• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.844-851
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• 2002

Smoking can increase oxidative stress and thereby change the antioxidant defense system in the body. To investigate the relationship between male adolescent smoking and antioxidant status, we surveyed the eating habits and dietary intake of 82 smokers and 44 nonsmokers recruited from a male technical high school. In addition, antioxidant enzyme activity and lipid peroxide values were determined in both the plasma and the erythrocytes. Although the frequency of food intake was not significantly different, most nutrient intake was unexpectedly higher in smokers than in nonsmokers. In comparison with the Korean RDA, especially the average intake of Ca, Fe and vitamin $B_2$ didn t reach 75% of the Korean RDA in either smokers or nonsmokers. An analysis of antioxidant enzyme activity showed that plasma catalase. superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), erythrocyte catalase and GSH-px activities showed no significant difference between smokers and nonsmokers. However, the erythrocyte SOD activity of smokers (1.57 unit/mgHb) was significantly lower than that of nonsmokers (2.00 unit/mg Hb). In addition, the plasma ceruloplasmin concentration of smokers (28.68 mg/$d\ell$) was significantly higher than that of nonsmokers (26.30 mg/$d\ell$), whereas the specific ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity of smokers (0.31 unit/mg) was lower than that of nonsmokers (0.35 unit/mg). The plasma and erythrocyte thlobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) of smokers (2.57 $\mu$mol/L, 0.32 $\mu$mol/gHb) were also significantly higher than those of nonsmokers (2.25 $\mu$mol/L, 0.27 $\mu$mol/gHb). The overall data indicate that adolescent smoking might decrease the antioxidant capacity of the body, in part, by lowering the erythrocyte SOD activity and the specific ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.150-155
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• 2004

The free radical scavenging activities and the protective effects of Rhus javanica extracts against oxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) were investigated. n-Hexane, ethyl acetate and water fractions were prepared from a methanol extract. DPPH radical, superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities were estimated. Intracellular ROS formation was quantified using fluorescent probes, 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) for hydroxyl radical and dihydroethidium (DHE) for superoxide anion. The oxidative DNA damage was investigated by the comet assay in HepG$_2$ cells exposed either to $H_2O$$_2$ or to menadione. The highest $IC_{50}$/ values for DPPH radical scavenging activity was found in the ethyl acetate fraction with a value of 5.38 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. Cells pretreated with $\geq$ 1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL of the ethyl acetate extract had significantly increased cell viability compared to control cells, which were not pretreated with the extract. Intracellular ROS formation and DNA damage in HepG$_2$ cells, which were pretreated with the various concentrations of Rhus javanica ethyl acetate extract and then incubated either with $H_2O$$_2$ or with menadione, reduced in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that Rhus javanica might have biologically active components which have strong protective effects against ROS induced oxidative damages to the biomolecules, such as cell membranes and DNA.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.55-68
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• 2020

Objectives : We observed the possibilities that blue honeysuckle has favorable analgesic or refinement effects on the Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) in rats. Methods : Estradiol benzoate and oxytocin were used to induce the PD rat model. And Blue honeysuckle concentration lyophilized powders (BH) 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of Lonicerae Flos aqueous extract lyophilized powders (LF) were orally administered, once a day for 10 days at 30 min after each estradiol benzoate treatment. Then the changes on the body weights and gains during experimental periods, abdominal writhing response for analgesic activities, uterine weights, uterus lipid peroxidation, antioxidant defense system - glutathione contents, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, NF-κB and COX-2 mRNA expressions were monitored with uterus histopathology including immunohistochemistry for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).. Results : Inflammatory and oxidative stress mediated PD signs were favorably and dose-dependently inhibited by 10 days continuous oral administration of three different dosages of BH - 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg as comparable to those of indomethacin(IND) 5 mg/kg treated rats in BH 500 mg/kg administered PD rats, and similar to those of LF 500 mg/kg in BH 125 mg/kg, at least in a condition of the present PD rat model. Conclusions : The results suggest that BH has favorable analgesic and refinement activities on the estradiol benzoate and oxytocin treatment-induced PD signs through anti-inflammatory and antioxidative potentials.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.167-178
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• 2000

The effect of oral vitamin e (800IU/day) and C (500mg/day) supplementation for 10 days and/or smoking cessation for 5 days on oxidative damage to the red blood cells (RBC) of male smokers (22.2$\pm$0.2 years old) was studied. RBC were tested for their ability to protect against smoking-induced oxidative damage by measuring heme proteins (carboxyhemoglobin, hemoglobin, methemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin), hemolysis and thiobarbiturinc acid reactive substances (TBARS). Plasma levels of vitamin c, A, E, $\beta$-catotene, total cholesterol, glutamic pyruvic transaminase(GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) were also analyzed. In experiment one, a comparison was made of heme proteins and lipid damage to RBC, plasma antioxidant status (indexed by plasma levels of vitamin C, E, A and $\beta$-carotene) between smokers(n=56) and non-smokers (n=16). No differences were found in plasma antioxidant status, heme protein damage and TBARS concentration of RBC. In experiment two, 46 fasting male smokers from experiment one were divided into 4 groups. The groups were smoking with placebo group(SP, n=14), smoking cessation with vitamins supplementatin group (SV, n=13), smoking cessation with placebo group (NSP, n=9) and smoking cessation with vitamins supplementation group (NSV, n=10). After supplementing antioxidant vitamins, significant increases were seen in plasma vitamins supplementation group (NSV, n=10). After supplementing antioxidant vitamins, significant increases were seen plasma vitamin C (p<0.05) and vitamin E levels (p<0.05). The plasma vitamin E level was highest in the NSV group. Vitmain E and C supplementation provided some protection against heme proteins and lipid damage by lowering methemoglobin, hemolysis and TBARS concentration of RBC. Smoking cessation significantly decreased TBARS of RBC and plasma total cholesterol concentration. Supplementing vitamin E and C with smoking cessation considerably lowered plasma total cholesterol. These results point to a special association among smoking, oxidative damage and plasma antioxidant vitamin status. They indicate that increases in plasma antioxidant status can be detected after the supplementation of vitamin C and E and that smoking cessation had an additional effect on plasma vitamin E level. The present data suggest that improved antioxidant status induced by antioxidant supplementation or smoking cessation may help prevent oxidative damage in smokers.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2013

Rhus verniciflua Stokes (Anacadiaceae) is a plant that is native to East Asian countries, such as Korea, China, and Japan, and it has been found to exert various biological activities including antioxidative, anti-aggregatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and apoptotic effects. Sulfuretin is one of the major flavonoid component isolated from the heartwood of R. verniciflua. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), produced via dental adhesive bleaching agents and pulpal disease, can cause oxidative stress. In the present study, we isolated sulfuretin from R. verniciflua and demonstrated that sulfuretin possesses cytoprotective effects against hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced dental cell death. $H_2O_2$ is a representative ROS and causes cell death through necrosis in human dental pulp (HDP) cells. $H_2O_2$-induced cytotoxicity and production of ROS were blocked in the presence of sulfuretin, and these effects were dose dependent. Sulfuretin also increased heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein expression. In addition, to determine whether sulfuretin-induced HO-1 expression mediated this cytoprotective effect, HDP cells were cotreated with sulfuretin in the absence or presence of SnPP, an inhibitor of HO activity. Sulfuretin-dependent HO-1 expression was required for suppression of $H_2O_2$-induced HDP cell death and ROS generation. These results indicate that sulfuretin-dependent HO-1 expression was required for the inhibition of $H_2O_2$-induced cell death and ROS generation. In addition, sulfuretin may be used to prevent functional dental cell death and thus may be useful as a pulpal disease agent.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.416-425
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• 2015

NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a basic leucine zipper transcription factor, has recently received a great deal of attention as an important molecule that enhances antioxidative defenses and induces resistance to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In this study, we investigated the apoptosis-inducing and Nrf2- upregulating effects of quercetin on malignant mesothelioma (MM) MSTO-211H and H2452 cells. Quercetin treatment inhibited cell growth and led to upregulation of Nrf2 at both the mRNA and protein levels without altering the ubiquitination and extending the half-life of the Nrf2 protein. Following treatment with quercetin, analyses of the nuclear level of Nrf2, Nrf2 antioxidant response element-binding assay, Nrf2 promoter-luc assay, and RT-PCR toward the Nrf2-regulated gene, heme oxygenase-1, demonstrated that the induced Nrf2 is transcriptionally active. Knockdown of Nrf2 expression with siRNA enhanced cytotoxicity due to the induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by an increase in the level of proapoptotic Bax, a decrease in the level of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 with enhanced cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP proteins, the appearance of a sub-$G_0/G_1$ peak in the flow cytometric assay, and increased percentage of apoptotic propensities in the annexin V binding assay. Effective reversal of apoptosis was observed following pretreatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD. Moreover, Nrf2 knockdown exhibited increased sensitivity to the anticancer drug, cisplatin, presumably by potentiating the oxidative stress induced by cisplatin. Collectively, our data demonstrate the importance of Nrf2 in cytoprotection, survival, and drug resistance with implications for the potential significance of targeting Nrf2 as a promising strategy for overcoming resistance to chemotherapeutics in MM.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.246-253
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• 2014

Codonopsis lanceolata has been used as an herbal medicine for several lung inflammatory diseases, such as asthma, tonsillitis, and pharyngitis. Previously, we showed the neuroprotective effect of steamed and fermented C. lanceolata (SFC) in vitro and in vivo. In the current study, the treatment of HT22 cells with SFC decreased glutamate-induced cell death, suggesting that SFC protected HT22 cells from glutamate-induced cytotoxicity. Based on these, we sought to elucidate the mechanisms of the neuroprotective effect of SFC by measuring the oxidative stress parameters and the expression of Bax and caspase-3 in HT22 cells. SFC reduced contents of ROS, $Ca^{2+}$ and NO. Moreover, SFC restored contents of glutathione and glutathione reductase as well as inhibited Bax and caspase-3 activity in HT22 cells. These results indicate that steamed and fermented C. lanceolata (SFC) extract protected HT22 cells by anti-oxidative effect and inhibition of the expression of Bax and caspase-3.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2014

NF-${\kappa}B$ is a transcriptional factor which is involved in many biological processes including immunity, inflammation, and cell survival. Many investigators studied on the mechanism involved in activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ signalling pathway via ubiquitination and degradation of $I{\kappa}B$ regarding skin disease. Some specific molecules including Akt, MEK, p38 MAP Kinase, Stat3, et al. represent convergence points and key regulatory proteins in signaling pathways controlling cellular events such as growth and differentiation, energy homeostasis, and the response to stress and inflammation. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has many adverse effects on skin, including inflammation, alteration in the extracellular matrix, cellular senescence, apoptosis and skin cancer. Prunus mume, a naturally derived plant extract, has beneficial biological activities as blood fluidity improvement, anti-fatigue action, antioxidative and free radical scavenging activities, inhibiting the motility of Helicobacter pyolri. Previous reports on various beneficial function prompted us to investigate UVB-induced or other immunostimulated biological marker regarding P. mume extract. P. mume extract suppresses UVB-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in mouse skin epidermal JB6 P+ cells. The activation of activator protein-1 and nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ induced by UVB was dose-dependently inhibited by P. mume extract treatment. This results suggest that P. mume extracts might be used as a potential agents for protection of inflammation or UVB induced skin damage.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2015

Gamrosu is a modified fasting therapy beverage (431 kcal/d). A retrospective observational study was conducted to investigate the detoxification feasibility of Gamrosu. Three cases were reviewed which participants have finished the fasting with Garmrosu for 10 consecutive days. Detoxification profiles of Gamrosu were reviewed at pre- and post-fasting sessions. Post-Gamrosu session, -6.3% of average weight, -6.5% of average body fat mass and -6.6% of average muscle mass were reduced with the nutrition indices being improved. The inflammation indices showed the significant diminished profiles. Liver/kidney functions and the standard of electrolytes were maintained within normal range in stable manners, however, marginal elevation of total bilirubin and mild ketoacidosis were observed. The indices of oxidative stress decreased and those of antioxidative activity increased. The fatigue scale scores indicated lower scores except insomnia symptom. Taken together, detoxification profiles of Gamrosu were sufficiently feasible and the observed findings should be considered for further clinical studies.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.202-208
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• 2007

Persimmon is well-known as a Korean traditional medicine for alleviating coughs and enhancing blood circulation; it is also used for treatment of hypertension, cancer, diabetes and atherosclerosis. To evaluate the protective properties of persimmon leaf methanol extract (PLME) and persimmon fruit methanol extract (PFME) administration on acute ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity, C57BL/6 male mice were gavaged with or without persimmon extracts for 1 week. Hepatotoxicity was then induced by gavage of 5 g/kg BW ethanol. After 12 hr of ethanol administration, blood and liver were collected and analyzed for biochemical markers of hepatotoxicity. The results showed PLME and PFME treatments decreased the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) compared with ethanol control. Both PLME and PFME reduced serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, but elevated alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity. Serum triglyceride (TG) and hepatic cholesterol levels were significantly decreased when treated with PLME and PFME. Liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased in PLME and PFME groups compared with ethanol control. Furthermore, the administration of PLME and PFME significantly increased the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GSH-red). In summary, PLME and PFME appeared to prevent hepatic injury by accelerating alcohol metabolism by increasing alcohol-metabolizing enzyme activities, by activating the antioxidative enzyme system against oxidative stress, and by decreasing fat accumulation, which is evidenced by decreased hepatotoxic indices in serum.