• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.49-51
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• 1984

After pretreatment with ginseng followed by induction of acute intoxication of alcohol, the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system (MEOS) and aldehyde dehydrogenase(Ald DH) increased respectively compared to the groups treated with alcohol alone. In case that ginseng was given to rats fed with 5% alcohol instead of water for 60 days, the activities of ADH and MEOS increased compared to the groups treated. On the contrary, the activity of Ald DH in mitochondrial fraction decreased to an extent of about 35% in chronic alcoholism, but after pretreatment of ginseng the activity was restored to the control level. On the other hand, the catalase activity was not significantly affected by either treatment. Ginseng butanol fraction significantly increased the serum isocitrate dehydrogenase activity which is inhibited by alcohol-treated in rat. Alcohol-induced lactate dehydrogenase activity was decreased to control level in liver by ginseng treatment. And the serum level of lactic acid also decreased by ginseng treatment in alcohol-intoxicated rat. Ginseng butanol fraction markedly decreased the xanthine oxidase activity in the ethanol-treated rat liver. It was also observed that ginseng reduced the blood concentration of uric acid on experimentally reduced hyperuricemia by alcohol treatment. Uricase activity was not affected by either treatment. Ginseng butanol fraction decreased the hepatic aniline hydroxylase activity which was induced by alcohol-treated rat. These results suggest that the treatment with ginseng can be promoted the recovery from alcohol intoxication and some therapeutic effect on alcoholinduced metabolic disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.145-150
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• 1995

Alcoholic liver disease is defined by the development of three types of liver damage following chronic heavy alcohol consumption, namely, alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis, The clinical features and laboratory tests often do not distinguish among these types of liver injuries. In addition, a considerable number of the patients who have clinical and laboratory features compatible with alcoholic liver disease are diagnosed on liver biopsy to have chronic viral hepatitis or other lesion. Because of these factors, liver biopsy is frequently needed to arrive a definite diagnosis of the disease, its activity, and its chronicity. Fatty liver is usually a benign and reverible condition that disappears on abstinence from alcohol. However, alcoholic hepatitis is usually regarded as a precursor of cirrhosis. The principle factors in the development of alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis are the quantity and length of ingestion of alcohol. women are much more susceptible than men to hepatic injuries. Since only 10 - 20% of alcoholics develop cirrhosis, however, it is conceivable that other factors, either genetic, environmental, or nutritional may contribute in the genesis of liver injuries. The most important factor in the treatment of alcoholic liver disease is prolonzed abstinence from alcohol, since abstinence by itself improves clinical status and survival, Nutritional support in patients with nutritional deficiency, and specific drug therapies such as corticosteroid or anabolic steroids for hospitaliged patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis also play an important role in devreasing morbidity and improving survival. Liver transplantation is a newer treatment modality in the patients with advanced cirrhosis, not responsible to medical treatment.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

Objectives Ethanol is a potent inhibitor of muscle protein synthesis. Muscle mass is regulated by the balance between rates of protein synthesis and protein breakdown. Both acute and chronic alcohol consumption inhibits synthesis to a greater extent than degradation. Protein synthesis is more intensely decreased in type II fibers than in type I fibers. Apoptosis has been shown to occur frequently in a variety of tissues in response to chronic alcohol feeding. Increased muscle fiber apoptosis has been shown in alcoholics with myopathy. Pueraria radix has been used for many disorders such as fevers, gastrointestinal disorders, muscle aches, allergies, respiratory problems, skin problems, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, lowering cholesterol and treating chronic alcoholism. We therefore tested the hypothesis that oral treatment with Pueraria radix could reduce the ethanol-induced muscle atrophy. Methods Young male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally given 25% ethanol (5 ml/kg, body weight) daily with Ethanol for 4 weeks. Normal group was similarly administrated with saline. The Rats of Pueraria radix treated group (EtOH+PR) were orally administrated Pueraria radix water extract, and rats of EtOH group were given with the vehicle only. After 4 week, the morphology of gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The immunoreactivities of pre-apoptotic BAX and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins were also measured. Results The muscles from rats of EtOH group represented a significant reduction in average cross section area compared to Normal group. EtOH+PR group had increased fiber compared to the EtOH group. Moreover, to investigate the ethanol-induced muscular apoptosis, the immunohistochemical analysis of Bax and Bcl-2 was carried out. The treatment with Pueraria radix (EtOH+PR) significantly decreased BAX expression and increased Bcl-2 expression 4 weeks after ethanol administration when compared with Normal group. Conclusions These results suggest that Pueraria radix water extract has protective effects on chronic alcohol induced myopathy.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.138-145
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• 1995

The causes of complicated chronic insomnia are very various and interact with vicious circle. Patient with this insomnia has generally a strong fear and frustration about failing to control of sleep and a deep mistrust toward doctor. To solve this complicated problems detailed history taking and sleep questionnaires are needed with objective polysomnography. Through these procedures, doctor should clarify causes of insomnia and explain them to patient in details and kindly. This process would be very helpful to restore the mistrustful relationship between patient and doctor and reduce patient's vague fear for insomnia. In treatment of complicated chronic insomnia, it is most important for patient to understand his problems and participate in the treatment schedule actively with assurance. Also doctor should encourage patient persistently not to be drop out. Most important factor for prognosis is patient's personality. Causes of complicated chronic insomnia are like these, overdose of hypnotics and sedatives, daily drinking alcohol with hypnotics, insomnia associated depression, delayed sleep phase syndrome, sleep state misperception, marked fear for insomnia, hyperarousal at bed, insomnia associated periodic leg movement and sleep apnea, chronic hypnotic insomnia, and immature personality. And possible treatments of these insomnias were discussed.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.503-512
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• 2017

Background: Chronic heavy alcohol consumption may raise the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Saponins inhibit apoptosis of pancreatic islet cells and reduce lipid parameters. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of saponin on chronic ethanol-treated diabetic rats. Methods: Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (LETO) and Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats were pair-fed a Lieber-DeCarli diet with and without 5% ethanol for 12 wks. Two weeks after starting the pair-feeding with the Lieber-DeCarli diet, intraperitoneal injection of saponin was performed for 10 wks. To perform the experiments, rats were divided as follows: LETO-Control (LC), LETO-Ethanol (LE), LETO-Ethanol-Saponin (LES), OLETF-Control (OC), OLETF-Ethanol (OE), and OLETF-Ethanol-Saponin (OES). Results: The weights of epididymal and mesenteric fat tissue in LES and OES rats were the lightest from among the LETO and OLETF groups, respectively. The secretion of alanine aminotransferase and cholesterol in OES rats decreased significantly compared to their secretion in OC and OE rats, respectively. The islets of the pancreas in LE and OE rats showed clean, unclear, and smaller morphology compared to those of LC, LES, OC, and OES rats. In addition, the expression of insulin in the islets of the pancreas in LC, LES, OC, and OES rats was higher than in LE and OE rats. Conclusion: Saponin may not only be helpful in alleviating the rapid progress of diabetes due to chronic alcohol consumption in diabetic patients, but may also show potential as an antidiabetic drug candidate for diabetic patients who chronically consume alcohol.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2023

Purpose : Excessive alcohol causes damage to skeletal muscles, leading to the development of a specific disease entity called alcoholic myopathy. Chronic inflammation is related as an underlying mechanism for the loss of muscle mass induced by alcohol. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α) and IL-6 (interleukin-6) play a role in this process. The acupuncture point Feng Shi (GB 31) is located on the midline of the lateral aspect of the thigh, above the transverse popliteal crease. This acupoint is used for the treatment of weakness, atrophy, numbness, and post-stroke symptoms of lower limbs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Feng Shi stimulation on muscle atrophy caused by chronic alcohol administration. Method : Young male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups of eight each: Normal, Control, and GB31. The rats in the Control and GB31 groups were orally given 25 % ethanol (5 ㎖/kg, body weight) daily for 4 weeks. The Normal group was similarly administered saline. The acupressure at Feng Shi was treated to rats in the GB31 group. After 4 weeks, the body weight, muscle weight and cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius were assessed and the histological changes in gastrocnemius muscle fiber were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Moreover, TNF-α and IL-6 expressions were immunohistochemistrically evaluated. Results : Acupressure stimulation at Feng Shi had a protective effect on the weight reduction of the gastrocnemius muscle caused by alcohol intake, and had an effect of suppressing anatomical change in muscle fiber and decreasing the average cross-sectional area. Also, the immunoreactivities of TNF-α and IL-6 in the GB31 group were decreased. Conclusion : These results suggest that acupressure at Feng Shi has protective effects on chronic alcohol-induced muscle atrophy by inhibiting pre-inflammatory proteins such as TNF-α and IL-6.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.137-141
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• 2005

The critical role of folate in the remethylation pathway for methionine synthesis from homocysteine has been well documented. Hyperhomocysteinemia resulting from inadequate folate nutrition has been implicated in increased incidence of macrovascular diseases, colorectal cancer, neural tube defects, etc. Chronic exposure to ethanol impairs folate nutrition and one-carbon metabolism in the liver, which often results in fatty liver due to a defective remetylation process. This study was carried out to investigate the chronic effects of moderate levels of alcohol and dietary folate on plasma homocysteine levels, and on histopathology and biochemical functions of the liver. Rats were raised on experimental diets with three levels of folate (0, 2, 8 mg/kg diet), and 50% ethanol (1.8 ml/kg body weight) was administered intragastically by intubation tubes three times a week for 10 weeks. Plasma homocysteine concentrations were found to be significantly influenced by dietary folate intake and alcohol administration. Among all treatment groups, plasma homocysteine levels were the highest in the animals receiving a combined treatment of folate deficient diet and alcohol administration. Plasma homocysteine concentrations were negatively correlated with folate concentration in the plasma (p<0.01) and liver (p<0.05). Among alcohol treated rats, increase in plasma homocysteine values due to macrovascular and microvascular fatty changes and spotted necrosis were observed more frequently in folate-deficient animals diet than those on folate-adequate and folate supplemented diets in alcohol-treated rats. These results indicate that folate supplementation above the recommended level might be beneficial in the prevention of alcohol-related hyperhomocysteinemia and abnormal histologic changes in the liver.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.1121-1129
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• 1998

The critical role of folate vitamin in the remethylation pathway for methionine synthesis from homocysteine has been well documented. Hyperhomocysteinemia resulting from inadequate folate nutrition has been implicated in increased incidence of macrovascular diseases, colorectal cancer, neural tube defects, etc. Chronic exposure to ethanol impairs folate nutrition and one-carbon metabolism in the liver, which often results in fatty liver due to a defective remethylation process. This study was carried out to investigate the chronic effects of moderate levels of alcohol and dietary 131ate on plasma homocysteine levels, and on histopathology and biochemical functions of the liver Rats were raised on experimental diets with three levels of folate(0, 2, 8mg/kg diet), and 50% ethanol(1.8m1/kg body weight) was administered intragastrically by intubation tubes three times a week for 10 weeks. Plasma homocysteine concentrations were found to be significantly influenced by dietary folate intake and alcohol administration. Among all treatment groups, Plasma homocysteine levels were highest in the animals receiving a combined treatment of folate deficient diet and alcohol administration. Plasma homocysteine concentration was negatively correlated with folate concentration in the plasma(p<0.01) and liver(p<0.05). Among alcohol treated rats, increase in plasma homocysteine values due to ethanol was prevented by 131ate supplementation. When liver histological tests were performed, macrovascular and microvascular fatty changes and spotted necrosis were observed more frequently in folate-deficient animals diet than those on folate-adequate and folate-supplemented diets in alcohol-treated rats. These results indicate that folate supplementation above the recommended level might be beneficial in the prevention of alcohol-related hyperhomocystei-nemia and abnormal histologic changes in the liver due. (Korean J Nutrition 31(7) : l121-l129, 1998)

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2021

We have previously reported that Acer tegmentosum extract, which is traditionally used in Korea to reduce alcohol-related liver injury, suppresses liver inflammation caused by excessive alcohol consumption and might improve metabolism. The active ingredient, 6-O-galloylsalidroside (GAL), was isolated from A. tegmentosum, and we hypothesized that GAL could provide desirable pharmacological benefits by ameliorating physiological conditions caused by alcohol abuse. Therefore, this study focused on whether GAL could ameliorate alcoholic fat accumulation and repair liver injury in mice. During chronic alcohol consumption plus binge feeding in mice, GAL was administered orally once per day for 11 days. Intrahepatic lipid accumulation was measured in vivo using a noninvasive method, ¹H magnetic resonance imaging, and confirmed by staining with hematoxylin and eosin and Oil Red O. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured using a Konelab system, and the triglyceride content was measured in liver homogenates using an enzymatic peroxide assay. The results suggested that GAL alleviated alcohol-induced steatosis,e as indicated by decreased hepatic and serum triglyceride levels in ethanol-fed mice. GAL treatment also correlated with a decrease in the Cd36 mRNA expression, thus potentially inhibiting the development of alcoholic steatosis via the hepatic de novo lipogenesis pathway. Furthermore, treatment with GAL inhibited the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 and attenuated hepatocellular damage, as reflected by a reduction in ALT and AST levels. These findings suggest that GAL extracted from A. tegmentosum has the potential to serve as a bioactive agent for the treatment of alcoholic fatty liver and liver damage.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.303-307
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• 2003

The aim of this study is to investigate whether alcohol alters learning and memory processes pertaining to emotional and spatial factors using the active avoidance and T-maze task in zebrafish. In the active avoidance task, zebrafish were trained to escape from one compartment to another to avoid electric shocks (unconditioned stimulus) following a conditioned light signal. Acquisition of active avoidance task appeared to be normal in zebrafish that were treated with 1% alcohol for 30 min for 17 days until the end of the behavioral test, and retention ability of learned behavior, tested 2 days later, was the same as control group. In the T-maze task, the time to find a reservoir was compared. While the latency was similar during the 1 st training session between control and alcohol-treated zebrafish, it was significantly longer in alcohol-treated zebrafish during retention test 24 h later. Furthermore, when alcohol was treated 30 min after 2nd session without prior treatment, zebrafish demonstrated similar retention ability compared to control. These results suggest that chronic alcohol treatment alters spatial learning of zebrafish, but not emotional learning.