Cordycepin, an Active Constituent of Nutrient Powerhouse and Potential Medicinal Mushroom Linn., Ameliorates Age-Related Testicular Dysfunction in Rats.

Age-related male sexual dysfunction covers a wide variety of issues, together with spermatogenic and testicular impairment. In the present work, the effects of cordycepin (COR), an active constituent of a nutrient powerhouse Linn, on senile testicular dysfunction in rats was investigated. The sperm kinematics, antioxidant enzymes, spermatogenic factors, sex hormone receptors, histone deacetylating sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and autophagy-related mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) expression in aged rat testes were evaluated.

Korean Red Ginseng ( Meyer) with enriched Rg3 ameliorates chronic intermittent heat stress-induced testicular damage in rats multifunctional approach.

Background: Meyer, known as Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), is one of the important age-old traditional herbs used in boosting and improving male fertility. In this study, the effects of Rg3-enriched KRG extract (KGC04P) on heat stress-induced testicular damage in experimental rats was evaluated.

Methods: Male rats (Sprague-Dawley) were divided into four groups (n = 10): normal control (NC), heat-stressed control (HC), heat-stressed plus KGC04P-100 mg/kg (HK100), and heat-stressed plus KGC04P-200 mg/kg (HK200) groups.

Protective effects of Korean Red Ginseng against sub-acute immobilization stress-induced testicular damage in experimental rats.

Background: Excessive stress causes varied physiological and psychological disorders including male reproductive problems. Here, we attempted to investigate the protective effects of Korean Red Ginseng ( Meyer; KRG) against sub-acute immobilization stress-induced testicular damage in experimental rats.

Methods: Male rats (age, 4 wk; weight, 60-70 g) were divided into four groups ( = 8 in each group): normal control group, immobilization control group, immobilization group treated with 100 mg/kg of KRG daily, and immobilization group treated with 200 mg/kg of KRG daily.

Pectinase-treated protects against chronic intermittent heat stress-induced testicular damage by modulating hormonal and spermatogenesis-related molecular expression in rats.

Background: Elevated testicular temperature disrupts spermatogenesis and causes infertility. In the present study, the protective effect of enzymatically biotransformed Meyer by pectinase (GINST) against chronic intermittent heat stress-induced testicular damage in rats was investigated.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (4 wk old, 60-70 g) were divided into four groups: normal control (NC), heat-stress control (HC), heat-stress plus GINST-100 mg/kg (HG100), and heat-stress plus GINST-200 mg/kg (HG200) treatment groups.

Pectinase-treated protects heat stress-induced testicular damage in rats.

Testicular hyperthermia is well studied to cause impaired spermatogenesis. In the present study, the protective effect of enzymatically modified (pectinase-treated) (GINST) against intermittent sub-chronic heat stress-induced testicular damage in rats was investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: normal control (NC), heat-stressed control (HC), heat-stressed plus GINST-100 mg/kg/day (HG100) and heat-stressed plus GINST-200 mg/kg/day (HG200) treatment groups.

Korean red ginseng improves testicular ineffectiveness in aging rats by modulating spermatogenesis-related molecules.

Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is known to rejuvenate testicular effectiveness and the sperm maturation process by regulating redox proteins in aged rats. This study was performed to investigate the effect of Korean red ginseng water extract (KRG-WE) on the expression level of spermatogenesis-related key biomolecules and sex hormone receptors as well as enzymes regulating oxidation, histone deacetylation, and growth-related activities in aged rat testis. KRG-WE (200mg/kg) mixed with a regular pellet diet was administered to 12-month-old rats for 6months (KRG-AC), whereas the young (YC, 2months) and aged (AC, 12months) controls received the vehicle only.

Black Rice with Giant Embryo Attenuates Obesity-Associated Metabolic Disorders in ob/ob Mice.

Obesity is closely associated with metabolic disorders such as hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. Leptin-deficient ob/ob mice (C57BL/6J-ob/ob) and C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to a diet of black rice with giant embryo (BR), white rice (WR), or AIN-93G (control) and pair-fed for 14 weeks. Although there was no significant difference in body weight, BR-fed ob/ob mice had (1) significantly lower body fat mass than WR- and control-fed ob/ob mice determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; (2) significantly lower blood glucose, serum insulin, and triacylglycerol levels than control-fed ob/ob mice; and (3) significantly lower liver weight, hepatic triacylglycerol, and hepatic lipid droplets than both WR- and control-fed ob/ob mice.

Anti-Diabetic and Hepato-Renal Protective Effects of Ziyuglycoside II Methyl Ester in Type 2 Diabetic Mice.

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder caused by abnormal carbohydrate metabolism, and closely associated with abnormal lipid metabolism and hepato-renal dysfunction. This study investigated the anti-diabetic and hepato-renal protective properties of ziyuglycoside I (ZG01) derivative on type 2 diabetes. ZG01 was isolated from roots of Sanguisorba officinalis and chemically modified by deglycosylation and esterification to obtained ziyuglycoside II methyl ester (ZG02-ME).

Korean red ginseng extract rejuvenates testicular ineffectiveness and sperm maturation process in aged rats by regulating redox proteins and oxidative defense mechanisms.

Distortion of intracellular oxidant and antioxidant balances appears to be a common feature that underlies in age-related male sexual impairment. Therefore regulating oxidative defense mechanisms might be an ideal approach in improving male sexual dysfunctions. In the present study, the effect of Korean red ginseng aqueous extract (KRG) on age-induced testicular dysfunction in rats was investigated.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus infection: inhibition by polysaccharide from Ginkgo biloba exocarp and mode of its action.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is the predominant cause of severe entero-pathogenic diarrhea in swine. Until now there is no recorded clinically effective antiviral chemotherapeutic agent for treatment of diseases caused by PEDV. This study aimed to investigate in vitro anti-PEDV effect of polysaccharide from Ginkgo biloba exocarp and mode of its action.

Piperine inhibits the activities of platelet cytosolic phospholipase A2 and thromboxane A2 synthase without affecting cyclooxygenase-1 activity: different mechanisms of action are involved in the inhibition of platelet aggregation and macrophage inflammatory response.

Purpose: Piperine, a major alkaloid of black pepper (Piper nigrum) and long pepper (Piper longum), was shown to have anti-inflammatory activity through the suppression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 gene expression and enzyme activity. It is also reported to exhibit anti-platelet activity, but the mechanism underlying this action remains unknown. In this study, we investigated a putative anti-platelet aggregation mechanism involving arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism and how this compares with the mechanism by which it inhibits macrophage inflammatory responses;

Methods: Rabbit platelets and murine macrophage RAW264.

Pectinase-treated Panax ginseng extract (GINST) rescues testicular dysfunction in aged rats via redox-modulating proteins.

The root of Panax ginseng improves testicular function both in humans and animals. However, the molecular mechanism by which ginseng exerts this effect has not been elucidated. Changes in protein expression in the rat testis in response to a pectinase-treated P.

Artemisia capillaris extract protects against bile duct ligation-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

Artemisia capillaris has been widely used as a traditional herbal medicine in the treatment of liver diseases. However, no previous study has investigated whether A. capillaries alone is effective in treating pathological conditions associated with cholestatic liver injury.

Panax ginseng reduces oxidative stress and restores antioxidant capacity in aged rats.

Nutritional antioxidants interact with cells in an active mode, including retrieving and sparing one another, to diminish oxidative stress. However, the intracellular balance of prooxidants and antioxidants becomes unbalanced, favoring prooxidants during the aging process. One hypothesis is that an aging-associated increase in oxidative stress is the primary cause of aging.

Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) attenuates age-related oxidative stress and ameliorates antioxidant capacity in rats.

Free radical-induced oxidative damage is considered to be the most important consequence of the aging process. The activities and capacities of antioxidant systems of cells decline with increased age, leading to the gradual loss of pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance and resulting in increased oxidative stress. Our investigation was focused on the effects of cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) on lipid peroxidation and antioxidation in aged rats.

Effect of long-term administration of cordycepin from Cordyceps militaris on testicular function in middle-aged rats.

This study was carried out to examine the potential beneficial effect of cordycepin on the decline of testicular function induced with age. A total of 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats (twenty-four 12-month-olds and six 2-month-olds) were divided into five groups. The young control (YC) and middle-aged control (MC) groups received vehicle only.

Aqueous extract of Artemisia iwayomogi Kitamura attenuates cholestatic liver fibrosis in a rat model of bile duct ligation.

Cholestatic liver fibrosis, characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, is associated with bile acid-induced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. We evaluated the therapeutic or protective effect of an aqueous extract of Artemisia iwayomogi Kitamura (WAI) in a rat bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced hepatic fibrogenesis model. After BDL, rats were treated once daily with 25 or 50 mg/kg of WAI for 2weeks.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori effects of IgY from egg york of immunized hens.

Effects of egg york containing IgY specific for Helicobacter pylori on the bacterial growth and intragastric infection were investigated in comparison with a proton-pump inhibitor pantoprazole. For in vitro anti-bacterial activity test, H. pylori (1×10(8) CFU/mL) was incubated with a serially diluted IgY for 3 days.

Anti-hypercholesterolemic and anti-atherosclerotic effects of polarized-light therapy in rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet.

The effects of polarized-light therapy (PLT) on high-cholesterol diet (HCD)-induced hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis were investigated in comparison with that of lovastatin in rabbits. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by feeding male New Zealand white rabbits with 1% cholesterol in diet for 2 weeks and maintained with 0.5% cholesterol for 6 weeks, followed by normal diet for 2 weeks for recovery.

Antifibrotic effects of Artemisia capillaris and Artemisia iwayomogi in a carbon tetrachloride-induced chronic hepatic fibrosis animal model.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Artemisia capillaris and Artemisia iwayomogi, both members of the Compositae family, have been indiscriminately used for various liver disorders as traditional hepatotherapeutic medicines in Korea for many years.

Aim Of The Study: In this study, the anti-hepatofibrotic effects of Artemisia capillaris and Artemisia iwayomogi were comparatively analyzed using a carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver fibrosis rat model.

Materials And Methods: Hepatic fibrosis was induced via a 10-week course of intraperitoneal CCl(4) injections (50% dissolved in olive oil, 2mL/kg, twice per week).

Silk and silkworm pupa peptides suppress adipogenesis in preadipocytes and fat accumulation in rats fed a high-fat diet.

Purpose: The objective was to confirm the anti-obesity activity of a silk peptide (SP) and a silkworm pupa peptide (SPP) in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and to elucidate their action mechanism(s) in a preadipocyte culture system.

Methods: In an in vitro mechanistic study, the differentiation and maturation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were stimulated with insulin (5 μg/mL), and effects of SP and SPP on the adipogenesis of mature adipocytes were assessed. In an in vivo anti-obesity study, male C57BL/6 mice were fed an HFD containing SP or SPP (0.

Effect of fermented Panax ginseng extract (GINST) on oxidative stress and antioxidant activities in major organs of aged rats.

The intracellular levels of oxidant and antioxidant balances are gradually distorted during the aging process. An age associated elevation of oxidative stress occurring throughout the lifetime is hypothesized to be the major cause of aging. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the putative antioxidant activity of the fermented Panax ginseng extract (GINST) on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status of major organs of aged rats compared to young rats.

Different antiulcer activities of pantoprazole in stress, alcohol and pylorus ligation-induced ulcer models.

Antiulcer effects of pantoprazole, a proton-pump inhibitor, on water-immersion restraint stress (WIRS)-, alcohol (ethanol)- and pylorus ligation-induced gastric ulcers were investigated in male rats. Rats were orally administered with pantoprazole 30 min prior to exposure to various types of ulcer inducers. In stress-induced ulcer model, rats were subjected to WIRS at 22℃ for 4 hours, and the degree of ulcer (in mm) was evaluated.