• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.347-356
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• 1992

In oriental medicine, Artemisia Iwayomogi(Compositae) has been used clinically for jaundice, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis etc. The purposes of present study were to examine pharmacological effects of Artemisia lwayomogi water extract(AIWE) on weights of body, liver, kidney, spleen and adrenal, and on biochemical parameters (activities of AST, ALT and LDH, contents of cholesterol and triacylglycerol, and levels of hepatic lipid peroxide) against hepatic injury by carbon tetrachloride($CCl_4$) in rats. The results were as follow; 1. Body weights were reduced by $CCl_4$. In AIWE pretreatment groups, reduction of body weights was inhibited at 48 hours. Increased liver weights by $CCl_4$ were reduced in proportion to numbers of treatment of AIWE in AIWE pre- and posttreatment groups. Increased kidney weights by $CCl_4$ were reduced in AIWE pretreatment groups at 72 hours. Increased weights of spleen and adrenal by $CCl_4$ were not affected by AIWE treament. 2. Increased AST activities by $CCl_4$ were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in AIWE posttreatment groups at 48 and 72 hours. Increased ALT activities by $CCl_4$ were significantly(p<0.05) decreased in AIWE posttreatment groups at 48 hours. Increased LDH activities by $CCl_4$ were very significantly (p<0.01, p<0.001) decreased in AIWE posttreatment groups at 48 and 72 hours, respectively. 3. Increased cholesterol contents by $CCl_4$ were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in AIWE posttreatment groups at 24 and 48 hours. Decreased triacylglycerol contents by $CCl_4$ were significantly (p<0.05) increased in AIWE posttreatment at 48 and 72 hours. 4. Increased hepatic lipid peroxide levels by $CCl_4$ were significantly (p<0.05, p<0.01) decreased in AIWE posttreatment groups at 48 and 72 hours, respectively. In conclusion, AIWE did not affect normal liver function and had property of antioxidant, due to reduced lipid peroxidation by $CCl_4$. AIWE seems to have hepatoprotective effects rather than direct preventive effects to $CCl_4$-induced necrotic degeneration of liver cell, cholestasis and damages in metabolism of lipid.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.105-111
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• 2004

Green tea catechin (GTC) is known to have a wide variety of pharmacological activites. In the present study, the effects of GTC on acute hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) and galactosamine were examined in rats. Two doses (50 or 100 mg/kg) of GTC were administered to rats orally for 3 days befor or after the induction of hepatotoxicity. A hepatotoxicity was induced by the inpraperitoneal injection of the $CCl_4$ (0.5 ml/kg) or galactosamine (400 mg/kg). GTC(50 mg/kg) reduced the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level of the $CCl_4$-intoxicated rats in the pre-treatment group (from 262${\pm}$11, 80${\pm}$19 to 153${\pm}$22, 55${\pm}$25), and also in the post-treatment group (from 156${\pm}$40, 105${\pm}$3 to 106${\pm}$22, 55${\pm}$9), respectively. And GTC (50 mg/kg) also reduced the levels of AST and ALT in both pre-treatment (from 576${\pm}$24, 276${\pm}$68 to 236${\pm}$13, 115${\pm}$13) and post-treatment (from 233${\pm}$54, 137${\pm}$11 to 119${\pm}$23, 44${\pm}$17) when induced by galactosamine. GTC also showed the inhibition of pathogenesis of hepatocyte of $CCl_{4^-}$ and galatosamine-intoxicated rat. These results suggest that green tea catechin (GTC) may be useful fur the prevention and therapy of hepatotoxic pathogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2013

The purpose of the present study is to determine whether Schisandra chinensis (SC) has a protective effect on high fat diet (HFD)-induced fatty liver including hepatic lipid accumulation in rats. The HFD-induced obese rats were weighed after SC extracts were administered through the gastrointestinal tract at a concentration of 250 mg/kg b.w/day for 5 weeks. After 5 weeks, all of the rats on a high fat-diet were 36.5% heavier compared with normal controls. In contrast, rats on a high-fat diet supplemented with SC were 23.5% lighter than rats fed only a high-fat diet. Although there was no significant difference in food intake among the groups during the experimental diet period, the body weight gain of the SC group was significantly lower than the weights of the HFD groups. SC treatment slightly decreased the liver weight. Reduction of hepatic TBARS contents by SC was observed in rats fed a diet containing SC, and antioxidant activity was markedly increased in HFD＋SC group compared to those of HFD group in liver. Moreover, total-lipid and triglyceride contents in the liver of groups fed a diet containing SC were significantly lower compared to those of the HFD group. High fat feeding elevated liver cholesterol concentration, but the addition of SC to the HFD rats resulted in the significant decrease in liver cholesterol. In histological observation of liver tissues, the hepatocytes of HFD rats showed a typical fatty liver morphology showing numerous lipid droplets in cytoplasm, whereas administration of SC reduced the size and numbers of lipid droplets. These results clearly demonstrated the attenuation of SC on nonalcoholic fatty liver induced by obese rats fed HFD.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.102-102
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• 2018

Protaetia Brevitarsis Seulensis(white grub) has been traditionally used as medicinal stuff to treat blood stasis, occlusion of menstruation, tetanus and liver cancer in Asian countries (Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, India and Myanmar). Especially, Donguibogam, which is traditional korean medicinal book, described the white grub as traditional medicine to treat hepatic diseases and vascular disorders. The white grub has been considered as highly nutritional food. The major constituents of white grub are rich in protein, healthy fats, iron, calcium. Recent studies announced that white grub has hepatoprotective effect and anti-microbacterial effect. However, the immuno-enhancing effect of white grub extracts in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells has not been studied yet. In this study, the various concentrations of white grub extract were examined to find immuno-enhancing effects on RAW 264.7 cells. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay and immuno-enhancing effect of white grub extract was investigated by measuring nitric oxide (NO) production compared with only lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. White grub extracts (0.001 - 10 mg/ml) did not show cytotoxicity. Additionally, white grub extracts (0.001 - 1mg/ml) had Immuno-enhancing effect on RAW 264.7 cells compared with only LPS treated group. These results might be provided proof to develop beneficial immuno-enhancing material for human health.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2016

Objectives : Liver is one of the largest organs in the human, and has a function of detoxification and energy sensing to prevent severe disease. Paeoniae radix has been used to treat a variety of liver diseases such as hepatitis and chronic hepatic failure. Although P. radix has been used as an medicinal herb for a long time, the effects of P. radix on severe oxidative stress and its action mechanism on the liver was not clearly verified.Methods : This study investigated the protective effects of P. radix extract (PRE), and the underlying mechanism of its action in the liver. tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) and carbon tetrachlroride (CCl₄) were used to induce oxidative stress in the HepG2 hepatocyte cell line and Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively.Results : t-BHP significantly induced cell death and ROS production in HepG2 cell, as indicated by MTT and FACS analysis. However, pretreatment of PRE inhibited a decrease in cell viability and H₂O₂ production in the HepG2 cells. PRE also blocked the ability of t-BHP to damage in mitochondrial membrane transition. More importantly, PRE induced Nrf2 activation and antioxidant Phase II enzyme, which may have a role in the effects of PRE. In mice, PRE inhibited the liver damage induced by CCl₄.Conclusions : PRE inhibited oxidative stress and hepatic damages as mediated with Nrf2 activation. This study unveil, in part, the effect and mechanism of old medicinal herb, P. radix.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.57-64
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• 2015

Objectives : Oxidative stress is one of the most causes of hepatocyte injury. Gleditsia spina, the thorns ofGleditsia sinensisLam., has been known for its anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects in Korean medicine. The present study investigated hepatoprotective effect of Gleditsia spina water extract (GSE) against oxidative stress induced by arachidonic acid (AA) + iron in HepG2 cells.Methods : To investigate cytoprotective effect of GSE, cells were pretreated with GSE and then subsequently exposed to 10 μM AA for 12 h, followed by 5 μM iron. Cell viability was monitored by MTT assay, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins was examined by immunoblot analysis. To identify responsible molecular mechanisms, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, GSH contents, and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured. In addition, effect of GSE on nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation was determined by immunoblot and antioxidant response element (ARE)-driven reporter gene assays.Results : GSE pretreatment prevented AA + iron-mediated cytotoxicity in concentration dependent manner. In addition, ROS production, glutathione depletion, and mitochondrial impairment by AA + iron were significantly inhibited by GSE. Furthermore, GSE promoted translocation of Nrf2 to nucleus, which acts as essential transcription factor for induction of antioxidant genes. Increased nuclear Nrf2 that caused by GSE treatment promoted transcriptional activity of ARE. Finally, GSE up-regulated sestrin-2 which was widely recognized as target gene of Nrf2.Conclusions : This study demonstrates that GSE protects hepatocytes from oxidative stress via activation of Nrf2 signaling pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.298-300
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• 2007

This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of an ethanol extract of Petasites japonicus S. et. Z. Max. (PJ) on alcohol-induced liver-damaged rats. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $100{\sim}150\;g$ were divided into 5 groups; normal diet group (NOR), alcohol (35%, 10 mL/kg/day) treated group (CON), PJ 200 mg/kg/day treated group (PJ1), PJ 200 mg/kg/day and alcohol treated group (PJ2), and PJ 400 mg/kg/day and alcohol treated group (PJ3). The growth rate of the control group was higher than that of normal group, whereas the group administered PJ concomitantly was significantly increased. Also, feed efficiency ratio decreased by alcohol administration was gradually increased to the adjacent level of the normal group by administering PJ. The AST activity in serum elevated by alcohol was significantly decreased by administering the high dosage of PJ, but exerted no significant change on serum ALT activity. It was also observed that the hepatic activities of catalase and GSH-Px increased by alcohol were markedly decreased in PJ2 and PJ3, but not in the activities of XO and SOD as compared with the control group. The depleted content of GSH by alcohol was increased to the level of normal group by administering PJ in a dose-dependant manner. In conclusion, these results suggest that PJ may have a possible protective effect on liver function in hepatotoxicity-induced rat by alcohol administration.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2012

Objective : Myeongganbo (MGB) composited with Hovenia Semen, Puerariae Radix and Dioscoreae Rhizoma is the prescription for protection of liver function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of MGB extract against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury in mice. Methods : MGB extract was prepared by extracting with hot distilled water. The extract was freeze-dried following filtration through vacuum distillation system. Mice fasted for overnight were orally administrated with or without MGB extract of different doses (25-200 mg/kg/day). After 30 min, APAP was orally applied with a single dose (400 mg/kg). The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured in plasmas of mice. Glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase GSH-px), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) level were investigated in liver homogenates. Liver sections were stained with haematoxylin & eosin, anti-TNF-${\alpha}$ and anti-mouse COX-2 antibodies. Results : APAP treatment remarkably increased AST and ALT activities in plasma but inhibited GSH and GSH-px levels in liver homogenates. Also, liver injury was significantly accelerated by APAP treatment. Furthermore, APAP remarkably elevated COX-2 activity and TNF-${\alpha}$ levels in liver homogenates. However, administration of MGB extract was able to counteract these effects. Histological studies provided supportive evidence for biochemical and molecular analysis Conclusions : These results suggest that MGB extract has potent hepatoprotective effect against APAP-induced liver injury, these properties may contribute to liver disease care.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.186-193
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to report a case that showed improvements in the symptoms of patients with alcoholic hepatitis without any indication of deterioration of the disease. Methods: Western medicine with Urusa tablets and Godex capsules and Korean medicine therapeutic approaches, including Shihogayonggolmoryo-tang, acupuncture, and moxibustion, were administered to a patient during the period of treatment. Blood tests were used to determine levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), AST/ALT ratio, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and total cholesterol. Fatigue was measured using the numeric rating scale (NRS), and the patient's total sleeping time was checked, daily. Results: After the combined treatment, the AST/ALT ratio and the AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, total cholesterol, and direct bilirubin levels were decreased. Through Oriental medicine for the purpose of improving symptoms, NRS of fatigue decreased from 10 to 5, and the amount of sleeping time increased from 2 to 5 hours. Conclusions: The herbal medicine had no effect on the hepatoprotective drugs such as Urusa tablets and Godex capsules used to treat alcoholic hepatitis, and no adverse reaction from the combined administration was observed. To reduce fatigue and insomnia in patients with alcoholic hepatitis, it might be helpful to combine Western medications with Korean medicine treatments, including acupuncture, moxibustion, and Shihogayonggolmoryo-tang.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.727-733
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• 1996

2-(Allylthio)pyrazine is effective in selectively suppressing constitutive and inducible expression of cytochrome P450 2E1. The effect of 2-(allylthio)pyrazine against potentiat ed chemical injury was studied in rats. Vitamin-A pretreatment of rats substantially increased carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity, as supported by an ~4-fold increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. Concomitant pretreatment of rats with 2-(allylthio)pyrazine at the daily dose of 200mg/kg resulted in a 76% decrease in vitamin-A-potentiated hepatotoxicity, which supported the possibility that 2-(allylthio)pyrazine protects the liver against chemical-induced hepatic injury by the mechanism associated with Kupffer cell inactivation. Pyridine pretreatment caused substantial enhancement in carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity. 2-(Allylthio)pyrazine treatment of rats reduced the pyridine-potentiated toxicity in a dose-dependent manner. Animals treated with both pyridine and 2-(allylthio)pyrazine prior to intoxicating dose of CCl$_4$ resulted in 85% and 47% decreases in pyridine-increased triglycerides and cholesterol levels in the liver. The protective effect of 2-(allylthio)pyrazine on the DNA strand breakage induced by benzenetriol was assessed by measuring the conversion of supercoiled ${\Phi}x$-174 DNA to the open relaxed form. 2-(Allylthio)pyrazine blocked the benzenetriol-induced conversion of supercoiled DNA to open circular form in a dose-dependent manner. The presence of 2-(allylthio)pyrazine at the doses from I to 10mM in the incubation mixture containing 5 ${\mu}$M benzenetriol completely protected benzenetriol-induced DNA strand breakage with the EC50 for the 2-(allylthio)pyrazine blocking being noted as ~220 ${\mu}$M, whereas allyl disulfide exerted protecting effect at relatively high concentrations (i.e. ~850 ${\mu}$M), suggesting that 2-(allylthio)pyrazine effectively scavenges the reactive oxygen species. These results provide evidence that 2-(allylthio)pyrazine blocks vitamin A- or pyridine-potentiated CCl$_4$ hepatotoxicity and that the agent is active in protecting DNA by scavenging the reactive oxygen species.