• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.98-106
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• 2010

Objective: To examine the in vitro antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties of Amomum xanthoides extract and its fractions. Methods: Methanol extract of Amomum xanthoides was fractionated into three fractions; petroleum ether fraction (PFAX), water fraction (WFAX) and ethyl acetate fraction (AFAX). The antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of these fractions were compared by in vitro experiments. Results: The total phenols content and DPPH (1 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity was found significant in AFAX when compared with other fractions (PFAX, WFAX). AFAX significantly inhibited NO production by RAW 264.7 cells in LPS-activated condition. In Hep $G_2$ cells, AFAX markedly prevented the leakage of LDH and release of AST against CCl4 challenge. Conclusion: Amomum xanthoides and especially ethyl acetate fraction have potent antioxidative and hepatoprotective properties.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2002

Silymarin and curcumin have been used for supportive treatment of liver disease of difffrent etiology due to their hepatoprotective activities. The present study was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective efffcts of silymarin and/or curcuma extract against hepatotoxins induced liver injury. To investigate hepatoprotective effects, the silymarin and/or curcuma extract were pre-treated orally to experimental animals. And thereafter a single dose of hepatotoxin, carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) and acetaminophen were administered through oral or intraperitoneal route, respectively. Chronic liver damage was induced by subcutaneous injection of $CCl_4$ for 3 weeks (2 times/week). Hepatoprotective and therapeutic effects were monitored by estimating serurn ALT and AST levels and by measuring hepatic glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA)levels. Collagen type 1 was detected with irnrnunostaining to assess fibrosis. The results showed that the mix-ture of silymarin and curcuma extract significantly reduced serum biochemistry levels and MDA levels com-pared with those of control group in both acute and chronic animal models. In antifibrotic effect, the relative hepatic collagen content was significantly decreased by silymarin and/or curcuma extract treatment. It was concluded that the complex of silymarin and curcuma extract have a both hepatoprotective and therapeutic effect synergically in rat liver injury induced by heptotoxins.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.325-329
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• 2005

The hepatoprotective activity of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus brevis HY7401, Lactobacillus acidophilus CSG and Bifidobacterium longum HY8001), which inhibited $\beta$-glucuronidase productivity of intestinal microflora, on t-BHP- or CCl$_4$-induced hepatotoxicity of mice were evaluated. These oral administration of lactic acid bacteria lowered $\beta$-glucuronidase production of intestinal microflora as well as Escherichia coli HGU-3. When lactic acid bacteria at a dose of 0.5 or 2 g (wet weight)/kg was orally administered on CCl$_4$-induced liver injury in mice, these bacteria significantly inhibited the increase of plasma alanine transferase and aspartate transferase activities by $17-57\%$ and $57-66\%$ of the $CCI_4$ control group, respectively. These lactic acid bacteria also showed the potent hepatoprotective effect against t-BHP-induced liver injury in mice. The inhibitory effects of these lactic acid bacteria were more potent than that of dimethyl diphenyl bicarboxylate (DDB), which have been used as a commercial hepatoprotective agent. Among these lactic acid bacteria, L. acidophilus CSG exhibited the most potent hepatoprotective effect. Based on these findings, we insist that an inhibitor of $\beta$-glucuronidase production in intestine, such as lactic acid bacteria, may be hepatoprotective.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.970-976
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• 2007

For the development of novel hepatoprotective agents, C11, C28, C2,3,23 or C2,23,28 functional groups on asiatic acid were modified, and their hepatoprotective effects were evaluated. Most of the prepared compounds displayed potent hepatoprotective activities against CCl4- and galactosamine (GaIN)-induced hepatotoxicity. Especially, compounds 16 and 20 showed the most significant hepatoprotective effects against GaIN-induced hepatotoxicity (54.2% and 46.4% protection at 50 mM, respectively).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1282-1284
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• 2006

In the course of search for hepatoprotective agents from oriental traditional medicines, one compound was isolated from the MeOH extract of the fruits of Schizandra chinensis, and its structure was determined as gomisin J(1). The evaluation for hepatoprotective activity of isolated compound 1 on drug-induced cytotoxicity was conducted, and compound 1 showed protective effect with an EC$_{50}$value of 86.0 ${\pm}$ 5.3 ${\mu}$M against tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells. One of the well-known hepatoprotective agents, silybin, used as a positive control, and the hepatoprotective effect of compound 1 is similar with that of silybin (EC$_{50}$ value = 90.5 ${\pm}$ 9.8 ${\mu}$M).

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1376-1380
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• 2005

In this study, ethanolic extracts from 18 seaweed variants were assessed for hepatoprotective activity against tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells. Only one of these, Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura (Laminariaceae), a member of the brown algae, exhibited promising hepatoprotective activity. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the active ethyl acetate (EtOAc) soluble fraction obtained from the ethanolic extract of E. stolonifera, resulted in the isolation of several phlorotannins [phloroglucinol (1), eckstolonol (2), eckol (3), phlorofucofuroeckol A (4), and dieckol (5)]. Compounds 2 and 4 were determined to protect Hep G2 cells against the cytotoxic effects of tacrine, with $EC_{50}$ values of 62.0 and 79.2 $\mu$g/mL, respectively. Silybin, a well characterized hepatoprotective agent, was used as a positive control, and exhibited an $EC_{50}$ value of 50.0 $\mu$g/mL. It has been suggested that the phlorotannins derived from marine brown algae might prove useful sources in the development of novel hepatoprotective agents.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.383.1-383.1
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• 2002

In connection with our studies on the isolation of hepatoprotective constituents from natural products. we have recently reported hepatoprotective compounds including phenolic bakuchiol. diarylheptanoids. furocoumarins. In the course of continuing efforts. the aqueous extract of the roots of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. (Rosaceae) was found to exhibit promising hepatoprotective activity. A. pilosa is a perennial herb distributed throughout South Korea. and its roots have been used as the hemostatic. antimalarial. and antidysenteric agent in oriental medicine. Chemical investigation of the aqueous extract of the roots of this plant. as guided by hepatoprotective active catechin (2). Compound 1 showed hepatoprotective effects on both tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in human level derived Hep G2 cells and tert-hydroperoxide-induced cytotoxicity in rat primary hepatocyles with $EC_{50}$ values of 66.2 $\pm$ 2.8 and 22.9 $\pm$ 2.6 $\mu\textrm{M}$ respectively.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.119-122
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• 2005

In the course of searching for hepatoprotective agents from natural products, four compounds were isolated from the MeOH extract of Sanguisorbae Radix, as guided by their DPPH free radical scavenging activity. The structures were determined as 4,5-dimethoxy-3-hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester (1), (+)-gallocatechin (2), methyl $6-O-galloyl-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (3), and pomolic acid $3-O-[{\alpha}-L-arabinopyranoside]-28-O-[{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl]$ ester (ziyu-glycoside I) (4). Compounds 2 and 3 showed significant DPPH free radical scavenging effects, exhibiting $IC_{50}$ values of 11.4 and $13.0\;{\mu}M$, respectively. L-Ascorbic acid was used as a positive control and exhibited the $IC_{50}$ value of $50.3\;{\mu}M$. In evaluation of the hepatoprotective activity of the isolated compounds on drug-induced cytotoxicity, compound 2 showed the significant hepatoprotective effect with the $EC_{50}$ value of $91.84\;{\pm}\;11.0\;{\mu}M$ on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells, while silybin, a positive control, exhibited $EC_{50}$ value of $122.4\;{\pm}\;12.5\;{\mu}M$.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.268-275
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• 1992

We studied to screen medicinal plants having hepatoprotective activity with the primary cultured rat hepatocytes intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride cytotoxicity. The lowest concentration and treatment time of carbon tetrachloride giving the greatest intoxication to the primary cultured hepatocytes were observed in 10mM and 60 minutes, respectively. GTP and GOT activity of culture broth of the primary cultured rat hepatocytes intoxicated by $CCl_4$ cytotoxicity at this condition were increased 135.9% and 178.3% compared with that of the primaries cultured hepatocytes not treated with $CCl_4$, respectively. This increased GPT activity was inhibited by glycyrrizin, which was known to have hepatoprotective activity, and the inhibition activity was dependent on the concentration of glycyrrhizin. Forty species among the extracts obtained from 117 species of medicinal plants were shown to have the hepatoprotective activity. Among these 40 species, Prunus persica, Scutellaria baicalensis, Astragalus membranaceus, Tribulus terrestris, Caragana chamlagu, Acanthopanax sessiliflorum and Achyranthes japonica were indicated a lower GPT activity than that of Glycyrrhiza uralensis containing glycyrrhizin and GPT activity of these were indicated 75.5%, 70.0%, 59.0%, 77.5%, 60.0%, 75.0% and 79.0%, respectively.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2006

The present study was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of the extract of Pterocarpus santalinus Linn on acute hepatotoxicity induced in Wistar albino rats by a single dose of Galactosamine (400 mg/kg). Suspensions of methanolic extract of heartwood of P. santalinus (200 and 400 mg/kg) in 0.3% Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) were administered p.o. to experimental animals and hepatoprotective activity was monitored by estimating aspartate amino transferase (ASAT, GOT), alanine amino transferase (ALAT, GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGL), albumin, total protein (TP) levels. The methanolic extract significantly reduced the elevation of serum transaminases and alterations of biochemical parameters induced by hepatotoxin, and alleviated the degree of liver damage. The results were supported by histopathological studies of liver samples showing regeneration of hepatocytes in treated animals. Silymarin (25 mg/kg), a known hepatoprotective drug was used for comparison. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that P. santalinus exerts hepatoprotective activity and may serve as a useful adjuvant in several clinical conditions associated with liver damage.