• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.487-496
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Soshiho-tang (SSH) in mouse primary liver cells against hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced oxidative stress. We also elucidated the molecular mechanism of hepatoprotective effect by SSH. Methods : Cell viability, level of ALT, AST and LDH, intracellular ROS level, mRNA expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes were used to evaluate hepatoprotection of SSH against $H_2O_2$. Target gene expressions were analyzed by real-time PCR. Results : Pre-treatment with SSH for 1 hour prevented cytotoxicity against $H_2O_2$. $H_2O_2$-induced ROS level decreased under SSH pre-treatment. mRNA expression of GPx and SOD increased in SSH-treated cells. In addition, HSP72 and HSP40 gene expression were elevated under SSH-treatment. Conclusions : These results indicate that SSH protects mouse primary liver cells from $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative injury. This hepatoprotective activity of SSH is mediated by decreasing intracellular ROS and increasing antioxidant enzyme expression (GPx and SOD) and stress response protein (HSP72 and HSP40).

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 2008

This study was carried out to evaluate the antitumor, hepatoprotective and antimutagenic activities on hot water extract of Phellinus gilvus (PGE). Growth of tumor in mice that were orally given $0.25,0.5,1.0,2.0g\;kg^{-1}$ dose of PGE was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). The hepatoprotective effect of PGE in the carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-intoxicated rats was studied. In $CCl_4$ + PGE group, PGE was orally administered with 100 mg/kg/day dose 7 days before the treatment of $CCl_4$. The serum activity of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in $CCl_4$ + PGE group were decreased at a rate of 59.6% and 54.1% compared with those in $CCl_4$ group, respectively (p < 0.05). Also, total cholesterol and triglyceride in $CCl_4$ + PGE group were significantly decreased at a rate of 90% and 73.6% compared with those in $CCl_4$ group (p < 0.05). In the Ames test, we confirmed PGE doesn't have any activity as a mutant, and PGE showed inhibitory effect against mutagenesis induced by 2-amino fluride and sodium azide in Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100 and TA1535 in a dose-dependent manner. From the above results, we may suggest that PGE might have useful as a material for functional food and/or animal pharmaceutics.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.947-953
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• 2004

The antioxidative and hepatoprotective potentials of two anthraquinones, alaternin (2-hydroxy-emodin) and emodin, to scavenge and/or inhibit hydroxyl radicals generated by the Fenton reaction and to protect tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in human liver derived HepG2 cells were evaluated, respectively. The inhibitory activity on hydroxyl radical generated in a cell-free chemical system (FeSO$_4$/$H_2O$$_2$) was investigated by a fluorescence spectrophotometer using a highly fluorescent probe, 2$^1$,7$^1$-dichlorofluorescein. The hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was determined by electron spin resonance spectroscopy using 5,5-dimethy-1-pyrroline-N-oxide as hydroxyl radicals trapping agents. Tacrine-induced HepG2 cell toxicity was determined by a 3-［4,5-dimethylthiazole-2yl］-2,5-diphenyltertrazolium bromide assay. Although the scavenging activity of alaternin on hydroxyl radical was similar to that of emodin in dose-dependent pat-terns, the inhibitory activity exhibited by the former on hydroxyl radical generation was stron-ger than that of the latter, with $IC_{50}$/ values of 3.05$\pm$0.26 $\mu$M and 13.29$\pm$3.20 $\mu$M, respectively. In addition, the two anthraquinones, alaternin and emodin showed their hepatoprotective activ-ities on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity, and the EC$_{50}$ values were 4.02 11M and 2.37 $\mu$M, respec-tively. Silymarin, an antihepatotoxic agent used as a positive control exhibited the EC$_{50}$ value of 2.00 $\mu$M. These results demonstrated that both alaternin and emodin had the simultaneous antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities.ies.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.156-162
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• 2016

Iridoid glycosides (mainly geniposide) and crocetin derivatives (crocins) are the two major active constituents in Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. In the present study, geniposide, crocins, crocin-1 and crocetin were separated from gardenia chromatographically. Then, mice were orally administrated with geniposide (400 mg/kg b.w.), crocins (400 mg/kg b.w.), crocin-1 (400 mg/kg b.w.) and crocetin (140 mg/kg b.w.) once daily for 7 days with $CCl_4$. Hepatoprotective properties were evaluated by biochemical parameters: Administration of geniposide, crocins, crocin-1and crocetin significantly lowered serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in $CCl_4$-treated mice. The reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) activities were also increased by geniposide, crocins, crocin-1 and crocetin. Histopathological examination of livers showed that these components reduced deformability, irregular arrangement and rupture of hepatocyte in $CCl_4$-treated mice. These biochemical results and liver histopathological assessment demonstrated that geniposide, crocetin derivatives and crocetin show comparative beneficial effects on $CCl_4$-induced liver damage via induction of antioxidant defense. Therefore, contents of geniposide and crocetin derivatives should be both considered for hepatoprotective efficacy of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1388-1393
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• 2007

The protective effect of xBrassicoraphanus (BR) on liver inhury was evaluated in the rats with liver injury induced by i.p. injection of D-galactosamine (GalN) following 2 week oral treatment of ethanol extract of xBrassicoraphanus (EBR). EBR (200 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the levels of ALT, AST, SDH, ${\gamma}-GT$, ALP, LDH and lipid peroxidation compared with GalN treated control, while EBR at 100 mg/kg significantly suppressed AST and ${\gamma}-GT$. Similarly, EBR at 200 mg/kg significantly attenuated the levels of Phase I enzymes such as XO, AO, AH and AD as well as significantly increased the levels of Phase II enzymes such as SOD, catalase and GSH-Px in the GalN treated rats. Taken together, these results indicate that the ethanol extract of xBrassicoraphanus may have a hepatoprotective effect against GalN induced liver injury, suggesting the ethanol extract of xBrassicoraphanus can be applied as hepatoprotective functional food. However, its mechanism should be further studied in molecular and cellular view points.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2014

As well-being foods pursuing healthy life are becoming popular, interest in Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM) fruit, a type of Korean blackberry, is increasing due to its medicinal actions including protecting the liver, brightening the eyes, and alleviating diabetes. This study was carried out to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of RCM concentrates on liver injuries induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) in rats. RCM, produced in June ~ July 2008 at Chunbook, Gochang (South Korea), was finely mashed. The seeds were removed and the juices were condensed. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups according to treatment: normal (eight rats), $CCl_4$, 1% RCM, and 2% RCM. Experimental diets were provided to the experimental animals for 4 weeks. We measure total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. Part of the livers was isolated for histopathological evaluation, and analyzed for lipid peroxide (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and liver proteins. The activities of serum AST, ALT, and ALP were elevated following $CCl_4$ administration. Levels of hepatic TBARS were also significantly increased in the $CCl_4$ groups. However, hepatic TBARS levels and the activities of serum enzymes were markedly reduced by supplementation with the RCM concentrates (P < 0.05). Hepatic SOD activity increased in the RCM concentrates group versus $CCl_4$ groups. Histopathological examination revealed massive necrosis in the centrilobular area and degenerative changes caused by $CCl_4$ were ameliorated by dietary supplementation with RCM concentrates. These results suggest that RCM concentrates have hepatoprotective effects and may improve the symptoms of liver injuries.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.159-166
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• 1996

To evaluate hepatoprotective effects of G009, an hepatoprotective agent which was extracted from the mycelia of Ganoderma lucidum IY009, we were, studied using $CCl_4$-and galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The ratio of liver weight to body weight, the value of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activities, the change of a lipids in serum, and the inhibitory activity of malondialdehyde (MDA) formation in serum and liver homogenate were determined in rats. G009 was not significantly changed of the ratio of liver weight to body weight and the content of lipids in serum, but reduced the serum GOT and GPT values in $CCl_4$-and galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity in rat. Especially, protective effect of G009 on rat hepatic injuries induced by galactosamine was significantly appeared. $CCl_4$ increased markedly the formation of lipid peroxides in the liver homogenate, and serum. The increase of lipid peroxides by $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity was markedly reduced by the treatment with G009. These results suggest that the hepatoprotective effects of G009 may be correlated with its anti-lipid peroxidative activity, therefore, it may be potential agent for hepatic disease.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.155-161
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• 2008

Carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_4)-induced$ liver injury depends on a toxic agent that has to be metabolized by the liver NAPDH-cytochrome P450 enzyme system to a highly reactive intermediate. Although several isoforms of cytochrome P450 may metabolize $CC1_4$, attention has been focused largely on the cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), which is ethanol-inducible. Alternations in the activity of CYP2E1 affect the susceptibility to hepatic injury from $CC1_4$. In this study, the liver protective effect of the hot water extracts of Scutellaria radix (SR) was investigated. The SR exhibited a hepatoprotective activity against $CCl_4-induced$ liver damage in Chang liver cells. The expression of CYP2E1, measured by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, was significantly decreased by SR treatment in Chang cells. Based on these findings, it is suggested that hepatoprotective effect of SR possibly related to downregulation of CYP2E1 expression.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.347-353
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• 1992

Hepatoprotective effects of polysaccharides extracted from liquid cultured mycelia were screened by measuring the glutamic pyruvate transaminase activity of the primary cultured rat hepatocytes intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride. Sixty among 75 isolates of higher fungi showed to be hepatoprotective effect, and these were 13 of Ganoderma lucidum, 5 of Lentinus edodes, 1 of Pleurotus ostereatus, 4 of Coriolus versicolor, 2 of Lyophyllum spp., 7 of Grifora frondosa, 3 of Agaricus spp., 14 of Schizophyllum commune and 11 of Cordyceps spp.. Especially, 10 isolates, Ganoderma lucidum IY003 and IY009, Lentinus edodes IY103, Lyophyllum sp. IY402, Agaricus sp. IY701 and IY703, Schizophyllum commune IY804, IY810 and IY818, Cordyceps sp. IY902, were indicated below 80% of glutamic pyruvate transaminase activity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.114-118
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• 2001

The present study was undertaken to investigate whether or not the hepatoprotective activity of acetylbergenin was superior to bergenin in carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-intoxicated rat. Acetylbergenin was synthesized by acetylating bergenin, which was isolated from Mallotus japonicus. The hepatoprotective effects of acetylbergenin were examined against $CCl_4$-induced liver damage in rats by means of serum and liver biochemical Indices. Acetylbergenin was administered orally once daily for 7 successive days, then a 0.5 ${m/kg}$ mixture of $CCl_4$in olive oil (1:1) was intraperitoneally injected at 12 h and 36 h after the final administration of acetylbergenin. Pretreatment with acetylbergenin reduced the elevated serum enzymatic activities of alanine/aspartate aminotransferase, sorbitol dehydrogenase and $\gamma$-glutamyltransferase in a dose dependent fashion. Acetylbergenin also prevented the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde formation and depletion of glutathione content dose dependently in $CCl_4$-intoxicates rats. In addition, the decreased activities of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase were restored to almost normal levels. The results of this study strongly suggest that acetylbergenin n has potent hepatoprotective activity against $CCl_4$-induced hepatic damage in rats by glutathione-mediated detoxification as well as having free radical scavenging activity. In addition, acetylbergenin doses of 50 ${mg/kg}$showed almost the same levels of hepatoprotection activity as 100 ${mg/kg}$ of bergenin, indicating that lipophilic acetylbergenin is more active against the antihepatotoxic effects of $CCl_4$ than those of the much less lipophilic bergenin.