• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.146-149
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• 2002

Oxidative stress evoked hy Ultraviolet (UV) exposure has been suggested to be involved in UV-induced skin carcinogenesis. In this study, the role of oxidative stress in UV-carcinogenesis was evaluated by applying N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) in animal model of hairless-mouse. NAC is known to be a precursor of glutathione, which was converted to glutathione in cytoplasm, acting as an intracellular free radical scavenger. The glutathione levels in hairless mouse skin after one time application of NAC increased significantly. With and without the pre-treatment of NAC, hairless-mice were exposed to UVB three times a week, at total dose 274.4 kJ in 80 times, and the timing of tumor-development, incidence of skin tumor and the histopathology of tumors were observed. 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-0HdG), a typical form of oxidative damage in DNA has been also investigated in the course of experiment. The decrease of 8-0HdG formation of UVB- exposed skin compared to controls was observed in the early stage of experiment in the NAC-treated mice. In addition, initial tumor development delayed significantly in NAC-treated group. Finally the number of the tumor developed in the NAC-treated mice was fewer though not significant. These results suggest that antioxidants may have inhibitory effect in the initial step of UVB-induced carcinogenesis of hairless mice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.226-231
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• 2012

The effect of cordycepin-enriched Cordyceps militaris JLM 0636 ($CM{\alpha}$) and Cordyceps militaris (CM) on fibrinolytic activity was investigated. The bioactive compounds and nutritional materials such as polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, glutathione, minerals, and fatty acids were also measured. Concentrations of polyphenol compounds, flavonoids, and glutathione were higher in $CM{\alpha}$ than that in CM. The major minerals of both materials were K, Ca, Mg, and Na. The major fatty acids of both materials were linolenic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. Fibrinolytic activity was higher in $CM{\alpha}$ than that in CM. These results may provide the basic data to understand the fibrinolytic activity and bioactive compounds of $CM{\alpha}$.

• 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.

• 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.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.272-277
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the antioxidant activities and hepatoprotective effects of Schisandra chinensis Baillon extract (SCE) against tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative hepatic damage in rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were pretreated with SCE (300, 600, and 1,200 mg/kg BW) or saline once daily for 14 consecutive days. On day 14, each animal, except those belonging to the normal control group, were injected with t-BHP (0.8 mmol/kg BW/i.p.), and all of the rats were sacrificed 16 h after t-BHP injection. RESULTS: Although no significant differences in AST and ALT levels were observed among the TC and SCE groups, the high-dose SCE group showed a decreasing tendency compared to the TC group. However, erythrocyte SOD activity showed a significant increase in the low-dose SCE group compared with the TC group. On the other hand, no significant differences in hepatic total glutathione (GSH) level, glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were observed among the TC and SCE groups. Hepatic histopathological evaluation revealed that pretreatment with SCE resulted in reduced t-BHP-induced incidence of lesions, such as neutrophil infiltration, swelling of liver cells, and necrosis. In particular, treatment with a high dose of SCE resulted in induction of phase II antioxidant/detoxifying enzyme expression, such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC). CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, we conclude that SCE exerts protective effects against t-BHP induced oxidative hepatic damage through the reduction of neutrophil infiltration, swelling of liver cells, and necrosis. In addition, SCE regulates the gene expression of phase II antioxidant/detoxifying enzymes independent of hepatic antioxidant enzyme activity.

• 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.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.338-349
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• 2020

The effects of organic Zn-L-selenomethionine (Zn-L-SeMet) at 0.3 ppm on carcass composition, meat characteristics, fatty acid composition, glutathione peroxidase activity, and ribonucleotide content were compared against the commercial inorganic sodium selenite (Na-Se) and the combination of the two, in commercial broilers. A total of 540 one day-old chicks were assigned at random to 3 dietary treatments : i) commercial inorganic selenium as control or T1, ii) a 1:1 ratio of inorganic and organic selenium as T2, and iii) organic selenium as T3. Carcass composition, meat characteristics, cholesterol content, fatty acid composition, and ribonucleotide content were generally unaffected by treatments. However, discrepancy were significantly observed in glutathione peroxidase activity (GSH-Px) and water holding capacity, with organic selenium showing higher glutathione peroxidase activity (p<0.01) and lower shrinkage loss (p<0.05), respectively. These findings could be explained by the contribution of organic selenium in bioavailability of GSH-Px. However, having conducted in a commercial close house system with sufficient amount of nutritional supplementation, the present study demonstrated little or no effects of organic Zn-L-SeMet on meat characteristics, fatty acid composition, and ribonucleotide content (flavor characteristic) in broiler chickens.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5071-5074
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• 2016

Background: Azoxymethane (AOM) is a well-known colon cancer-inducing agent in experimental animals via mechanisms that include oxidative stress in rat colon and liver tissue. Few studies have investigated AOM-induced oxidative stress in rat liver tissue. Red seaweeds of the genera Hypnea Bryodies and Melanothamnus Somalensis are rich in polyphenolic compounds that may suppress cancer through antioxidant properties, yet limited research has been carried out to investigate their anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant influence against AOM-induced oxidative stress in rat liver. Objective: This study aims to determine protective effects of red seaweed (Hypnea Bryodies and Melanothamnus Somalensis) extracts against AOM-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. Materials and Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats received intraperitoneal injections of AOM, 15 mg/kg body weight, once a week for two consecutive weeks and then orally administered red seaweed (100 mg/kg body-weight) extracts for sixteen weeks. At the end of the experiment all animals were overnight fasted then sacrificed and blood and liver tissues were collected. Results: AOM treatment significantly decreased serum liver markers and induced hepatic oxidative stress as evidenced by increased liver tissue homogenate levels of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde, decreased total antioxidant capacity and glutathione, and inhibition of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase). Both red seaweed extracts abolished the AOM-associated oxidative stress and protected against liver injury as evidenced by increased serum levels of liver function markers. In addition, histological findings confirmed protective effects of the two red seaweed extracts against AOM-induced liver injury. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that red seaweed (Hypnea Bryodies and Melanothamnus Somalensis) extracts counteracted oxidative stress-induced hepatotoxicity in a rat model of colon cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.544-550
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• 2001

In pre-transplant total-body irradiation (TBI), the lung is a critical dose-limiting organ. Also, the possible role of oxidative stress was suggested in the development of TBI-induced lung damage. This study explores the association between TBI-induced oxidative stress and the induction of lung pathogenesis by investigating TBI-induced oxidative stress in the lungs of male C57BL/6 mice after a single dose of 10 Gy TBI. We showed significant increases of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and lipid peroxidation, and also a depletion and oxidation of glutathione after TBI. There is evidence that pretreatment with 1,10-phenanthroline (o-phen) significantly reduces oxidative stress in the lung. This indicates that the TBI-induced ROS generation involves a metal-catalyzed Fenton-type reaction. A pretreatment of buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) augmented the glutathione depletion and oxidation, but had no effect on the ROS formation and lipid peroxidation up to 6 h after TBI. Histopathological features that are consistent with pneumonitis were observed in the BSO pretreated-mice 1 week after irradiation. The results suggest that TBI-induced oxidative stress in the lung involves a generation of ROS through a Fenton-type reaction. Also, glutathione plays an important inhibitory role in the radiation-induced lung pathogenesis by participating in the self-amplifying cascade subsequent to the ROS generation by irradiation.

• 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.