• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.458-477
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the trend in the research on alcoholic liver disease (ALD) using Korean traditional medicine. Methods: This review was conducted using six electronic databases (NDSL, KMBASE, Koreantk, KISS, KISTI, and KoreaMed) with no restrictions in year. The search terms were "alcoholic liver disease", "alcoholic fatty liver", "alcoholic hepatitis", "alcoholic cirrhosis", "herbal medicine", "acupuncture" and "traditional medicine". The searched studies were analyzed according to the type of research. Results: After screening, 37 studies were selected among 552. The types of studies were as follows: 8 in vivo studies, 17 case reports, 7 case series, 1 assessment scale study, 1 randomized controlled trial, and 3 research reviews. The in vivo studies reported the efficacy and its mechanism in the animal phase of single or complex herbal medicine. In the clinical research, interventions such as herbal medicine and acupuncture were most commonly used for ALD treatment. Conclusions: We analyzed the trends in ALD treatment using Korean traditional medicine through this review. The results showed that Korean traditional medicine could be an effective method for ALD treatment. Conducting related in-depth studies, such as well-designed randomized controlled trial based on the results of experimental research, is necessary.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.264-269
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• 2013

Silymarin has been introduced fairly recently as a hepatoprotective agent. But its mechanisms of action still have not been well established. The aim of this study was to make alcoholic fatty liver model of rats in a short time and investigate silymarin's protective effects and possible mechanisms on alcoholic fatty liver for rats. The model of rat's alcoholic fatty liver was induced by intragastric infusion of ethanol and high-fat diet for six weeks. Histopathological changes were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE). The activities of alanine transarninase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), the levels of total bilirubin (TBIL), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) in serum were detected with routine laboratory methods using an autoanalyzer. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver homogenates were measured by spectrophotometry. The TG content in liver tissue was determined by spectrophotometry. The expression of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the liver were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Silymarin effectively protected liver from alcohol-induced injury as evidenced by improving histological damage situation, reducing ALT and AST activities and TBIL level in serum, increasing SOD and GPx activities and decreasing MDA content in liver homogenates and reducing TG content in liver tissue. Additionally, silymarin markedly downregulated the expression of NF-${\kappa}B$ p65, ICAM-1 and IL-6 in liver tissue. In conclusion, Silymarin could protect against the liver injury caused by ethanol administration. The effect may be related to alleviating lipid peroxidation and inhibiting the expression of NF-${\kappa}B$.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.613-619
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• 2001

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of Gamichunggan-san(Jiaweiqinggan-san) on 25 patients who have suffered from alcoholic liver disease. Methods: Gamichunggan-san(Jiaweiqinggan-san) was administered to patients for over 1 months continuously. We checked improvement of clinical symptoms, changes of chemistry hematological test and especially lymphocyte count. Results: The results obtained are summarized as follows. Gamichunggan-san(Jiaweiqinggan-san) has significant effect on the improvement of clinical symptoms. And the improvement ratio of AST, ALT, ${\gamma}$-GTP was 77.8%, 61.5%, 76.2%. In patients with alcohoiic hepatitis, WBC was increased effectively within normal range and those with liver cirrhosis, All of the patients with the inverted ratio of lymphocyte was improved. Conclusions: From the above results, it is suggested that Gamichunggan-san(Jiaweiqinggan-san) have significant effects on recovery of liver malfunction and immune modulation, and also could be recommended as a prescription for alcoholic liver disease.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.949-957
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to report a case of alcoholic liver disease with jaundice that was improved with Korean medicine treatment. Methods: A patient who developed jaundice due to continuous drinking was treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping. Blood tests were performed to measure the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP), total bilirubin, albumin, and total protein; AST/ALT ratio; and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Jaundice parameters were subjectively recorded at 3-day intervals. Results: After treatment, the AST, ALT, ALP, γ-GTP, and total bilirubin levels; MCV; and jaundice were decreased. Conclusion: Korean medicine treatment appeared to be an effective method for alcoholic liver disease with jaundice.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2013

The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide. Obesity can cause hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Many environmental or genetic factors have been suggested to contribute to the development of obesity, but there is no satisfactory explanation for its increased prevalence. This review discusses the latest updates on the role of the gut microbiota in obesity and NAFLD.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.225-231
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• 2008

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with various metabolic abnormalities, including central obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and high blood pressure. This suggests that NAFLD may represent the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. In this study, we investigated unfavorable effects NAFLD on components of metabolic syndrome in post-menopause women. Eight hundred sixty-nine postmenopausal women were recruited for this study. The diagnosis of fatty liver was based on the results of abdominal ultrasonography. Serum levels of fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol were measured. The prevalence of component of metabolic syndrome such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and low-HDL-cholesterol was significantly higher in subjects with NAFLD as compared with those without NAFLD. The moderate to severe grade of NAFLD presented higher levels of serum fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, and triglycerides than the mild NAFLD and the normal group. In conclusion, metabolic syndrome risk was increased in post-menopause women with NAFLD as compared with those without NAFLD. The severity of NAFLD affected metabolic syndrome risk factors. The optimal strategy for the treatment of NAFLD is likely to include lifestyle modifications and therapy to improve insulin resistance.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

Probiotics have been extensively studied for their beneficial effects on human health. In particular, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains have gained considerable attention as major groups of probiotic bacteria that improve gastrointestinal health. However, emerging evidence suggests that probiotics offer benefits beyond those observed in the gut recent studies suggest that probiotics and/or their components exert favorable effects on alcoholic liver disease (ALD) pathogenesis such as decreasing intestinal permeability, inhibiting pathogenic bacteria growth, increasing the activity of alcohol metabolism enzymes, modulating the adaptive immune system, and suppressing fatty acid synthesis genes. In this review, we discuss the results of in vivo and in vitro studies that have examined the use of probiotics to prevent ALD, primarily focusing on those that explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the activities of promising probiotic strains. The evidence presented in this review could help in screening for probiotic strains that have protective effects in ALD patients and in further elucidating the mechanisms of their actions.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.74-79
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• 2015

Objectives: Here we investigated the anti-lipogenic potential of kaurenoic acid (KA), a diterpene derived from Aralia continentalis, in a cellular model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with palmitate for 24h to induce intracellular lipid accumulation. To assess the influence of KA on steatotic HepG2 cells, various concentration of KA was co-administered. After palmitate treatment, Intracellular triglyceride content was measured. Expression level of several lipogenic genes, sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) were measured using Western-blot analyses or RT-PCR. Results: Palmitate markedly increased intracellular triglyceride level and expression of related lipogenic genes in HepG2 cells, and which was relieved by co-administered KA. Conclusions: It is conceivable that that KA may have a pharmacological potential to reduce lipid accumulation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.224-229
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the clinical effectiveness of Korean medicine, especially Palmijihwang-hwan and Oryung-san, on an alcoholic liver disease patient with fatigue and dizziness. Methods: A patient was treated with Korean medicine, including herbal decoction, acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping. Then, the patient was asked about his condition every day and underwent liver function tests three times. Results: After 13 days of treatment, fatigue decreased by 80%, and dizziness disappeared on the second day of hospitalization. It also recovered from indigestion and abdominal distension. Conclusions: According to this study, Korean medicine, including Palmijihwang-hwan and Oryung-san, is an effective treatment for symptoms associated with alcoholic liver disease.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.204-209
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• 2008

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is typically associated with obesity and insulin resistance. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a more serious form of NAFLD. Although fibrosis is common in pediatric NASH, cirrhosis has been rarely reported. Patients with hypothalamic or pituitary dysfunction are at risk for obesity and insulin resistance with subsequent development of NAFLD. We report a case of NAFLD progressing to cirrhosis in an obese 16 year-old boy with hypopituitarism.