• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.582-585
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• 1996

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.261-264
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• 2002

The heartwood of Caeralpinia sappan L. (Leguminosae) has been used to activate blood flow, remove blood stasis, reduce swelling and relieve pain in Korean folk medicine. In this study. the antioxidant effects of this crude drug and its hepatoprotective activity on CCl$_4$-induced liver injury in rats were evaluated. The levels of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) reduced by CCl$_4$treatment, were recovered by this crude drug. It is suggested that Caesalpinia sappan L. have antioxidant effect. The increased levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) by CCl$_4$were also recovered by treatment with this crude drug. These results can be attributed to the agent's antioxidant and membrane - stabilizing actions.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.273-279
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• 2009

GATA-binding protein-3 (GATA-3) and T-box expressed in T-cells (T-bet) are now considered as master transcription factors involving Th cell differentiation, but the roles of these factors are still uncertain in vivo. This study was conducted to investigate the expression of these transcription factors in the liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) in rats. In this study, liver damage were induced with Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi water extracts (SBW) and followed for 4 weeks. The expression of GATA-3 and T-bet protein in liver damage induced by $CCl_4$ and the serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgE were studied after 4 weeks of treatment. We found that effect of SBW on IFN-$\gamma$, STAT1, pSTAT1 and T-bet was decreased in vivo. Several genes were demonstrated to be IL-4 inducible prior to the discovery of STAT6. $CCl_4$+SBW group was significantly lower than $CCl_4$ group in IL-4, STAT6, pSTAT6 and GATA-3. Our data indicate that cytokine protein production were increased in $CCl_4$ group and $CCl_4$+SBW group. From these results, water extracts obtained from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi may have an immunoregulatory effect in the liver induced by $CCl_4$ of rats.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.95-101
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• 2020

Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease that is accompanied by hyper proliferation of the epidermis, erythema of various sizes, and ulceration. However, the mechanism of the development of psoriasis dermatitis is unclear. Recently, it is known that the inflammatory cytokines and Th17 cells as well as chemokine (CC motif) ligand 20 (CCL20) are involved in the process of keratinocytes hyper-differentiation, which is common in psoriasis dermatitis. Therefore, we studied the effects of yakuchinone-A, an active ingredient of Alpinia oxyphylla Miquel known for its anti-inflammatory activity, to improve psoriasis dermatitis. First, cytotoxicity of yakuchinone-A was observed in cell counting kit-8 assay and not observed in 10 ㎍/mL concentration on the human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Yakuchinone-A in the presence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) on HaCaT cells inhibited mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α by up to 61.4±7.5, 23.6±1.5, 46.0±4.8%. CCL20, a chemokine that attracts immune cells such Th17 cells to the inflammation location, was also significantly suppressed by yakuchinone-A. In addition, IκB and STAT3 phosphorylation involved in the CCL20 expression was inhibited by yakuchinone-A in a concentration-dependent manner up to the level of 79.1±5.0, 80.8±2.3%. Furthermore, yakuchinone-A downregulated CCL20 mRNA expression level on IL-17A-activated HaCaT cells as a concentration-dependent manner. Based on these results, yakuchinone-A is expected to be developed as a new material for improving psoriasis dermatitis in the future.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.203-207
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• 2008

The present study aimed at assessing the protective effect of water extract from fruit body of the Grifola frondosa (GFW) on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity. Rats orally administered with GFW 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 g/kg for 14 days were treated with $CCl_4$ to induce hepatotoxicity. Pretreatment with GFW remarkably prevented the elevation of serum AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, $\gamma$-GTP, and liver lipid peroxides in $CCl_4$-treated rat and GFW administration in liver injured rats by $CCl_4$ showed significant (p<0.05) protection of liver as evidenced from normal serum enzymes and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. In the ultrastructural changes, administration of $CCl_4$-induced damage of hepatocytes with vacuolation, a highly damaged endoplasmic reticulum, and degenerating nuclei. However, pre-administration with GFW preserved normal ultrastructure of hepatocytes. These results suggest that GFW had an effect to inhibit $CCl_4$-induced liver injury in rat, and that it could be used as an effective hepatoprotective agent against chemical-induced liver damage.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 1996

The hypothesis that calcium provoke $O_2^-$ formation by Kupffer cells and may contribute to carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_4)$ induced liver injury was studied in SD rats. In $CCl_4-treated$ animals, hepatic malonaldehyde (nmole/gm liver) and plasma ALT (IU/ml) levels elevated significantly from $119.63{\pm}13.00$ to $268.97{\pm}14.82$ and from $17.3{\pm}0.18$ to $806.08{\pm}37.63$, respectively, compared to those in controls. Activation of Kupffer cells with high dose of retinol (250,000 IU/kg/day, po, for 7 day) significantly enhanced ALT levels, while inactivation of Kupffer cells with gadolinium chloride (7.5 mg/kg/day, ip, for 2 day) attenuated the increase of serum ALT level following $CCl_4$ treatment. Diltiazem (10 mg/kg/day, ip for 2 day) given in combination with retinol led to a marked decrease in ALT levels compare to the level in rats treated only with retinol against $CCl_4$ treatment. In order to determine any alterations in cytochrome P450 activities, the P450 content and the CYP2E1 activity were measured and all $CCl_4-treated$ rats showed significantly lower levels compared to those in controls and vehicle-treated animals. There were significant increases in glutathione peroxidase in all $CCl_4-treated$ rats except diltiazem treated groups. No difference was found among untreated and vehicle-treated rats. It is concluded that Kupffer cells contribute to $CCl_4-induced$ liver injury and that calcium antagonist attenuated the increased $CCl_4-induced$ liver injury due to activation of Kupffer cells.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.217-222
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• 2009

The purpose of this study evaluated the immunoregulatory effect of phellinus linteus ethanol (PLE) extracts on liver damage on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) induced in rats. Four-week old Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the three experimental groups randomly; Control group, $CCl_4$ group, $CCl_4$ + PLE group. We found that effect of PLE on $IFN-\gamma$, STAT1 and pSTAT1 was decrease in vivo. Several genes were demonstrated to be IL-4 inducible prior to the discovery of STAT6. IL-4, STAT6 and pSTAT6 decreased significantly lower in $CCl_4$ + PLE than the $CCl_4$ group. Our data indicated that cytokine protein production were increased in $CCl_4$ group with $CCl_4$ + PLE group. In our data indicate that IgA levels in MLN lymphocytes were low, while IgE was high in $CCl_4$ + PLE group compared with $CCl_4$ group. Therefore, the results of this study show that PLE can be proposed to protect the liver against $CCl_4$-induced immunoregulatory activity in rats.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.865-870
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• 2003

Opuntia ficus-indica is widely used as folk medicine for burned wound, edema and indigestion, etc. After the adaptation of rats for seven days, OF (200mg/kg) was administered into rats intraperitoneally every day for two weeks. On the 14th day, $3.3m\ell$ of $CCl_4$ (50% $CCl_4$ : Olive oil = 1 : 1) was treated to rats and on the 15th day, they were operated. We measured the levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, total lipid and triglyceride (TG) in serum and Malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissue. Opuntia ficus-indica and $CCl_4$-treated group (OFC) significantly decreased lipid peroxidation by 32.6% compared to $CCl_4$-treated abnomal group (CTA). Total lipid and TC of OFC administered group were lower than those of CTA group. Cholesterol levels showed significant effect in OFC group. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in OFC administered group were decreased by 12.7% and 17.4%, respectively, compared to those of CTA group. HDL-cholesterol in OFC administration group was increased by 19.7% compared to CTA group. This finding suggests that lipid peroxidation was inhibited in the significant level when $CCl_4$-induced rats were treated with OF. Based on this analysis, further study to identify the active components in this sample is warranted.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.243-250
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• 2009

Fifty percent ethanol extract of Lythrum salicaria Linne root (LSR) was tested in vitro on antioxidant activity, and furthermore was investigated on antioxidative and fibrosis protecting activities in $CCL_4$-induced liver fibrosis rat model. Ratio of hepatic GSH/GSSG (reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione) as bio-parameter of antioxidant level in $CCL_4$ plus LSR-treated rats for 6 weeks significantly increased from 2.8- to 5.7-fold than that of $CCL_4$-treated rats at p < 0.05. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) contents in $CCL_4$ plus LSR-treated rats ranged from 1.57- to 2.19-fold of normal rats and were lower than those in $CCL_4$ plus silymarin-treated rats ($1.78{\sim}2.46$-fold of normal rats) (p < 0.05). Amounts of hydroxyproline of liver tissue showing the content of total collagen, a parameter of fibrosis, in $CCL_4$ plus LSR-administrated rat livers were $4.9{\sim}8.8{\mu}g$/mg ($-47{\sim}-71%$, compared with that in $CCL_4$-treated rat livers ($16.6{\mu}g$/mg tissue), which were significantly lower than those in $CCL_4$ plus silymarin-administrated rats being $8.4{\sim}11.7{\mu}g$/mg ($-30{\sim}-50%$). This collagen reducing effect of liver tissue in $CCL_4$ plus LSR-treated rats was supported by histological observation using microscopy assay. From the results, we conclude that the root of L. salicaria have efficient antioxidant potential and effective antifibrotic activities.