• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.77-81
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• 2010

Plasma cholesterol is increased in normal aging in both rodents and humans. This is associated with reduced elimination of cholesterol and decreased receptor-mediated clearance of plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The aims of this study were: (1) to determine age-related changes in plasma lipid profiles, and (2) to determine the effect of fenofibrate, an activator of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPAR $\alpha$), on plasma lipid profiles in normal rats on a standard diet. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n=15) were fed standard chow and water from 10 to 25 weeks of age. During that period, we measured daily food intake, body weight, fasting and random blood glucose levels, plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and free fatty acid (FFA) levels. At 20 weeks of age, all rats were randomly divided into two groups: a fenofibrate group (in which rats were gavaged with 300 mg/kg/day of fenofibrate) and a control group (gavaged with water). Fenofibrate treatment lasted 5 weeks. There were no significant changes in daily food intake, blood glucose, and plasma TG level with age. Body weight, plasma TC, and FFA levels were significantly increased with age. Fenofibrate significantly decreased plasma concentrations of TC and FFA, which had been increased with age. However, fenofibrate did not influence the plasma concentration of TG, which had not increased with age. These results suggest that fenofibrate might have a novel role in preventing age-related hypercholesterolemia in SD rats on a normal diet.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.2 s.129
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• pp.120-123
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• 2002

The possibility of Galla Rhois(GR) water extract as an antithrombotic agent was investigated. The effect of GR on platelet aggregation in human platelet-rich plasma(PRP) induced by collagen and ADP in vitro and coagulation parameters in a pathological model induced by endotoxin and hydrocortisone acetate(HA) in vivo were examined. In platelet aggregation assay, GR extract significantly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen and ADP in a dose-dependent manner. GR extract significantly increased the number of platelet and shortened prothrombin time(PT) and activated thromboplastin time(APTT) as compared with the control in pathological model induced by endotoxin and HA. Also, GR extract significantly increased fibrinogen level as compared with the control in a pathological model induced HA. These results suggest that GR may be a promising antithrombotic agent.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2004

The present study was designed to determine the impact of mercury on endotoxin-induced inflammatory cytokine expression and corresponding signal transduction in mouse kidney. Male BALB/c mice were exposed continuously to 0, 0.3, 1.5, 7.5, or 37.5 ppm of mercury in drink-ing water for 14 days and at the end of the treatment period, lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 2 h prior to euthanasia. The doses of mercury and LPS did not cause hepatotoxicity or renal toxicity as indicated by unaltered plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and terminal UTP nucleotide end-labeling assay from kidney, respectively. Mercury decreased kidney glutathione (GSH) and with LPS, it additively decreased GSH. Mercury activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and additively increased LPS-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation. In contrast, mercury inhibited LPS-induced activation of extra-cellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) but had no effect alone. Mercury increased the gene expression of tumor necrosis factor $\alpha$ (TN F$\alpha$) and potentiated LPS-induced TNF$\alpha$ expression. Mercury did not affect LPS-induced interleukin-1$\beta$ (IL-1$\beta$) expression but decreased LPS-induced IL-6 expression. These results suggest that low levels of mercury might augment LPS-induced TNF$\alpha$ expression by altering GSH and p38 MAPK. Mercury modulates LPS-induced p38 and ERK activation, and downstream TNF$\alpha$ and IL-6 expression in kidney, respectively.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.382-389
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• 2012

Effects of citrate-capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the blood coagulation and platelet aggregation were investigated using whole blood, platelet rich plasma (PRP) and washed platelet obtained from SD male rats. To confirm the stability of AgNPs in the test, size distribution of the nanoparticles was measured in the vehicles including distilled water, serum, and platelet buffers. The average size of AgNPs was 20 nm in the vehicles, which means that the stability was maintained during the whole experimental period. When blood coagulation was monitored by using whole blood impedance aggregometer, coagulation was not observed at the concentration of 1, 10 and 50 ppm. Platelets in plasma or in buffer were not aggregated by AgNPs at the concentration of 1, 2 and 4 ppm, respectively. The test concentration of AgNPs could not be increased because the dark color of the nanoparticles impeded the transmission of light, which is an indicator of aggregation. Although the blood or platelets were pre-activated by collagen, thrombin, or ADP with sub-threshold level, aggregation was not observed at the test concentration. Microscopic observation also supported the result obtained by the aggregometer.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.271-284
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• 2001

This study was performed to investigate the effects of dried powders and water extracts of Paecilomyces tenuipes(P. tenuipes) and Cordyceps militaris(C. militaris) on lipid metabolism, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative capacity and immune status in rats. Thirty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats weighting 195$\pm$21g were grouped into five according to body weight. Ratw were raised for four weeks with diet containing either 4%, 2%(w/w) of dried P. tenuipes powders(TP-4, TP-2) or water extracts from equal amounts of each 4% P. tenuipes and C. militaris powder(TE-4, ME-4). Food intake, weight gain of all groups were not significantly different from those of control group. Lipid metabolism in general was not significantly different among all the groups. However both dried P. tenuipes powder lowered plasma cholesterol level slightly, water extract groups showed tendency of higher plasma HDL-cholesterol and lower liver cholesterol levels than control. Plasma and liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS) concentrations of all the experimental groups were lower than control group. Red blood cell(RBC) and liver superoxide dismutase(SOD) activities were not generally different among all groups. Liver xanthine oxidase(XOD) activities of all groups were tended to be lower than control group. Proliferation of aplenocytes induced by mitogens, concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide, were increased in TP-2 group. The TP-4 group showed increased CD8 T cells and MHC class II expression without changes in CD4 T cells, B cells and G/M ratio, suggesting activated cytotoxic T cell activity in vivo. Increase of G/M ratio but not of MHC class II in TP-2 group indicated the possible acute inflammatory reaction by the ingested substances in gastrointestinal tract. ME-4 group showed enhanced cellular immunity without vigorous changes of immune parameters in brief periods. In conclusion, both P. tenuipes and C. militaris stimulated antioxidant capacity and immune status in rats. Among groups, water extract of C. militaris was most effective in both capacities, though dried powder of P. tenuipes at 2% dietary level was more effective in antioxidant activity, as various results by different strains were observed.(Korean J Nutrition 34(3) : 271~284, 2001)

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.73-83
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• 2000

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a water soluble, biocompatible, non-toxic polymer and PEGylation is a well established technique for the modification of therapeutic proteins and peptides. PEG-protein drugs have been extensively studies in relation to therapies for various diseases: cancer, inflammation and others. The covalent attachment of PEG to proteins and peptides prolonged plasma half-life, reduced antigenicity and immunogenicity, increased thermal and mechanical stability, and prevented degradation by enzymes. Several chemical groups for general and site specific conjugation have been exploited to activate PEG for amino group, carboxyl group, and cysteine groups. PEGylation of many proteins and peptides have been studied to enhance their properties for the potential uses. Also, the different positional isomers in several PEG-proteins have shown the difference in vivo stability and biological indicating that the site of PEG molecule attachment is one of the important factor to develop PEG-proteins as potential therapeutic agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.578-585
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• 2013

In this study, we evaluated the antidiabetic effect of a chloroform fraction of a methanol extract of Vigna nakashimae (designated VN) and compared it with that of a water fraction. Both fractions were administrated to eight-week old db/db mice for two weeks, after which the plasma glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels were measured. The chloroform fraction (VN-C) lowered the fasting glucose and blood glycated hemoglobin in the db/db mice more effectively than those of the water fraction (VN-W). VN-C also improved the glucose tolerance and led to a significant decrease in the plasma levels of free fatty acids and triglycerides. VN-C enhanced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and increased the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) in HepG2 and C2C12 cells more significantly than VN-W. Consistent with AMPK activation, VN-C inhibited cAMP/Dex-stimulated expression of gluconeogenic genes and increased glucose uptake in C2C12. Collectively, these results suggest that VN-C has an antidiabetic effect, which is exerted via AMPK activation, and that this effect is stronger than that of VN-W.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.34-50
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• 1996

The present experiment was desinged to investigate the effects of Tongdosan water extracts on the Cardiovascular System in the Experimental Animals. Thus, the changes of blood pressure and heart rate were measured after oral admini- stration. Measurment of Mortality rate was observed for measuring the effect of Tongdosan water extract. Tongdosan water extract against pulmonary thrombo- embolism induced by collagen the mixture(0.1ml/10g, 2mg/kg B.W) plus serotonin(5mg/kg B.W) in mouse. The effect of Tongdosan water extract was examined by observing the change of collagen-induced platelet aggregation, coagulation activity, ex vivo and in vitro fibrinolytic activity of euglobulin fraction in rats. The results were summarized as followings. 1. Tongdosan dropped the blood pressure in spontaneous hypertensive rat. 2. The drug increased the auricular blood flow in rabbit. 3. The drug relaxed the artery contraction by pretreated norepinephrine in rat. 4. The drug inhibited the death rate of mouse which was led to thromboembo- lism by serotonin and collagen. 5. The drug inhibited the platelet aggregation in rat. 6. The drug prolonged the prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time on the test of plasma coagulation factor activity in rat, but was not valuable. 7. The drug reduced the fibrinogen lyses time of rat ex vivo assay and lyses area was increased. 8. Tongdosan reduced fibrinogen lyses time of rat in vitro assay. According to the above mentioned results, Tongdosan increased the blood flow and dropped the blood pressure by the dilation of blood vessel. And the drug presented the antithrombin acivity, inhibited the platelet aggregation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.97-113
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• 1997

The present experiment was designed to investigate the effects of Sambutang water extracts on the serum cholesterol levels and the cardiovascular system in the experimental animals. Thus, the changes of blood pressure and heart rate were measured after oral administration. Measurment of Mortality rate was observed for measuring the effect of Sambutang water extract. Sambutang water extract against pulmonary thromboembolism induced by collagen the mixture(0.1 ml/10 g, 2 mg/kg) plus serotonin(5 mg/kg) in mouse. The effect of Sambutang water extract was examined by observing the change of collagen-induced platelet aggregation, coagulation activity, ex vivo and in vitro fibrinolytic activity of euglobulin fraction in rats. The results were summarized as follows. 1. Sambutang decreased the serum cholesterol levels in rats. 2. Sambutang dropped the blood pressure in spontaneous hypertensive rat. 3. The drug increased the auricular blood flow in rabbit. 4. The drug relaxed the artery contraction by pretreated norepinephrine in rat. 5. The drug inhibited the death rate of mouse which was led to thromboembolism by serotonin and collagen. 6. The drug inhibited the platelet aggregation in rat. 7. The drug prolonged the prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time on the test of plasma coagulation factor activity in rat, but was not valuable. 8. The drug increased the antithrombin activity in rat and the fibrinogen lysis time was reduced and lysis area was increased. 9. Sambutang reduced fibrinogen lysis time of rat in vitro assay. According to the above mentioned results. Sambutang increased the blood flow and dropped the blood pressure by the dilation of blood vessel. And the drug presented the antithrombin activity, inhibited the platelet aggregation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.197-213
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• 1995

The present experiment was desinged to investigate the effects of Sopungtang water extracts on the Cardiovascular System in the Experimental Animals. Thus, the changes of blood pressure and heart rate were measured after oral administration. Measurments of Mortality rate were observed for measuring the effect of Sopungtang water extract. Sopungtang water extract against pulmonary thromboembolism induced by collagen the mixture(0.1ml/10g, 2mg/kg B.W) plus serotonin(5mg/kg B.W) in mouse. The effects of Sopungtang water extract were examined by observing the change of collagen-induced platelet aggregation, coagulation activity, ex vivo and in vitro fibrinolytic activity of euglobulin fraction in rats. The results were summarized as followings. 1. Sopungtang dropped the blood pressure in spontaneous hypertensive rat. 2. The drug increased the auricular blood flow in rabbit. 3. The drug relaxed the artery contraction by pretreated norepinephrine in rat. 4. The drug inhibited the death rate of mouse which was led to thromboembolism by serotonin and collagen. 5. The drug inhibited the platelet aggregation in rat. 6. The drug prolonged the prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time on the test of plasma coagulation factor activity in rat, but was not valuable. 7. The drug increased the antithrombin activity in rat and the fibrinogen lyses time was reduced and lyses area was increased. 8. Sopungtang reduced fibrinogen lyses time of rat in vitro assay. According to the above mentioned results, Sopungtang increased the blood flow and dropped the blood pressure by the dilation of blood vessel. And the drug presented the antithrombin acivity, inhibited the platelet aggregation.