Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine (동의생리병리학회지)

The Physiological Society of Korean Medicine and The Society of Pathology in Korean Medicine (대한동의생리학회·한의병리학회)
권호 표지

Protective Effect of the Herbal Combination HCE-2 on Alcohol Metabolism and Alcohol-induced Liver Injury in Ethanol-loaded Rats

한약 복합추출물 HCE-2가 알코올을 투여한 쥐의 알코올 대사 및 간기능에 미치는 영향

  • Han, Dong-Oh (Acupuncture & Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Park, Soo-Jin (The Graduate School of East-West Medical School, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Sur, Bong-Jun (Acupuncture & Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Lee, Hye-Jung (Acupuncture & Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Kim, Sung-Hoon (Department of Pathology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Hahm, Dae-Hyun (Acupuncture & Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University)
  • 한동오 (경희대학교 침구경락과학연구센터) ;
  • 박수진 (경희대학교 동서의학대학원 동서의학과) ;
  • 서봉준 (경희대학교 침구경락과학연구센터) ;
  • 이혜정 (경희대학교 침구경락과학연구센터) ;
  • 김성훈 (경희대학교 한의과대학 병리학교실) ;
  • 함대현 (경희대학교 침구경락과학연구센터)
  • Published : 2007.10.25
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Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the medicinal effects of the herbal combination extracts-2 (HCE-2), consisting of Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Lonicera japonica Thunb., Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, and Hovenia dulcis Thunb. on the alcohol-induced liver injury in rats. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group (n =6), non-treated control group (n =6), saline-treated group (n =6) and the herbal combination extract (HCE-2)-treated group (n =6). The rats in the alcohol-loaded groups were orally administered with ethanol at a daily dose of 4 g/kg-body weight for 5 weeks. Thirty minutes before the ethanol injection, saline or herbal combination extracts was administered by using a gastrogavage. Blood and liver tissue samples were taken out from the hearts and livers of the rats, respectively, on 15th and 38th days. The activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We also investigated the protective effect of the herbal combination extracts by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining on histological sections of rat liver. In this study, the oral administration of the herbal combination extracts significantly reduced the serum levels of AST and ALT, which had been raised by alcohol-induced liver injury. Histological analysis and apparent observation of liver also showed the preventive effect of the herbal combination extracts in a chronic alcohol-induced rat model. Theses results revealed that the herbal combination extracts effectively prevented hepatic damage consequent to the chronic exposure to repetitive administration of ethanol and could be used as a primary resource of a health beverage or herbal medicine, alleviating the alcohol-induced hepatic injury and hangover symptoms.

Keywords

References

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