Wen-Kang Chen

Protective effects of seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) seed oil against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

The present study examined the protective effects of seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L., SBT) seed oil on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatic damage in male ICR mice. Our results showed that oral administration of SBT seed oil at doses of 0.26, 1.30, and 2.60 mg/kg for 8 weeks significantly reduced the elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol at least 13% in serum, and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver at least 22%, that was induced by CCl(4) (1 mL/kg) in mice. Moreover, the treatment of SBT seed oil was also found to significantly increase the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSH-Rd), and GSH content in liver up to 134%. Our study found that the optimal dose of SBT seed oil was 0.26 mg/kg, as the minimum amount exhibiting the greatest hepatoprotective effects on CCl(4)-induced liver injury. Overall, the hepatoprotective effect of SBT seed oil at all tested doses was found to be comparable to that of silymarin (200 mg/kg) and have been supported by the evaluation of the liver histopathology in mice.

Protective effects of Dunaliella salina : A carotenoids-rich alga, against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

The protective effects of Dunaliella salina (D. salina) on liver damage were evaluated by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Male ICR mice were orally treated with D. salina or silymairn daily with administration of CCl(4) twice a week for 8 weeks. CCl(4) induced liver damage and significantly (p<0.05) increased the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum and decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and GSH content in liver whereas increased hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) content as compared with control group. Treatment with D. salina or silymarin could significantly (p<0.05) decrease the ALT, AST, and ALP levels in serum and increase the activities of SOD, catalase, GSH-Px, glutathione reductase, and GSH content and decrease the MDA content in liver when compared with CCl(4)-treated group. Liver histopathology also showed that D. salina reduced the incidence of liver lesions induced by CCl(4). The results suggest that D. salina exhibits potent hepatoprotective effects on CCl(4)-induced liver damages in mice, and that the hepatoprotective effects of D. salina may be due to both the increase of antioxidant enzymes activities and inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

Hepatoprotective effect of electrolyzed reduced water against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in mice.

The study investigated the protective effect of electrolyzed reduced water (ERW) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver damage. Male ICR mice were randomly divided into control, CCl(4), CCl(4)+silymarin, and CCl(4)+ERW groups. CCl(4)-induced liver lesions include leukocytes infiltration, hepatocyte necrosis, ballooning degeneration, mitosis, calcification, fibrosis and an increase of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aminotransferase (AST) activity. In addition, CCl(4) also significantly decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). By contrast, ERW or silymarin supplement significantly ameliorated the CCl(4)-induced liver lesions, lowered the serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers (ALT and AST) and increased the activities of SOD, catalase, and GSH-Px in liver. Therefore, the results of this study show that ERW can be proposed to protect the liver against CCl(4)-induced oxidative damage in mice, and the hepatoprotective effect might be correlated with its antioxidant and free radical scavenging effect.

Protective effects of silica hydride against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

The protective effects of MegaHydrate silica hydride against liver damage were evaluated by its attenuation of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Male ICR mice were orally treated with silica hydride (104, 208 and 520 mg/kg) or silymarin (200 mg/kg) daily, with administration of CCl(4) (1 mL/kg, 20% CCl4 in olive oil) twice a week for eight weeks. The results showed that oral administration of silica hydride significantly reduced the elevated serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver that were induced by CCl(4) in mice. Moreover, the silica-hydride treatment was also found to significantly increase the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), as well as increase the GSH content, in the liver. Liver histopathology also showed that silica hydride reduced the incidence of liver lesions induced by CCl(4). The results suggest that silica hydride exhibits potent hepatoprotective effects on CCl(4)-induced liver damage in mice, likely due to both the increase of antioxidant-defense system activity and the inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

A subacute toxicity evaluation of green tea (Camellia sinensis) extract in mice

Green tea is believed to be beneficial to health because it possesses antioxidant, antiviral and anticancer properties. The potential toxicity of green tea when administered at high doses via concentrated extracts, however, has not been completely investigated. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the safety of green tea extract in ICR mice using a subacute exposure paradigm. In this study, mice were orally administered (gavage) green tea extract at doses of 0 (as normal group), 625, 1250 and 2500mg/kgbody weight/day for 28days. The results showed that oral administration of green tea extract did not cause adverse effects on body weight, organ weights, hematology, serum biochemistry, urinalysis or histopathology. Additionally, administering green tea extract via gavage significantly reduced triglyceride and cholesterol levels. These observed effects could be attributed to the high levels of catechins present in green tea as these compounds have been reported to have beneficial health effects. The no-observed-adverse-effect level for green tea extract derived from the results of the present study was 2500mg/kgbody weight/day.

Preoperative prognostic factors for olfactory change after functional endoscopic sinus surgery

Background Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) has been considered to improve the olfactory function in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. However, which factors might affect the olfactory outcome after FESS has not been well investigated. Methods A total of 70 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who underwent FESS were enrolled in the study. The potential prognostic factors for improvement in olfaction after FESS were evaluated in these patients. On the day before FESS, the olfactory function was evaluated by a symptom score, a phenyl ethyl alcohol odor detection threshold test, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test, and a short-term odor memory/discrimination test, and were reevaluated by the same methods 6 months after FESS. Results The degree of nasal obstruction, the second minimal cross-sectional area measured by acoustic rhinometry, computed tomography scores before FESS, the degree of preoperative olfactory loss indicated by threshold and identification scores, and coexistence of nasal polyps or allergic rhinitis were not significantly reliable to influence the rates of olfactory improvement after FESS. Conclusion Degree of nasal obstruction, extent of rhinosinusitis disease, and coexistence of nasal polyps or allergic rhinitis did not predicate the overall possibility of any olfactory improvement after FESS.

Humic acid enhances the cytotoxic effects of arsenic trioxide on human cervical cancer cells

Cervical cancer is the second leading cancer affecting women, and recent studies have demonstrated arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) has therapeutic effects on cervical cancer by promoting apoptosis and inhibiting metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Humic acid (HA) possesses various pharmacologic properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-neoplastic, and anti-proliferative effects by inducing apoptosis. We examined the growth inhibition properties and the combined effects of HA and As(2)O(3) in human cervical adenocarcinoma cell lines. Our results shown both As(2)O(3) and HA-induced inhibition of cell growth, most likely by ROS-mediated cell damage and activation of the apoptosis pathway, and HA enhanced the anti-proliferative action of As(2)O(3) in HeLa and SiHa cells, which reduced the LC(50) about 57.62 or 73.52% (300μg HA/mL) to 83.67 or 79.03% (500μg HA/mL), respectively. This study is relevant to the development of chemotherapeutic approaches using As(2)O(3) in treating human cervical cancer.

Enhanced Induction of Mitochondrial Damage and Apoptosis in Human Leukemia HL-60 Cells Due to Electrolyzed-Reduced Water and Glutathione

Electrolzyed-reduced water (ERW) is a higher pH and lower oxidation-reduction potential water. In the present study, we examined the enhanced effect of ERW in the apoptosis of leukemia cells (HL-60) induced by glutathione (GSH). An enhanced inhibitory effect on the viability of the HL-60 cells was observed after treatment with a combination of ERW with various concentrations of GSH, whereas no cytotoxic effect in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells was observed. The results of apoptotic related protein indicated that the induction of HL-60 cell death was caused by the induction of apoptosis through upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2. The results of further investigation showed a diminution of intracellular GSH levels in ERW, and combination with GSH groups. These results suggest that ERW is an antioxidant, and that ERW, in combination with GSH, has an enhanced apoptosis-inducing effect on HL-60 cells, which might be mediated through the mitochondria-dependent pathway.

Electrolyzed acid water nasal irrigation after functional endoscopic sinus surgery

Background Electrolyzed acid water (EAW) has been recognized to have strong bactericidal activity, and the feasibility and safety of EAW irrigation in body cavities has been reported in the literature. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of EAW nasal irrigation on the postoperative care of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). Methods Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who received FESS for treatment were recruited and randomly assigned to three groups at 1 month postoperatively. Patients in group 1 received EAW for nasal irrigation daily for 2 months, those in group 2 received neutral normal saline (NS) daily for 2 months, and those in group 3 did not receive nasal irrigation after surgery. Before and 3 months after FESS, sinonasal symptoms were assessed by questionnaire and patients received endoscopic examination, acoustic rhinometry, smell test, saccharine transit test, and bacterial culture from middle meatus. Results There were 185 patients enrolled between May 2009 and March 2012. Among the patients who completed the study, 36 received EWA irrigation, 35 received NS irrigation, and 39 (group 3) received no irrigation. Patients with nasal irrigation had a better outcome based on questionnaire score and saccharine transit time. However, there was no difference in outcome between patients who received irrigation with EAW and NS. Conclusion Our study showed that EWA irrigation did not confer a greater benefit than that of NS irrigation in post-FESS care.