• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.65-73
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• 2011

Objectives : The present study was evaluated the protective roles of Spatholobi Caulis in hepatotoxic rats due to APAP overdose. Methods : In experiments, rats were orally administrated with the aqueous extract of Spatholobi Caulis (SCE; 50, 100 mg/kg) for 4 days and then, orally gavage with APAP (1.2 g/kg) to induce acute liver damage. Results : Oral injection of APAP caused severe hepatic injury. Plasma ALT, AST and LDH levels were significantly elevated, but SCE significantly decreased ALT, AST and LDH to the normal level. In histopathological analysis, peripheral hemorrhage around portal triads and central necrosis around central veins were founded after APAP treatment. However, these histopathological changes were recovered by SCE pretreatment. SCE also decreased the percentage of generative hepatic regions (%/$mm^2$ hepatic parenchyma), the numbers of inflammatory cells (cells/$mm^2$ hepatic parenchyma) and the number of degenerative hepatic cells (N/100 hepatic cellls) which were significantly elevated after APAP injection. Furthermore, SCE down-regulated the contents of hepatic MDA and up-regulated hepatic GSH. SCE also inhibited the decrease in the expression of pro-caspase-3 by APAP treatment. Conclusions : Collectively, these data indicate that SCE protected APAP-induced hapatic damages through antioxidative and anti-apoptotic process. These findings the significant therapeutic potential of SCE during APAP-induced liver injury.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.389-395
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• 2003

Artemisia is a major edible vegetable in Korea and it has traditionally been used as a herbal medicine for the treatment of coughing, abdominal pain, indigestion, bleeding, jaundice, chronic liver disease and diabetes. However the biological and pharmacological actions of the herb have not been studied well. Recently it is known to possess antibacterial, antihelmintic and antifertility activities. But the effect of Artemisia capillaris extract on carbon tetrachloride($CCl_4$) induced liver damage in dogs have not been reported yet. This study was designed to investigate the effect .of Artemisia capillaris crude juice extract on $CCl_4$ induced liver damage in dogs. 30 clinically healthy dogs were divided into 2 groups: crude Artemisia capillaris juice treated group(CEC group) and carbon tetrachloride($CCl_4$) administerd group. The results are as follows: I. The degree of increase in AST activity and ALT activity in CEC group was lower than that in $CCl_4$ group and the recovery in CEC group was faster than that in $CCl_4$ group. 2. Changes of ALP concentration in CEC group were significant(P < 0.05) but changes of Total-bilirubin concentration were not significant(P < 0.05) in both groups. 3. The recovery of GGT concentration in CEC group was faster than that in $CCl_4$ group. 4. Hematological changes other than MCHC were significant(P < 0.05) in CEC group only and changes of GSH and Met-Hb concentration were significant(P < 0.05) in $CCl_4$ group.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.531-538
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• 2004

Ginsan, a polysaccharide isolated from Panax ginseng, has been shown to be a potent immunomodulator, producing a variety of cytokines such as TNF-a, IL-1$\beta$, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-${\gamma}$ and GM-CSF, and stimulating lymphoid cells to proliferate. In the present study, we analyzed some immune functions 1$^{st}$-5$^{th}$ days after ginsan i.p. injection, including the level of non-protein thiols (NPSH) as antioxidants, heme oxygenase (HO) activity as a marker of oxidative stress, zoxazolamine-induced paralysis time and level of hepatic cytochrome P-450 (CYP450) as indices of drug metabolism system, and activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, and albumin level as indicators of hepatotoxicity. Ginsan in the dose of 100 mg/kg caused marked elevation (1.7-2 fold) of HO activity, decrease of total CYP450 level (by 20-34%), and prolongation of zoxazolamine-induced paralysis time (by 65-70%), and showed some differences between male and female mice. Ginsan treatment did not seem to cause hepatic injury, since serum AST, ALT, and ALP activities and levels of total bilirubin and albumin were not changed.d.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.83-93
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• 2008

In order to study the Effects of yindong(LC) on the variation of blood and joint value the gout induced by microcrystalline sodium urate in rats, for LC is one of the important medicine on gout. After pretreatment of LC(50, 500mg/kg) for 5days, the Effects of LC was evaluated on Serum albumin, Serum globulin, glutamate dxalacetate transminase(AST), glutanate pyruvate transminase(ALT), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), Serum creatitine, Serum uric acid, xanthine oxidase activity, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate(ESR), WBC, platelet were measured. The results were obtained as follows : Joint value Increase ratio was not significantly decreased in all LC taken groups compared with the control group. Serum albumin was significantly different in all LC taken groups compared with the control group and Serum globulin was significantly dicreased in 500mg/kgLC taken group compared with the control group. Serum AST, ALT were significantly dicreased in 500mg/kgLC taken group compared with the control group. Serum BUN was significantly decreased in all LC taken groups and Serum creatinine was significantly decreased in 500mg/kgLC taken group compared with the control group. Serum uric acid was significantly different in 500mg/kgLC taken group, and changes in xanthine oxidase activity was significantly decreased in 500mg/kg, 50mg/kgLC taken group. ESR was significantly decreased in all LC taken groups compared with the control group. WBC, platelet count were significantly decreased in 500mg/kgLC taken group compared with the control group. From above results it may be concluded that Yindong can be used for treatment and preventive medcine of gout induced by microcrystalline sodium urate in clinic.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.95-104
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• 2008

This study was designed to investigate the Effects of Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma(SGR) on the gout. After pretreatment of SGR(50, 500mg/kg) for 5days, the Effects of SGR was evaluated on changes Joint value increase ratio, Serum albumin, Serum globulin, glutamate dxalacetate transminase(AST), glutanate pyruvate transminase(ALT), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), Serum creatitine, Serum uric acid, xanthine oxidase activity, WBC, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate(ESR), platelet. The results were obtained as follows ; Joint valueincrease ratio was decreased in 50mg/kg, 500mg/kg SGR taken group, but changes were not significantly different with the control group. AST, ALT were not significantly different in all SGR taken groups compared with the control group. Serum BUN, creatinine were significantly decreased in 500mg/kg SGR taken group compared with control group. ESR was significantly decreased in all SGR taken groups compared with the control group. WBC, platelet were significantly decreased in 500mg/kg SGR taken group compared with control group. Serum uric acid was not significantly different in all SGR taken groups compared with the control group. Xanthine oxidase activity was significantly decreased in 500mg/kg SGR taken group compared with control group. From above results, it may be concluded that SGR can be used for treatment and prevention of gout.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.206-213
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• 2005

This experiment was conducted to find out the therapeutic effect of Artemisia capillaris extracts on hepatic damage in rats induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_{4}$). In this experiment, 96 Sprague-Dawley rats were used as experimental groups, which were divided into 4 groups; control group(A), $CCl_{4}$-treated group(B), $CCl_{4}$+Artemisia extract-treated group(C) and $CCl_{4}$+silymarin-treated group(D). The B, C, D group were administrated single dose of $CCl_{4}$(2.5 ml/kg) to induce acute hepatic injury. C group was administrated with Artemisia capillaris extract(200 mg/kg/day) and D group treated with silymarin(50 mg/kg/day) for 7 days. Hematological, ultrasonographical, histological examinations and examination of antioxidant activity were also performed in all groups. AST and ALT activities of C group were significantly decreased compared with B group. The activities of AST and ALT in C and D groups returned to the normal range more rapidly than those of B group. In ultrasonographic examination, the echogenicity of liver in C group was significantly decreased compared with B group. Also C and D group had tended to recover faster than B group on liver histogram. Histologically, the percentage of degenerative regions and degenerative cell numbers in peri-central vein hepatic parenchyma of C and D group were significantly decreased compared with B group. In examination of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde of hepatic tissue in C group was decreased as compared with B group. In examination of antioxidant enzyme activity in liver, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were significantly increased compared with B group. As results of this study, it is thought that A. capillaris extract has therapeutic effects on hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride, and has the similar therapeutic effects as silymarin in rats.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.209-217
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• 2003

To investigate the effects of low dosed microcystin -LR (MCLR) on the initial stage of subacute hepatotoxicity in vivo, male Sprague-Dawley rats after weanling were divided in four groups. The orally treated group (OG) was administered orally by 1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg B.W. at an interval of three days. The free group (FG) has taken the drinking water including 1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L freely and the control group (CC) was only treated with 0.9％ saline solution All groups were treated for a period of 3 weeks. There was a significant correlation in body growth rate between OG and FC and especially, a deterioration of the growth of spleen was observed in the FG after 5 days. The protein levels were also decreased in OG and FG after 9 days. Level of total fat was increased to the 9th day but again decreased up to the initial level. High hemolysis of the isolated erythrocytes occurred only in OG. Activities of ${\gamma}$-G7 of 0G and FG were higher twice-fold than CG, but the values of OG were already higher at the first treatment day. No significant change in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity was shown in all groups, but the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was slightly increased at the beginning state. There were much similarities in the results of OG and FG. except the growth inhibition of spleen in FG. It may be concluded that long -term effects of the low doses of mycrocystins in animals including human being can lead to serious health problems, especially to liver and spleen.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.501-506
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• 2000

We examined the antifibrotic effect of a methanol extract from Stephania tetrandra (ST) on experimental liver fibrosis. liver fibrosis was induced by bile duct ligation and scission (BDL/S) in rats. In BDL/S rats, activity levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminse (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), concentration of total bilirubin in serum, and hydroxyproline content of the liver were significantly increased. The ST treatment (either 100 ${m}g/kg/day$ or 200 ${m}g/kg/day$, p.o. for 4 weeks) in BDL/S rats reduced the serum AST, ALT and ALP activity levels significantly (p<0.01). Similarly, when compared to the control group, the concentration of hydroxyproline in the livers of the BDL/S rats treated with 100${m}g$ or 200${m}g$ ST treated rats decreased by 40% and 33% respectively, when compared to the BDL/S control group (p<0.01). The morphological characteristics of fibrotic liver that were observed in the BDL/S control group, improved in the ST treated BDL/S group. In the fibrotic liver of BDL/S rats treated with ST, a marked reduction in the numbers of alpha smooth muscle cell actin positive stellate cells was observed. These results indicate that doses of either 100 or 200 ${m}g/kg/day$ of methanol extract from S. tetrandra, had an antifibrotic effect in rats with liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation and scission.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.206-210
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• 2016

Background: Ionizing radiation causes cellular damage and death through the direct damage and/or indirectly the production of ROS, which induces oxidative stress. This study was designed to evaluate the in vivo radioprotective effects of a bio-active material coated fabric (BMCF) against ${\gamma}$-irradiation-induced cellular damage in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Materials and Methods: Healthy male SD rats wore bio-active material coated (concentrations in 10% and 30%) fabric for 7 days after 3 Gy of ${\gamma}$-irradiation. Radioprotective effects were evaluated by performing various biochemical assays including spleen and thymus index, WBC count, hepatic damage marker enzymes [aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT)] in plasma, liver antioxidant enzymes, and mitochondrial activity in muscle. Results and Discussions: Exposure to ${\gamma}$-irradiation resulted in hepatocellular and immune systemic damage. Gamma-irradiation induced decreases in antioxidant enzymes. However, wearing the BMCF-30% decreased significantly AST and ALT activities in plasma. Furthermore, wearing the BMCF-30% increased SOD (superoxide dismutase) and mitochondrial activity. Conclusion: These results suggest that wearing BMCF offers effective radioprotection against ${\gamma}$-irradiation-induced cellular damage in SD rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.385-394
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• 2020

Eupatilin is known to possess anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties. We report here that eupatilin has a protective effect on the ethanol-induced injury in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups: control, vehicle, silymarin, eupatilin 10 mg/kg, eupatilin 30 mg/kg, and eupatilin 100 mg/kg. Plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were analyzed to determine the extent of liver damage. Total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were analyzed to determine the level of liver steatosis. Malondialdehyde level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and glutathione (GSH) level were analyzed to determine the extent of oxidative stress. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β were quantified to verify the degree of inflammation. Based on our findings, chronic alcohol treatment significantly changed the serum indexes and liver indicators of the model rats, which were significantly improved by eupatilin treatment. Rats in the eupatilin-treatment group showed reduced levels of AST, ALT, TG, TC, TNF-α, and IL-1β, increased SOD activity and GSH levels, and improved overall physiology compared to the alcoholic liver disease model rats. H&E staining also verified the eupatilin-mediated improvement in liver injury. In conclusion, eupatilin inhibits alcohol-induced liver injury via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.