• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.85-91
• /
• 2014

Deoxynivalenol (DON) and related trichothecene mycotoxins are extensively distributed in the cereal-based food and feed stuffs worldwide. Recent climate changes and global grain trade increased chance of exposure to more DON and related toxic metabolites in poorly managed production systems. Monitoring the biological and environmental exposures to the toxins are crucial in protecting human and animals from toxicities of the hazardous contaminants in food or feeds. Exposure biomarkers including urine DON itself are prone to shift to less harmful metabolites by intestinal microbiota and liver metabolic enzymes. De-epoxyfication of DON by gut microbes such as Eubacterium strain BBSH 797 and Eubacterium sp. DSM 11798 leads to more fecal secretion of DOM-1. By contrast, most of plant-derived DON-glucoside is also easily catabolized to free DON by gut microbes, which produces more burden to body. Phase 2 hepatic metabolism also contributes to the glucuronidation of DON, which can be useful urine biomarkers. However, chemical modification could be very typical depending on the anthropologic or genetic background, luminal bacteria, and hepatic metabolic enzyme susceptibility to the toxins in the diet. After toxin exposure, effect biomarkers are also important in estimating the linkage and mechanisms of foodborne diseases in human and animal population. Most prominent adverse effects are demonstrated in the DON-induced immunological and behavioral disorders. For instance, acutely elevated interleukin-8 from insulted gut exposed to dietaty DON is a dominant clinical biomarker in human and animals. Moreover, subchronic exposure to the toxins is associated with high levels of serum IgA, a biological mediator of IgA nephritis. In particular, anorexia monitoring using mouse models are recently developed to monitor the biological activities of DON-induced feed refusal. It is also mechanistically linked to alteration of serotoin and peptide YY, which are promising biomarkers of neurological disorders by the toxins. As animal-alternative biomonitoring, huamn enterocyte-based assay has been developed and more realistic gut mimetic models would be useful in monitoring the effect biomarkers in resposne to toxic contaminants in the future investigations.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.334-340
• /
• 2005

This study has attempted to examine the effect of Artemisia princeps and A. argyi on liver function-related enzymes in rats with $CCl_4$ adminisration. The activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) from A. princeps were decreased by 33, 23 and $19\%$, respectively, compared to control. The activities of AST, ALT and ALP from A. argyi were decreased by 37, 33 and $26\%$, respectively. Total phenol contents were 10.2 mg/mL and 4.7 mg/mL in A. princeps, and A. argyi, respectively. Also, flavonoid contents were $6.1\;mg\%\;and\;3.6\;mg\%$ in A. princeps, and A. ar효i, respectively. Ethanol extract from A. argyi showed higher electron donating ability toward DPPH than A. princeps. A total of 31 volatile components(3 hydrocarbons, 10 terpenes, 5 carbonyls, 8 alcohols and 5 esters) were indentified in A. princeps, and A. argyi. The major volatile components of A. princeps were $\delta$-3-carene($2.2\%$) in terpenes and nerolidol($0.9\%$) in alcohols. The major volatile components of A. argyi were eugenol($1.4\%$) in alcohols and thyl pentadecanoate($1.1\%$) in esters.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.675-681
• /
• 1997

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary protein and fiber levels on the activities of ethanol metabolizing enzymes of liver in ethanol-treated rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed on diets containing two levels of protein(7, 20%/kg diet) and pectin(5, 10%/kg diet). In ethanol experiments, ethanol(25% v/v) was administered by oral intubation(5g/kg body weight) at the same time once a day Control animals received an isocaloric dose of sucrose. The rats were sacrificed after 5 weeks of feeding periods. Alcohol dehydrogenase and microsomal ethanol oxidizing system activities of hepatic tissue were increased more in ethanol-treated groups than in control groups. Increment of activities predominated in normal protein normal fiber group. Aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was decreased in ethanol-treated groups and significantly decreased in normal Protein normal fiber group. Cytochrome P-450 content was significantly increased in ethanol-treated groups and Predominated in normal protein groups. Xanthine oxidase activity was increased in ethanol-treated groups, but not significantly except normal protein normal fiber group. Glutathione content tended to increase in proportion to level of dietary protein and was higher in normal fiber groups than in high fiber groups, whereas it was decreased by ethanol treatment. Lipid Peroxide content was significantly increased in low Protein normal fiber groups.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.407-413
• /
• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of a beverage that contained Bulnesia sarmienti(BSP, 2.5%) on rats to which alcohol was administered. The treatment of the BSP group reduced the serum alcohol concentration to 52%, compared to 47% in the positive control(PC) group. Similar pattell1s were observed in the enhancement of alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH), acetaldehyde dehydrogenase(ALDH), alkaline phosphate(ALP), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), asparate aminotransferase(AST), total cholesterol(CHOL), ${\gamma}$-glutamyltrasferase(GGT), glucose(GLU), total bilirubin, and total protein(TP) in the serum. Also, in the BSP group, the lipoxidase(LPO), glutathion-S-transferase(GST), XO, catalase(CAT), and superoxide dismutase(SOD) were significantly reduced, compared to the CO and PC groups in the liver. The glutathione(GSH) activity increased in the BSP group, though. These results indicate that Bulnesia sarmienti extract can enhance alcohol metabolization activity.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.338-345
• /
• 2021

Zizania latifolia has long been used as a tea for both edible and medicinal purposes. However, research into the use of Z. latifolia as a high value-added edible material is lacking. In a previous study, we confirmed that tricin is the major component in Z. latifolia. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of a Z. latifolia extract (ZLE). Toxicity tests of ZLE or tricin on HepG2 cells revealed no toxicity due to ZLE or tricin at all concentrations used. The reduction in cell viability by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) was suppressed by treatment with ZLE or tricin. In addition, ZLE or tricin effectively inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species (generation of hydrogen peroxide, alkoxy free radicals, and peroxyl free radicals by t-BHP) and oxidative damage. ZLE or tricin treatments also increased the protein expression of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which are known as antioxidant enzymes, suggesting that the protective effect of ZLE is related to activation of tricin. Taken together, the results indicate that Z. latifolia can be developed as a functional food material for improving liver function.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.32 no.7
• /
• pp.491-500
• /
• 2022

HK shiitake mushroom mycelium (HKSMM), containing 14% β-glucan, is a health functional food ingredient individually approved by the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for liver health. The anti-inflammatory effect of a 50% aqueous ethanol extract of HKSMM (designated HKSMM50) was studied in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). An active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) was used as a positive control. LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells were treated with HKSMM50 and AHCC (0, 20, 100, 500 ㎍/ml) and cultured for 24 hr. Inflammation-related elements in the supernatant were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins in the cells was analyzed by Western blotting. The HKSMM50 lowered iNOS and COX-2 protein expressions, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) contents in a concentration-dependent manner as compared to LPS treatment. Similarly, the HKSMM50 lowered the content of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) contents and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). The efficacy of the AHCC treatment was similar to that of the HKSSM50 treatments. These results indicate that HKSMM50 showed an anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells by down-regulation of NF-κB signaling and suggest that HKSMM could be used as a health functional food ingredient to help improve immune function.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.39 no.5
• /
• pp.207-216
• /
• 2022

Canine babesiosis has been scarcely investigated in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Although it is known that Babesia gibsoni is its primary causative agent, its clinical presentation has not been completely clarified in the ROK. Consequently, the aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical appearance of this parasitic infection based on the anamnesis of the patient and compare of hematological and biochemical test results. Four hundred whole blood samples from patients with a presumptive diagnosis of tick-borne disease were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the Babesia spp. 18S rRNA gene and by a rapid diagnostic test kit (VetAll Laboratories^®) to detect B. gibsoni seroreactive animals. Thirty-six (9.0%) dogs were PCR-positive but only 24 (6.0%) were seropositive. The investigation revealed that all the courses of the disease are present in the ROK, with the acute course being predominant. The acute course tends to consist of inappetence, lethargy, pyrexia, gastrointestinal symptoms, and occasionally hematuria. It also occurs with common hematological abnormalities, such as thrombocytopenia and anemia, and to a lesser extent biochemical abnormalities, such as hyperbilirubinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and elevated liver enzymes. This research shows that B. gibsoni is an endemic hemoparasite capable of producing a variety of clinical manifestations in dogs. For its accurate diagnosis, a descriptive history of the clinical signs, hematology, and biochemical profile of the patient, along with a well-performing PCR assay, are essential. These findings will help in planning pragmatic preventive strategies against this potent threat in the ROK.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.295-303
• /
• 2023

Immune and metabolic systems are important factors in maintaining homeostasis. Immune response and metabolic regulation are highly associated, so, when the normal metabolism is disturbed, the immune response changed followed the metabolic diseases occur. Likewise, obesity is highly related to immune response. Obesity, which is caused by an imbalance in energy metabolism, is associated with metabolic diseases, such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver diseases, atherosclerosis and hypertension. As known, obesity is characterized in chronic low-grade inflammation. In obesity, the microenvironment of immune cells became inflammatory by the unique activation phenotypes of immune cells such as macrophage, natural killer cell, T cell. Also, the immune cells interact each other in cellular or cytokine mechanisms, which intensify the obesity-induced inflammatory response. This phenomenon suggests the possibility of regulating the activation of immune cells as a pharmacological therapeutic strategy for obesity in addition to the common pharmacological treatment of obesity which is aimed at inhibiting enzymes such as pancreatic lipase and α-amylase or inhibiting differentiation of preadipocytes. In this review, we summarize the activation phenotypes of macrophage, natural killer cell and T cell, and their aspects in obesity. We also summarize the pharmacological substances that alleviates obesity by regulating the activation of immune cells.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.361-376
• /
• 2023

Purpose: This study evaluates the potential protective effects of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed oil supplementation in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet. Methods: Rats were fed a 1.25% cholesterol diet for 8 weeks, followed by oral administration of either of the two doses of hemp seed oil (HO) (0.5 mL/kg (HOL group) or 1 mL/kg (HOH group) body weight/day) or simvastatin at 10 mg/kg body weight/day. Oxidative stress, lipids, liver enzymes, and renal markers were measured in the serum. Western blot analysis was applied for evaluating the expressions of inflammatory makers. Results: Except for HDL-cholesterol, the altered levels of lipoproteins, aminotransferases, urea, and creatine kinases in hypercholesterolemic rats were significantly corrected by HO administration. Especially, compared to the HOH group, HOL treatment further reduced AST, ALT, creatinine, TC, and LDL-cholesterol levels. Moreover, both the atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor (CRF) in the HOL group were more restrained compared to the HOH group. Increased levels of p-AMPK coincided with the inhibition of SREBP-2 activation which subsequently suppressed the expression of HMGCR. Nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation coincided with the PI3K/Akt pathway activation and the increased phosphorylation of p38; these levels were significantly suppressed by HO treatment. In addition, HO treatment markedly reversed the changes in chemokines such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and MCP-1. Histological alterations induced by cholesterol overload in cardiac and hepatic tissues were ameliorated by HO supplementation. Conclusion: Taken together, our results indicate a low concentration of HO demonstrates improved dysfunctions caused by a high-cholesterol diet via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1997.04a
• /
• pp.107-107
• /
• 1997

Cytochrome P450 enzymes have been intensively investigated in hepatic tissues and several mammalian cell lines. Compared to most studies about cytochrome P450 isozymes in liver in vivo and hepatic, cell lines in vitro, the study of cytochrome P450IA1 in human breast cancer cells could be very important to understand the mechanism of the regulation of CYPIA1 gene expression and cell growth. MCF-7 human breast cancer cells are well characterized to study estrogen and antiestrogen action due to the fact that they contain high level of estrogen receptor and have biological markers characterized. And also MCF-7 cells express high level of arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase activity and human cytochrome P450IA1 cDNA was cloned from MCF-7 cells. Ah receptor was characterized in many breast cancer cell lines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon such as 3-MC induced the expression of CYPIA1 gene and cytochrome P450- dependent monooxygenase activity. We undertook a study to examine the effect of estrogens and other chemicals on the regulation of human CYPIA1 gene expression in MCF-7 cells via RTPCR analysis, that might help us to understand the mechanism of the regulation of CYPIA1 gene expression and MCF-7 cell growth. Expression vector containing the functional 5'-regulatory region of human CYPIA1 fused to the CAT reporter gene was transfected into estrogen receptor positive MCF-T cells or estrogen receptor negative MDA-MB-231 cells. After these cells were treated with various chemicals, RTPCR was carried out to measure both CYPIA1 mRNA and CAT mRNA levels. 1nM 3-MC increased in both P450 and CAT mRNA levels over those of control by two folds in MCF-7 cells but does not in MDA-MB-231 cells. Estrogen or tamoxifen or retinoic acid or chrysin decreased in both P450 and CAT mRNA levels that were induced by 3-MC in MCF-7 when each chemical was administered with 3-MC concomitantly. These results suggested that the level of CYPIA1 gene expression is modulated with estrogen-related molecules and make it possible to speculate that ER is related to CYPIA1 gene expression and cell growth in breast cancer cells. [Supported by grants from the Korean Ministry of Education ]