Protection of Saururus Chinensis Extract against Liver Oxidative Stress in Rats of Triton WR-1339-induced Hyperlipidemia.

Saururus chinensis has been reported to contain compounds such as lignans, alkaloids, diterpenes, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, and lipids. Fermentation is commonly used to break down certain undesirable compounds, to induce effective microbial conversion, and to improve the potential nutraceutical values. Previous studies have reported that the fermentation process could modify naturally occurring constituents, including isoflavons, saponins, phytosterols, and phenols, and could enhance biological activities, specifically antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Antihyperglycemic and Antihyperlipidemic Effects of Fermented Rhynchosia nulubilis in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats.

Alloxan administration in rats is used as a model for non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). NIDDM is a multifactorial disease, characterized by hyperglycemia and lipoprotein abnormalities. In this study, we evaluated the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of fermented Rhynchosia nulubilis (FRN) through the regulation of glucose uptake in alloxan-induced rats.

Increased Flavonoid Compounds from Fermented Houttuynia cordata using Isolated Six of Bacillus from Traditionally Fermented Houttuynia cordata.

Flavonoids, which form a major component in Houttuynia cordata Thunb., display a wide range of pharmacological activities. The expression of plant flavonoids is partly regulated by fermentation.

The Comparative Evaluation of Fermented and Non-fermented Soybean Extract on Antioxidation and Whitening.

The present study was performed to compare the antioxidative and whitening activities of fermented soybean extract (FSB) and non-fermented soybean extract (SB). Antioxidative and whitening activities of FSB and SB were evaluated by the determination of DPPH, superoxide radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, linoleic acid inhibition activity, and tyrosinase inhibition activity. FSB showed the higher effect than SB in the antioxidative activities.

The effects of paeoniflorin on LPS-induced liver inflammatory reactions.

Paeoniflorin (PF), a monoterpene glucoside, is a primary bioactive component of paeony, the root extract of Paeonia lactiflora. We tested the antioxidant effects of PF and its ability to prevent lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress. We intraperitoneally administered PF (2.

Paeoniflorin protects RAW 264.7 macrophages from LPS-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity.

LPS is one of the major constituents of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. LPS-induced activation of macrophage results in the nitrite (NO) production and the secretion of a pro-inflammatory mediator such as PGE(2). Excessive NO reacts with the superoxide anion to generate a selective oxidant and nitrating agent, peroxynitrite, which interacts with biological molecules and damages the cell membranes of them, being able to result in the cell death.

The effects of fucoidan extracts on CCl(4)-induced liver injury.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the antioxidant properties of fucoidan extracts (FE) against CCl(4)-induced oxidative stress by monitoring the levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Female, Sparague-Dowley rats were administered with FE (100 mg/kg daily) for 14 days and CCl(4) on the 15'th day, 12 h before they were sacrificed. The levels of GOT, GPT, ALP and LDH in serum of rats, as well as the levels of MDA, SOD, CAT and GPx in total liver homogenate were analyzed.

The role of Salicornia herbacea in ovariectomy-induced oxidative stress.

Ovarian hormone deficiency increases the generation of reactive oxygen species. Their excess induces oxidative stress, which results in the cell damage or death. It causes the aging diseases-atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, etc.

Phylogenetic analysis by RFLP and sequencing of mitochondrial DNA in a Korean population.

Analysis of molecular nature of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) could be powerful marker for anthropological studies of modern populations. While population genetic studies on mtDNA have been reported for several ethnic groups, no such study has been documented for the Korean population. We surveyed mtDNA polymorphisms in the HVS I of noncoding D-loop region and its upstream region from 430 unrelated healthy Korean population by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and direct sequencing analysis.

Establishment of in vitro test system for the evaluation of the estrogenic activities of natural products.

In order to evaluate estrogenic compounds in natural products, an in vitro detection system was established. For this system, the human breast cancer cell line MCF7 was stably transfected using an estrogen responsive chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter plasmid yielding MCF7/pDsCAT-ERE119-Ad2MLP cells. To test the estrogenic responsiveness of this in vitro assay system, MCF7/pDsCAT-ERE119-Ad2MLP cells were treated with various concentrations of 17beta-estradiol.

Oxidative stress in ovariectomy menopause and role of chondroitin sulfate.

Oxidative stress due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause oxidative damage to cells. Cells have a number of defense mechanisms to protect themselves from the toxicity of ROS. Mitochondria are especially important in the oxidative stress as ROS have been found to be constantly generated as an endogen threat.

The preventive inhibition of chondroitin sulfate against the CCl4-induced oxidative stress of subcellular level.

Our work in this study was made in the microsomal fraction to evaluate the lipid peroxidation by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and to elucidate the preventive role of CS in the CCl4-induced oxidative stress. The excessive lipid peroxidation by free radicals derived from CCl4 leads to the condition of oxidative stress which results in the accumulation of MDA. MDA is one of the end-products in the lipid peroxidation process and oxidative stress.

The effect of chondroitin sulfate against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity.

This study was conducted to develop a new biomaterial to be used for an antioxidative drug. In this study, the hepatoprotective effect of chondroitin sulfate (CS) (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg body weight) was investigated at the antioxidative enzyme levels of liver total homogenate and mitochondria fraction. And the carbone tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced rats were used as hepatotoxic models.

Genomic organization and promoter characterization of the murine dopamine receptor regulating factor (DRRF) gene.

To study the transcriptional mechanisms by which expression of the dopamine receptor regulating factor (DRRF) gene is regulated, a murine genomic clone was isolated using a DRRF cDNA as probe. A 24 kb genomic fragment which comprises 13 kb upstream of the transcription initiation site was sequenced. The promoter region lacks a TATA box and CAAT box, is rich in G+C content, and has multiple putative binding sites for the transcription factor Sp1.