• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2007

Zn is an essential nutrient that is required in humans and animals for many physiological functions, including immune and antioxidant function, growth, and reproduction. The present study evaluated whether Zn deficiency would negatively affect bone-related enzyme, ALP, and other bone-related minerals (Ca, P and Mg) in rats. Thirty Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to one of the three different Zn dietary groups, such as Zn adequate (ZA, 35 mg/kg), pair fed (PF, 35 mg/kg), Zn deficient (ZD, 1 mg/kg) diet, and fed for 10 weeks. Food intake and body weight were measured daily and weekly, respectively. ALP was measured by spectrophotometry and mineral contents were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass, spectrophotometer (ICP-MS). Zn deficient rats showed decreased food intake and body weight compared with Zn adequate rats (p<0.05). Zn deficiency reduced ALP activity in blood (RBC, plasma) and the tissues (liver, kidney and small intestine) (p<0.05). Also, Zn deficiency reduced mineral concentrations in rat tissues (Ca for muscle and liver, and Mg for muscle and liver) (p<0.05). The study results imply the requirement of proper Zn nurture for maintaining bone growth and formation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

The present study examined the effects of consumption of Jeju ground water containing vanadium components on oxidative stress in obese (ob/ob) mice. Intake of Jeju ground water decreased the generation of oxidative stress induced-lipid peroxidation in the liver of ob/ob mice It also enhanced the enzymatic antioxidant defense system by increasing the protein expression and activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in liver tissues. Jeju ground water intake also upregulated the intracellular content of reduced glutathione. The induction of antioxidant enzyme expression by consumption of Jeju ground water was mediated by the erythroid transcription factor NF-E2 (Nrf2). Increased nuclear expression of phospho Nrf2 was observed in ob/ob mouse liver cells following ntake of Jeju ground water. These results suggest that consumption of Jeju ground water stimulated the antioxidant defense system in the livers of ob/ob mice via induction of Nrf2.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.699-707
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• 1996

This study was designed to examine the involvement of lead in function of target organ, and the protective effect of selenium in lead-treated guinea pigs for 8 weeks. The effects of exposure to 0.5% lead acetate(lead) and/or 4ppm sodium selenite(selenium) in feed on serveral aspects were evaluated by measuring thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH), triiodothyronine($T_3$), thyroxine($T_4$), serum biochemical activities, organ weights, and serum and organ lead concentrations in growing animals. The many indicators of endocrine function(TSH, $T_3$, and $T_4$ in serum), enzyme and biochemical activities(${\alpha}$-glutamyltranspeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, triglyceride, creatinine, $Ca^{2+}$ in serum), and organ weights(kidney, spleen and testis) were correlated with lead exposure or showed significantly different mean values between the exposed and controls. These changes on some aspects were reversed by combination-fed of selenium, but did not statistically significant. The organ(kidney, liver, spleen, testis and brain) and serum lead concentrations of lead-fed group were clearly higher than that of controls. Selenium supplementation resulted in a significant protection against lead accumulation in liver and testis. These results suggest that lead can cause a toxic effect on several organ and that selenium seems to has a protective effect on specific reaction by lead-induced organic function toxicity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.371-377
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• 1995

The effect of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol and ${\beta}$-carotene supplementation on reducing the oxidative damag in the liver of rats were studied. Forth-five male Sprague Dawley aged 4 weeks were randomly assigned to 9 groups of five for the 12 weeks of the study. Nine groups, sardine oil, sardine oil＋Vt E, sardine oil＋${\beta}$-carotene, soybean oil, soybean oil＋Vt E, soybean oil＋${\beta}$-carotene, lard, lard＋Vt E, lard＋${\beta}$-carotene group, were prepared. Sardine oil, soybean oil, or lard was used for dietary fat and 200% of ${\alpha}$ -tocopherol or 150% of ${\beta}$-carotene was supplemented to each diet. Each diet supplied 65% of total energy as carbohydrate, 15% as protein, and 20% as lipid. The MDA value and protein carbonyl contents of sardine oil group were significantly different(p<0.05) to those of other fat groups indicating that the most severe lipid oxidation occurred in the group fed diet containing highly polyunsaturated fatty acid. When ${\alpha}$-tocopherol or ${\beta}$ -carotene was supplemented to the sardine oil diet, MDA value(-35%, -15%, respectively) and protein carbonyl content(-44%, -32%, respectively) decreased significantly(p<0.05). Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase activities of three different sardine oil groups with or without antioxidants were lower than those of soybean oil or lard group. The reducing effect of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol on oxidative damage in sardine oil group supplemented with ${\alpha}$-tocopherol was noticeable(p<0.05). However the adverse effect of ${\beta}$-carotene was observed. SOD and catalase activities of ${\beta}$-carotene supplemented groups were that the lowest among the same fat groups, but the differences were not statistically significant. The possible cause of decreased enzyme activity seemed to be related to the vitamin A(Vt A) toxicity in the liver where retinol converted from dietary ${\beta}$-carotene in the intestinal mucosa was stored.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.187-194
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• 2009

Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) is a member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily, and it is a key enzyme responsible for the metabolic activation of many smallmolecular-weight compounds such as alcohol, which is classified as a human carcinogen. In this study, we identified 19 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CYP2E1 in Korean population. In these SNPs, we examined possible genetic association of CYP2E1 polymorphisms with HBV clearance and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Five common polymorphic sites were selected, CYP2E1 polymorphisms at rs381-3867, rs3813870, rs2070673, rs2515641 and rs2480257, considering their allele frequencies, haplotype-tagging status and LDs for genotyping in larger-scale subjects (n=1,092). Statistical analysis demonstrated that CYP2E1 polymorphisms and haplotypes show no significant association with HBV clearance, HCC occurrence and onset age of HCC (p>0.05). Previous studies, however, have shown contradictory findings on associations of CYP2E1 polymorphisms with CYP2E1 activities and HCC risk. Comparing the contrasting results of previous researches suggest that CYP2E1 polymorphism is associated with CYP2E1 activity induced by ethanol, but is not directly associated with HCC risk. CYP2E1 variation/haploype information identified in this study will provide valuable information for future studies on CYP2E1.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.169-178
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• 2024

Cordyceps militaris L. (C. militaris) has been traditionally used as tonic medicine for metabolic syndrome. Cordycepin, has been reported with immunomodulatory, antitumor, and hepatoprotective effect, is the main extract from C. militaris. This study was conducted to evaluate the alcohol degradation and hepatoprotective effect of cordycepin-enriched C. militaris extract (CM) powder in chronic and binge ethanol (ethanol Lieber-DeCarli diet)-fed male C57BL/6 Mice. Cordycepin-enriched C. militaris extract powder was orally administered once daily at dose levels of 0, 125, 250, and 500 mg·kg^-1·day^-1 for 16 days. For evaluating alcohol degradation, ethanol concentration and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity were measured in serum. Serum ethanol (EtOH) concentration was decreased at CM treated groups, and the activities of ADH and ALDH were increased dose-dependently at CM treated groups compare to EtOH model group. In clinical chemistry, the values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were lower in CM treated groups than those in EtOH model group. Additionally, absolute and relative (to body weight) liver weights were statistically decreased in the CM treated groups compared to the EtOH model group. In conclusion, our study showed that cordycepin-enriched C. militaris extract powder exhibits hepatoprotective effect by upregulating the ADH and ALDH enzyme in an alcoholic liver disease model.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.515-521
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the liver lipid and antioxidant metabolism in obese rats following ingestion of Orostachys japonicus (OJ) hot water extract. The rats were fed a high fat diet for 8 weeks to induce obesity. In the experimental group, 2.5% or 5% OJ hot water extract was added to the diets for 6 weeks. To determine the changes in the liver lipid and antioxidant metabolism in obese rats, the livers were collected and weighed, lipid content was measured, and antioxidant enzyme activity was determined. A significant decrease in liver weight was observed in the group fed with OJ hot water extracts and decreased lipid accumulation was observed in the morphological observation of liver tissue. Total cholesterol and triglyceride contents were also decreased. Both OJ extracts significantly decreased 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels. Further, the levels of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly increased in rats treated with OJ extracts. These results suggest that the intake of OJ hot water extracts may improve liver lipid metabolism by activating antioxidant enzymes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.1677-1685
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• 2012

The autolysate and hydrolysate of a common squid liver, Todarodes pacificus, were prepared. Autolysis (liver ratio, pH, temperature) and Protamex-treated hydrolysis (pH, temperature, ratio of protease to liver) conditions were optimized by response surface methodology using central composite design for under 1 hr of hydrolysis time. The desirability profile indicated that maximum DH could be achieved at a squid liver of 93.5%, pH 6.4, and $47^{\circ}C$ in autolysis, while that of Protamex-treated hydrolysis did at a Protamex-to-squid liver level of 0.33%, pH 6.0, and $55^{\circ}C$. Three amino acids, proline, cysteine, and methionine, were not detected in the total amino acid composition of the Protamex-treated hydrolysate, while they were detected in the free amino acid composition. Cadmium was $8.32{\pm}0.03$ mg/100 g-powder for raw, $3.56{\pm}0.02$ mg/100 g-powder for the autolysate, and $13.26{\pm}0.04$ mg/100 g powder for the Protamex-treated hydrolysate. The major molecular weight ranged from 1.0 to 1.5 kDa for the autolysate and from 210 to 470 Da for the Protamex-treated hydrolysate. Food functionalities of the autolysate, such as surface hydrolphobicity, emulsion activity index, emulsion stability, water, and fat adsorption, were similar to the Protamex-treated hydrolysate. Both the autolysate and Protamex-hydrolysate showed high inhibitory activities on the angiotensin-I converting enzyme. Cell toxicity against the HepG2 cell line was not detected in the autolysate or the Protamex-treated hydrolysate by 200 ${\mu}g/mL$.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.363-369
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• 2014

Obesity is a worldwide problem that contributes to serious diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Recently, much research has examined functional natural materials and their anti-obesity activity. This study investigated the effect of enzyme-treated Ecklonia cava extracts on mice fed a high fat diet. To test the anti-obesity effects of a diet containing the enzyme-treated E. cava extracts (EEc), C57BL/6NTacSam mice were divided into six groups : normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD), high-fat with Garcinia extract diet (GHD), and three high-fat with EEc diet (EHD250, EHD500, and EHD1000) groups. After 9 weeks, body weight was increased significantly in the HFD group compared to all of the EHD groups, and the weights of the liver, perirenal fat and epididymal fat paralleled the increase in body weight. The serum GOT, GPT, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol levels were lower in the EHD1000 group than in the HFD group. The glucose and leptin concentrations were lowest in the EHD1000 group and C/EBP family expression was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that E. cava extracts not only have anti-oxidation functions but also anti-obesity effects.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.449-455
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• 1996

Betaine is one of the major water-soluble components in Lycii Fructus. In the present study the effect of repeated betaine treatment on the hepatotoxicity and the cytochrome P-4 50-dependent enzyme system was examined in adult female rats. Administrations of betaine (100 or 1,000mg/kg/day, ip) to rats repeatedly for 4 or 9 days did not evoke hepatotoxic response as determined by increases in glutamic pyruvic transaminase(GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) activities measured 24 hours following the final dose of betaine. The activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase, p-nitroanisole O-demethylase and p-nitrophenol hydroxylase as well as the contents of cytochrome P-450 were determined in hepatic microsomes of rats treated with betaine(1,000mg/kg/day, ip) for 4 or 9 days. Repeated treatment of rats with betaine for a period of 4 days induced a marginal decrease in the contents of cytochrome P-450, but did not influence the activities of p-nitrophenol hydroxylase, p-nitroanisole O-demethylase, or aminopyrine N-demethylase. Extension of the betaine treatment to 9 consecutive days failed to alter the parameters for hepatic drug metabolizing activity determined in the present study. Since repeated large doses of betaine were demonstrated to be tolerated by rats without showing any toxicity or changes in drug metabolizing enzyme activities in the liver, this compound appears to be relatively safe to animals upon long-term ingestion.