• 2006

Objectives : Propolis and Hovenia dulcis Thunb. has been used as treatment of diseases in the Korean medicine. In this study, we investigated that the hepatoprotective effects of Propolis oral administration according to mixture with Hovenia dulcis Thunb. on ${\gamma}-GTP$, GOT, GPT, Total bilirubin, LDH, ALP, Total cholesterol, Triglyceride, SOD, activity of catalase and Glutathione Peroxidase in galactosamine (GalN)-induced liver in rats. Methods : The animals were divided into 5 groups. Control, the liver injury-induced and not treated group. Pro1, liver injury and administrated propolis. Pro2, liver injury and administrated propolis capsule. Pro3, liver injury and administrated mixture of propolis capsule with Hovenia dulcis Thunb. Pro4, liver injury and administrated mixture of Propolis capsule with Hovenia dulcis Thunb. and Artemisia capillaris Thunb.. Animals were treated by Oral administration of Propolis, Hovenia dulcis Thunb., and Artemisia capillaris Thunb. mixture ltime 2 days for 14 days. Results : The Pro1 group was significantly increased on ${\gamma}-GTP$ and activity of Glutathione peroxidase but decreased on GOT in serum as compared with the control group. The Pro2 group was significantly increased on WBC, RBC, Hct, HGB in serum and activity of CuZnSOD as compared with the control group. The Pro 3 group was decreased on Total bilirubin, increased on LDH, WBC, RBC, Hct and HGB in serum as compared with the control group. The Pro 4 group was decreased on GOT in serum as compared with the control group. Conclusion : By evaluating the liver function and lipid metabolism, Pro3 had a hepatoprotective effect on the prevention of hepatotoxity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2014

It has been suggested that transition metal ions such as iron can produce an oxidative injuries to nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, like Parkinson's disease (PD) and subsequent compensative increase of tetrahydrobiopterin ($BH_4$) during the disease progression induces the aggravation of dopaminergic neurodegeneration in striatum. It had been established that the direct administration of $BH_4$ into neuron would induce the neuronal toxicity in vitro. To elucidate a role of $BH_4$ in pathogenesis in the PD in vivo, we assessed the changes of dopamine (DA) and $BH_4$ at striatum in unilateral intranigral iron infused PD rat model. The ipsistriatal DA and $BH_4$ levels were significantly increased at 0.5 to 1 d and were continually depleting during 2 to 7 d after intranigral iron infusion. The turnover rate of $BH_4$ was higher than that of DA in early phase. However, the expression level of GTP-cyclohydrolase I mRNA in striatum was steadily increased after iron administration. These results suggest that the accumulation of intranigral iron leads to generation of oxidative stress which damage to dopaminergic neurons and causes increased release of $BH_4$ in the dopaminergic neuron. The degenerating dopaminergic neurons decrease the synthesis and release of both $BH_4$ and DA in vivo that are relevance to the progression of PD. Based on these data, we propose that the increase of $BH_4$ can deteriorate the disease progression in early phase of PD, and the inhibition of $BH_4$ increase could be a strategy for PD treatment.