• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2006

Purpose: The radioprotective effects of white and fermented ginseng on liver damage induced by $^{60}Co\;{\gamma}$-ray were investigated. Materials and Methods: To one group of ICR male mice were given white(150 mg/kg/day for 7 days, orally) and fermented ginseng(150 mg/kg/day for 7 days, orally) before $^{60}Co\;{\gamma}$-ray irradiation. To another group were irradiated by 5 Gy(1.01 Gy/min) dose of $^{60}Co\;{\gamma}$-ray. Contrast group were given with saline(0.1 mL). The levels of reduced(GSH) and oxidized(GSSG) glutathione in liver tissue were measured. Results: In the fermented(150 mg/kg) and white ginseng(150 mg/kg) groups than irradiation group, the GSH levels were significantly increased, but the GSSG levels were significantly decreased. The ratio of GSSG/total GSH was significantly decreased in the fermented(150 mg/kg) and white ginseng(150 mg/kg) groups than irradiation group. Conclusion: In the fermented(150 mg/kg) groups than white ginseng(150 mg/kg) groups the GSH levels were significantly increased. The radioprotective effects of fermented(150 mg/kg) groups than white ginseng(150 mg/kg) groups were increased.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.397-408
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• 1993

Gas exchange rates and concentrations of ascorbate and glutathlone were measured in needles of eastern white pine(Pinus strohltr) trees differing in foliar sensitivity to ambient oxidant pollution during a ten month period beginning in mid-June, 1988. Current-year needle dry mass and length was 60 to 75% and 45 to 60% less, respectively, in sens~tive trees than in a tolerant tree. Net photosynthesis ($P_n$) and needle conductance ($g_n$) were greatest in the tolerant individual through late September when the rates begin to decline In trees. Needle transpiration rates showed a trend similar to $P_n$ and $g_n$. Ascorbate and total glutathione concentrations in current-year needles increased through the summer and fall, reached a maximum in mid-winter, and then decreased in the spring. Consistently throughout the year, ascorbate concentration was highest in the tolerant tree until the initial springtime decline began in April. The difference In needle ascorbate between the tolerant and sensitive individuals was greater in the summer months (25 to 30%) than in the winter months (8 to 19%). Glutathione content was similar, as was the ratio or oxidized /reduced glutathione, in both tolerant and sensitive trees.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.65-68
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• 2000

To understand the antioxidative mechanism in plant cell cultures, we investigated the levels of antioxidant enzymes and low molecular antioxidants in 100 cell lines derived from different plant species. SOD and POD activities in plant cell lines were significantly higher than intact plants. The cell lines from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and cassava (Manihot esculeanta) showed the highest POD and SOD activities, respectively, suggesting that the cell cultures of sweet potato and cassava are good biomaterials for the mass production and molecular study of antioxidant enzymes. The average ascorbate content in plant cell lines was several hundred times lower than intact plants, whereas the glutathione content was 2-3 times higher than plants. Interestingly, the ratio of reduced and oxidized ascorbate and glutathione was different from plant species. In conclusion, the results strongly suggest that plant cell cultures are good biomaterials for the study of antioxidative mechanism and the production of useful components including antioxidants.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.592-598
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Increased mass of adipose tissue in obese persons is caused by excessive adipogenesis, which is elaborately controlled by an array of transcription factors. Inhibition of adipogenesis by diverse plant-derived substances has been explored. The aim of the current study was to examine the effects of the aqueous methanol extract of laver (Porphyra yezoensis) on adipogenesis and apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and to investigate the mechanism underlying the effect of the laver extract. MATERIALS/METHODS: 3T3-L1 cells were treated with various concentrations of laver extract in differentiation medium. Lipid accumulation, expression of adipogenic proteins, including CCAAT enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$, fatty acid binding protein 4, and fatty acid synthase, cell viability, apoptosis, and the total content and the ratio of reduced to oxidized forms of glutathione (GSH/GSSG) were analyzed. RESULTS: Treatment with laver extract resulted in a significant decrease in lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which showed correlation with a reduction in expression of adipogenic proteins. Treatment with laver extract also resulted in a decrease in the viability of preadipocytes and an increase in the apoptosis of mature adipocytes. Treatment with laver extract led to exacerbated depletion of cellular glutathione and abolished the transient increase in GSH/GSSG ratio during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. CONCLUSION: Results of our study demonstrated that treatment with the laver extract caused inhibition of adipogenesis, a decrease in proliferation of preadipocytes, and an increase in the apoptosis of mature adipocytes. It appears that these effects were caused by increasing oxidative stress, as demonstrated by the depletion and oxidation of the cellular glutathione pool in the extract-treated adipocytes. Our results suggest that a prooxidant role of laver extract is associated with its antiadipogenic and proapoptotic effects.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.382-395
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• 2007

The herb, Cajanus indicus L, is well known for its hepatoprotective action. A 43 kD protein has been isolated, purified and partially sequenced from the leaves of this herb. A number of in vivo and in vitro studies carried out in our laboratory suggest that this protein might be a major component responsible for the hepatoprotective action of the herb. Our successive studies have been designed to evaluate the potential efficacy of this protein in protecting the hepatic as well as renal tissues from the sodium fluoride (NaF) induced oxidative stress. The experimental groups of mice were exposed to NaF at a dose of 600 ppm through drinking water for one week. This exposure significantly altered the activities of the antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) and the cellular metabolites such as reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), total thiols, lipid peroxidation end products in liver and kidney compared to the normal mice. Intraperitoneal administration of the protein at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight for seven days followed by NaF treatment (600 ppm for next seven days) normalized the activities of the hepato-renal antioxidant enzymes, the level of cellular metabolites and lipid peroxidation end products. Post treatment with the protein for four days showed that it could help recovering the damages after NaF administration. Time-course study suggests that the protein could stimulate the recovery of both the organs faster than natural process. Effects of a known antioxidant, vitamin E, and a non-relevant protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA) have been included in the study to validate the experimental data. Combining all, result suggests that NaF could induce severe oxidative stress both in the liver and kidney tissues in mice and the protein possessed the ability to attenuate that hepato-renal toxic effect of NaF probably via its antioxidant activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.316-321
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• 2001

Dehydroascorbate (DHA) reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1) catalyzes the reduction of DHA to reduced ascorbate (AsA) using glutathione (GSH) as the electron donor in order to maintain an appropriate level of ascorbate in plant cells. To analyze the physiological role of DHAR in environmental stress adaptation, we developed transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) plants that express a human DHAR gene isolated from the human fetal liver cDNA library in the chloroplasts. We also investigated the DHAR activity, levels of ascorbate, and GSH. Two transgenic plants were successfully developed by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and were confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis. DHAR activity and AsA content in mature leaves of transgenic plants were approximately 1.41 and 1.95 times higher than in the non-transgenic (NT) plants, respectively In addition, the content of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in transgenic plants was approximately 2.95 times higher than in the NT plants. The ratios of AsA to DHA and GSSG to GSH were changed by overexpression of DHAR, as expected, even though the total content of ascorbate and glutathione was not significantly changed. When tobacco leaf discs were subjected to methyl viologen at $5\;{\mu}M$, $T_0$ transgenic plants showed about a 50% reduction in membrane damage compared to the NT plants.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.14-18
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• 2007

This study investigated the effect of physical training and oxidative stress on the anti oxidative activity and on plasma lipid profile. Forty eight rats were given either a physical training or no training for 4 weeks and were then subdivided into 3 groups: before-exercise (BE); during-exercise (DE); after-exercise (AE). The antioxidative activity was evaluated with the activities of catalase in plasma and superoxide dismutase (SOD), the ratio of reduced glutathione/ oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver. The plasma concentrations of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C)) were also compared. Compared to those of non-training group. catalase activities of training group were lower before exercise but higher during and after exercise. SOD activities were higher regardless of exercise. GSH/GSSG ratio was higher before exercise but was not significantly different during exercise and even lower after exercise. There were no differences between non-training group and training group in MDA levels regardless of exercise. Compared to those of non-training group, atherosclerotic index of training group was lower after exercise and there were no significant differences before and during exercise. There were no differences between non-training group and training group in HDL-C regardless of exercise. These results suggest that moderate physical training can activate antioxidant defenses and decrease the atherosclerotic index and this beneficial effect is evident under exercise-induced oxidative stress.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.208-211
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• 2009

This study investigated the effect of vitamin $B_6$ deficiency on antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid profile in rats with exercise-induced oxidative stress. Forty eight rats were fed either a vitamin $B_6$ deficient diet (B6-) or a control diet (control) for 4 weeks and then subdivided into 3 groups: pre-exercise (PreE); post-exercise (PostE); recess after exercise (recessE). Compared to those of control group, plasma catalase and hepatic cytosol superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) activities of B6- group were lower regardless of exercise. The ratio of reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) of B6 - group was lower in PreE and there was no difference between PostE and recessE. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) of B6- was significantly higher in PreE and PostE. High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) level of B6- group was lower regardless of exercise. Atherosclerotic index of $B_6$- group was higher in PreE and there was no difference between PostE and recessE. It is suggested that a reduction in antioxidative status caused by vitamin $B_6$ deficiency may be aggravated under exercise-induced oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2012

The radioprotective effects of white ginseng and Entomopathogenic Fugi Extract on liver damage induced by X-ray were investigated. To one group of ICR male mice were given white ginseng(150 mg/kg/day for 7days, orally) and Entomopathogenic Fugi (200 mg/kg/day for 7days, orally) before X-ray irradiation. To another group were irradiated by 5 Gy(1.01 Gy/min) dose of X-ray. Contrast group were given with saline(0.1 ml). The levels of reduced(GSH) and oxidized(GSSG) glutathione in liver tissue were measured. The ratio of GSSG/total GSH was significantly decreased in the white ginseng and Entomopathogenic Fugi (200 mg/kg/day)(150 mg/kg/day) groups than irradiation group.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2010

To investigate the effects of ultraviolet(UV-B) on growth and biochemical defense responses of plant, garden balsam (Impatiens balsamina L.) was subjected to enhanced UV-B irradiation [daily dose: 0.02 (No UV-B) and 11.34 (enhanced UV-B) kJ $m^{-2}$ ; $UV-B_{BE}$] for 3 weeks. Enhanced UV-B drastically inhibited leaf area as well as dry weight of garden balsam. The content of malondialdehyde was significantly increased by about 50% after 3 weeks of UV-B irradiation. The ratios of dehydroascorbate/ascorbate and oxidized glutathione/reduced glutathione were also considerably increased by UV-B irradiation. Three major polyamines of garden balsam leaves: putrescine, spermidine and spermine were observed. All polyamine contents were increased with UV-B irradiation. The enzyme (superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase etc.) activities of garden balsam were increased by the UV-B enhancement. Based on the results, enhanced UV-B caused oxidative stress in garden balsam and biochemical protection responses might be activated to prevent from damaging effects of oxidative stress generated by UV-B irradiation.