• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.565-574
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• 2021

Background: Saengmaeksan (SMS) is a traditional Korean medicine composed of three herbs, Panax ginseng, Schisandra chinensis, and Liriope platyphylla. SMS is used to treat respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. However, whether SMS exerts antihyperuricemic effects is unknown. Methods: Effects of the SMS extract in water (SMS-W) and 30% ethanol (SMS-E) were studied in a rat model of potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia. Uric acid concentrations and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities were evaluated in the serum, urine, and hepatic tissue. Using renal histopathology to assess kidney function and uric acid excretion, we investigated serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen concentrations, as well as protein levels of renal urate transporter 1 (URAT1), glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9), and organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1). The effects of SMS on in vitro XO activity and uric acid uptake were also evaluated. The components of SMS were identified using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC). Results: SMS-E reduced serum uric acid and creatinine concentrations, and elevated urine uric acid excretion. SMS-E lowered XO activities in both the serum and liver, and downregulated the expression of renal URAT1 and GLUT9 proteins. SMS-E reduced renal inflammation and IL-1b levels in both the serum and kidneys. SMS-E inhibited both in vitro XO activity and urate uptake in URAT1-expressing oocytes. Using UPLC, 25 ginsenosides were identified, all of which were present in higher levels in SMS-E than in SMS-W. Conclusion: SMS-E exhibited antihyperuricemic effects by regulating XO activity and renal urate transporters, providing the first evidence of its applicability in the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.227-236
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• 2019

In this study, the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity activities of an ethanol extracts of Ulmus divididiana var. japonica (UDE) were investigated in vitro and in vivo. UDE anti-oxidant activity was evaluated with an Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectrometer, which measured 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Cell viabilities were estimated using 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglia were used to study the production of nitric oxide (NO). Cells stimulated with LPS produce more NO than normal control cells. However, cells treated with the UDE decreased this production in a concentration dependent manner (100, 250, 500, $1,000{\mu}g/mL$). Also, we investigated the anti-obese activity of UDE in SD rats. The SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: 10% low fat diet (N), 45% high fat diet (H), 45% high fat diet + garcinia extracts 200 mg/kg/day (HG200), high fat diet + UDE 200 mg/kg/day (HU200), high fat diet + UDE 400 mg/kg/day (HU400). UDE was found to lower whole body and abdominal and epididymal adipose tissue weights and lowered plasma levels of triglyceride (TG), compared to those in H group. Histological analyses of the liver and fat tissues of rat treated with UDE revealed significantly decreased number of lipid droplets and decreased size of adipocytes compared to the H group. These results suggest that UDE might be used to develop potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity agents, and may be useful as ingredients for related new functional raw materials.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2011

Plantago asiatica L. (PA), which is widely distributed in Korea, Japan and China, has traditionally been used as a popular folk medicine for the treatment of liver diseases. A variety of activities of PA was reported, that is hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-glycation and anti-oxidant effect. Ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) is a potent nephrotoxic agent and has been reported to induce renal proximal tubular necrosis. In the present study, pre-treatment with PA extract (PAE) in Wistar rat followed by Fe-NTA i.p. treatment (13.5 mg Fe/kg body weight) was performed to detect the renal protective effect of PAE. Only Fe-NTA treated group showed increases in the level of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr), and renal tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), product of lipid peroxidation. Moreover, the level of biomarkers indicate the antioxidants status, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) were decreased. However, PAE pre-treated group showed decreases in the levels of serum BUN, serum Cr and renal tissue MDA in concentration dependent manner and increases in the level of GSH, GST and GR. These results are significantly different (p < 0.05) to the other groups. Our data suggest that PAE may be used as an chemopreventive material against Fe-NTA-mediated renal oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.549-555
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• 2001

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), one component of cruciferous vegetables (the Fammily of Cruciferae), has been shown to exert its chemopreventive effect in liver, colon and mammary tissue before or concurrent exposure of carcinogen, but there have been several evidences that consumption of I3C induced tumor promotion in some tissues. Our studies were investigated to examine the modifying effects of I3C in the 7,12-dimethylbenz[$\alpha$]anthracene (DMBA) induced rat mammary gland tumor model. Fifty-two female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups. Animals of the group 1 were given the diet containing 100ppm I3C and animals of the groups 2 and 4 were given the diet containing 300ppm I3C from 6 weeks of age. At 7 weeks of age, the animals of the groups 1, 2 and 3 were intubated with DMBA. All amimals were killed at 20 weeks after carcinogen treatment. There were significant increases of food consumption in I3C feeding groups compared with those of basal diet feeding groups. The incidences of the mammary tumors in the group 1, 2 and 3 were 75.0% (9/12), 56.3% (9/16) and 93.8% (15/16), respectively and the average number of tumors of group 1 (DMBA+I3C 100ppm: $2.08{\pm}0.61$) and 2 (DMBA+I3C 300ppm: $1.19{\pm}0.32$) were significantly lower than that of group 3 (DMBA alone: $4.63{\pm}0.72$) at the value of P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively. In the pathological examination of appearing tumors, most of them were adenocarcinoma. Many epithelial cells of tumors showed strong estrogen receptor (ER) $\alpha$ expression but there were slight difference of ER $\alpha$ expression among the type of tumors. We suggest that pre-initiation treatment of I3C has an inhibitory effects on mammary carcinogenesis induced by DMBA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.595-600
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• 1992

This study was performed to investigate the effects of dietary protein levels(5% and 15% PEP), caffeine or green tea powder on body fat deposition in rats. Male weanling Wistar rats weighting the average of 90g were allotted into 6 experimental groups, each of which was fed two different levels of dietary protein with or without caffeine or green tea powder(5p+0.15% caffeine ; 5p+6.1% green tea powder ; 15p+0.15% caffeine ; 15p+6.1% green tea powder) during 8 weeks of the experimental period. Caffeine and green tea powder were supplemented at the levels of 0.15% and 6.1% of experimental diets. The rats fed 5% PEP diet which had received caffeine or green tea powder showed significantly(p<0.01) reduced gain in body weight. The food efficiency of which rats fed both 5% and 15% PEP diet supplemented with 6.1% green tea powder was significantly low(p<0.05, respectively) compared with the control group. Rats fed diets containing 0.15% caffeine and 6.1% green tea powder showed the significant reduction(p<0.01) of hite adipose tissue weight, triglycerides levels of liver and plasma. The addition of 0.15% caffeine or 6.1% green tea powder to 5% PEP diet resulted in significantly(p<0.01) higher levels of plasma total cholesterol, free cholesterol, cholesterol ester, but HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly(p<0.01, in 5% PEP group) high. The atherogenic index(Tchol-HDLchol/HDLchol) in rats fed 6.1% green tea powder diets decreased especially compared with the control group.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.1-20
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• 2015

Objectives This study was intended to clarify the anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation effects of gamikyejakjimo-tang herbal acupuncture (GKHA) for osteoarthritis. Methods Osteoarthritis was induced by injection of MIA into right knee joint cavities of rats. Rats were divided into a total of 4 groups (n=8). The 4 groups were normal group, control group, positive comparison group and expeimental group. Indomethacin and GKHA were medicated for a total of 4 weeks. After that, functions of liver and kidney by AST, ALT, creatinine, BUN, DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activity, ROS (reactive oxygen species) production, NO (Total Nitric oxide), IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$ production, weight changes in the hind legs of MIA-induced osteoarthritis rat, serum PGE2, TIMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, LTB4, hs-CRP, and white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes were measured. The volume of cartilage was observed by micro CT arthrography. H&E and Safranin-O staining were used to examine the injury of synovial tissue. Results 1. In the hind leg weight bearing measurement, level of weight was increased. 2. AST, ALT, BUN, creatinine were decreased. 3. The production of total white blood cell was decreased, and the production of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes were significantly decreased. 4. The production of NO, PGE2, TIMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, LTB4 were significantly decreased, and the production of hs-CRP was also decreased but with no significance. 5. The cartilage volume was significantly increased. 6. In H&E staining and Safranin-O staning, the cartilage cell appeared to be proliferated, and proteoglycans appeared to be increased. Conclusions Based on the results above, Gamikyejakjimo-tang Herbal Acupuncture has anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation effects, which leads to suppressing the underlying causes and the progression of osteoarthritis.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.55-84
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• 1988

This study was carried out to investigate the teratological potential of azinphos-methyl in the rat fetuses and to establish the nature of the effects on organogenesis and intrauterine development. The Sprague-Dawley female rats (180-210g) without previous litter were used in this study. Azinphos-methyl dosages of 0.094mg/kg, 0.4mg/kg, 1.5mg/kg were selected based on the acute intragastric $LD_{50}$ of 15mg/kg in the rat. Azinphos-methyl in water (Treatment Group), non-treatment control (Negative Control), water control (Sham Control), were administered by oral route and aqueous solution of acetyl salicylic acid (Positive Control) was administered by gavage at rate of 10 ml/kg of body weight from day 6 through 15. The results obtained were summarized as follows. 1. Decreased body weight of dams was observed in animals treated with aspirin and azinphos-methyl 1.5 mg/kg from day 7 through 14. (P<0.01) 2. There was an apparent decrement in the absolute liver weight in the azinphos-methyl 1.5 mg/kg treated group (P<0.05). However, the absolute and relative kidney weight in aspirin group (P<0.05, P<0.01) and the absolute and relative ovary weight in aspirin, azinphos-methyl treatment groups (P<0.01, P<0.05) were increased. 3. Decreased protein contents of dam's liver was observed in the aspirin and high dose azinphos-methyl treated group of animals (P<0.01). 4. The number of male-female ratio per dam increased in azinphos-methyl 1.5 mg/kg group but there was an apparent decrement in the body weight of fetuses in aspirin and high dose azinphos-methyl group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Total immature and resorbed fetuses were increased in aspirin group and the number of dead fetuses were also increased in azinphos-methyl 1.5mg/kg treated group of animals. (P<0.01, P<0.05). 5. In soft tissue defects, diaphragmatic hernia in diaphragm, anophthalmia, enlarged olfactory bulb, hydrocephalus, absence of third and lateral ventricle in skull, hydronephrosis in kidney, atrophy of left ventricle wall, enlarged apex in heart were observed. Especially, defects of diaphragm, heart and eye ball showed peak incidences in the high dose azinphosmethyl and aspirin group. (P<0.01). 6. Variations in the ossification patterns of skull, sternebrae, tail, forelimbs and hindlimbs showed peak incidences in the aspirin and high dose azinphos-methyl group. (P<0.01). 7. In the developmental indices of offspring, the mortality of aspirin and azinphos-methyl 1.5mg/kg treated group was higher than that of negative control. And, there was an apparent decrement in the body weight of fetuses (P<0.01) and considerable differences were obtained in pivoting, development of fur, auditory function, vision, quadrupled muscle development and testes descent in aspirin and azinphos-methyl 1.5mg/kg group. (P<0.01).

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.76-91
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• 2002

The lipid lowering and antioxidant effects of Gansoo(BL18), Pungji(GB20) and Eumnungcheun(SP9) acupuncture in rats fed high fat diet were analyzed in biochemical and molecular biological aspects. The results obtained from this study are as follows : 1. In the body weight reduction, all acupuncture groups showed a high reduction compared to those of control group and in acupuncture groups, Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) acupuncture groups showed a high reduction. 2. The concentration of plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol with acupuncture groups showed a little decrease and in acupuncture groups, Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) groups showed a low values compared to those of other acupuncture groups. However, the tendency of HDL-cholesterol concentration showed no significant different. 3. The concentration of plasma ${\beta}-lipoprotein$ and free fatty acids showed a lowest values in the Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) acupuncture groups and the glucose concentration showed to decrease in all treated acupuncture groups. 4. The concentration of liver total cholesterol and triglyceride in Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) acupuncture groups showed a lower values than those of control group. 5. In all the acupuncture groups, the plasma glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) activity showed a little decrease. In the glutamic pyruvate activity(GPT), Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) acupuncture groups showed a lower values than those of control groups. However the values of eumneungcheun acupuncture only group showed no significant difference to those of control group. 6. The plasma and liver Thiobabituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) concentration in Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) acupuncture groups were a lower than those of control group. However the values of eumneungcheun acupuncture group showed no significant difference to control group. 7. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in Gansoo(BL18) acupuncture group and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) acupuncture groups showed a high values. The catalase (CAT) activity in all the acupuncture groups showed a higher values than those of control group. 8. In acupuncture groups, DNA expression of Apo-B and Apo-E showed a tendency to decrease, however DNA expression of leptin showed no significant difference in all treatment groups. DNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ showed a increase in acupuncture groups. These results indicate that Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) (especially Gansoo(BL18)) acupuncture affect the lipid metabolism and showed possibility of lowering adipose tissue mass and lipid peroxidation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.210-216
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• 1984

The growth response, lipid deposition, fat free body mass and energy expenditure of weanling rats fed the equal amount of isocaloric diets containing 8%, 13% and 18% casein were investigated. After a period of 30day feeding, the rats fed low level of protein diet were 43.01g lighter than 18% protein group (weight gains of ${85.57}{\pm}{7.50g}$ vs. ${128.58}{\pm}{11.64g}$, p<0.01). Despite of the smaller body size, there were no significant differences in lipid deposition in grams per carcass. Whereas, nitrogen accumulation was significantly greater in 13% and 18% protein fed groups compared to 8%. The estimated energy expenditure were 4,576.61 kJ, 5,440.80kJ and 5,607.67kJ for 8%, 13% and 18% protein groups respectively. The part of excess energy consumed by the low protein group may have been dissipated. The malic enzyme activity in the liver of rats was found to be unaltered by different dietary treatments. From these observations, it was conluded that the retarded growth response in lower protein level may have been originated from the shortage ge of protein supply rather than that of the energy. The protein restriction appeared to be resulted in the lower fat free compartment without affecting the ability of rats to synthesize body lipid in a similar rate to the higher protein group when energy intakes were equalized.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.177-182
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• 2003

Saururus chinensis Baill (Saururaceae) is a perennial plant that has been used for therapy of edema, jaundice and gonorrhea in Korean folk medicine. This study was carried out to investigate the inhibitory effects of Saururus chinensis Baill(SCB) on hepatoprotective effects in accutely Carbone Tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) treated rats. Saururus chinensis Baill (100 mg/kg) was administered into rats intraperitoneally for 2 weeks, after the injection of CCl4 (3.3 ml/kg). We dxamined the biochemical parameters by measuring the levels of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Total cholesterol, Triglyceride (TG), HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol in serum and Malonedialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissue of rats. cholesterol was siginificantly elevated in $CCl_4$-treated abnormal group (CTA). The higher level of HDL-cholesterol was found is Saururus chinensis Baill and CCl4 administered group (SCT), which showed the lower levels of Total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. TG content in the SCT was decreased compared to CTA by 0.93 times. MDA content in the SCT was inhibited compared to CTA by 33.00%. These findings indicate that Saururus chinensis. Baill may have a protective effect against CCl4-treated hepatotoxicity in rats.