• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.409-417
• /
• 1991

To investigate effects of chronic alcohol consumption and tocopherol on lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial respiration 48 male rats of Sprague-Dawley strain were divided into 4 groups. Each group received for 3 weeks one of 4 experimental diets: tocopherol deficient control (TDC), tocopherol deficient-ethanol (TDE), tocopherol-supplemented control (TSC) and tocopherol-supplemented-ethanol (TSE). Composition of the diets was based on the Lieber and Decarli liquid diet and $\alpha$-tocopherol was supplemented at the level of 30mg/liter of diet, and ethanol supplied 36kcal%. TDC and TSC were pair-fed to TDE and TSE, respectively. Increase of body weight of tocopherol deficient-ethanol group was the lowest and the effect was diminished with tocopherol supplementation. Respiration of liver mitochondria was depressed in ethanol-administered groups and the effect became larger with tocopherol deficiency. Hepatic lipid peroxide level was not influenced by ethanol, but hepatic tocopherol content decreased with ethanol treatment. The result indicated that, although lipid perroxide level was unchanged with chronic ethanol consumption, oxidative stress exists in tissues of rate administered ethanol and may be relieved by tocopherol supplementation.

• Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.417-423
• /
• 2018

Anemia appears frequently in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) but has never been linked to bilateral nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). A 65-year-old woman with a medical history of alcoholic cirrhosis was admitted for bilateral NAION. On admission, she was found to have a low arterial pressure and severe normocytic anemia (48 g/L). The anemia was related to chronic bleeding due to antral gastritis along with other factors associated with ALD. The applied treatment consisted of urgent transfusion followed by high doses of proton-pump inhibitors, iron and vitamin supplementation, and support in lifestyle measures. Her hemoglobin levels remained stable after 2 years but the patient still suffered from visual loss. This case highlights the link between anemia and bilateral NAION in ALD patients. The optic nerve head is prone to infarction in this context due to the vascularization characteristics of ALD. Hemoglobin levels should be monitored in ALD patients to avoid the severe complication of NAION.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.277-283
• /
• 2018

Objectives: Ethanol withdrawal following its chronic use is a serious outcome and challenging to treatment. The chronic use of ethanol induces a progressive neuroplasticity in different reigns of brain. In this study we evaluated the effects of aqueous extract of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) and its active compound, crocin, on the withdrawal behavior induced after repeated administration of ethanol, in two regimens of prophylactic (administration of drugs concomitant with the induction of dependence) and treatment (administration of drugs during the period of ethanol withdrawal) in mice which received ethanol. Methods: Ethanol dependence was induced by oral administration of 10% v/v ethanol (2 g/kg) for 7 days. The aqueous extracts of saffron (40, 80 and 160) and crocin (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) were administered to mice in two regimens of prophylactic (along with ethanol) and treatment (during withdrawal period). Diazepam (1 mg/kg) was used as a positive control. Six hours after discontinuation of the ethanol, seizure was evaluated by the sub-convulsive dose of pentyleneltetrazole (PTZ) (30 mg/kg). The open field test and Rota rod test were used for evaluation of locomotor activity and motor incoordination, respectively. Results: Both extracts and crocin increased the number of crossed lined in the open field test. PTZ kindling seizure was inhibited in animals received extract (80 and 160 mg/kg) in both regimens. Motor incoordination was only improved following administration of crocin. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of saffron and crocin can be considered as safe agents and reliable alternative to diazepam in management of ethanol withdrawal syndrome.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.412-420
• /
• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the effect of fermented Hovenia dulcis Thunb fruit water extract on biomarkers for acute (a) ethanol-induced hangover and chronic (c) ethanol-induced liver injury in rats. For acute ethanol-induced hangover, the rats were administered distilled water (D.W., 10 mL/kg body wt.), Hovenia dulcis Thunb fruit water extract (HWE, 400 mg/10 mL/kg body wt.) and fermented HWE (FHWE, 400 mg/10 mL/kg body wt.), respectively, before 40% ethanol (5 g/kg body wt.) was administered. For chronic ethanol-induced liver injury, the rats were randomly divided into the normal control (cNC), ethanol (cET), cET-HWE and cET-FHWE groups. The cNC and cET groups were administered D.W. (10 mL/kg body wt.) before 40% alcohol (5 g/kg body wt.) was administrered for 21 days. The cET-HWE and cET-FHWE groups were administered HWE (400 mg/10 mL/kg body wt.) and FHWE (400 mg/10 mL/kg body wt.), respectively before 40% ethanol (5 g/kg body wt.) administration for 21 days. For acute ethanol-induced hangover, the serum alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations were more significantly reduced in the aHWE and aFHWE groups than in the aET group. Moreover, the effect of FHWE was greater than that of HWE. For chronic ethanol-induced liver injury, the serum ethanol, acetaldehyde, ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase (${\gamma}$-GTP) levels and the hepatic lipids concentration more significantly dropped in the cET-HWE and cET-FHWE groups than in the cET group. The FHWE administration showed faster recovery of the serum glucose concentration than in the cET and cET-HWE groups. The body weight reduction tended to normalize in the cET-HWE and cET-FHWE groups, which is ideal for chronic ethanol administration. These results suggest that FHWE has a protective effect against ethanol-induced liver damage, as evidenced by its ability to lower the serum ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations after alcohol administration, and by its ability to decrease the level of ${\gamma}$-GTP and hepatic lipids. FHWE also elevated serum glucose concentration. Therefore, FHWE is effective in reducing ethanol-induced hangover and can play a beneficial role in the treatment of ethanol-induced liver damage as well as body weight reduction.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.99-102
• /
• 2014

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a fatal acute diabetic complication, is characterized by severe metabolic decompensation and intravascular volume depletion. These conditions may result in hypercoagulability and prothrombic state. Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) could be presented as an uncommon and life-threatening complication of DKA. Reported herein is a case involving a 54-year-old male patient who was admitted with DKA due to chronic alcohol consumption and stopping the intake of oral antidiabetic drugs. After low-molecular-weight heparin and warfarin treatment because of PTE during the DKA treatment, the patient's condition improved over the week that he was discharged on insulin and warfarin.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.317-322
• /
• 2015

Alcohol-induced fatty liver (steatosis) results from excessive generation of reducing equivalents by ethanol metabolism. Generally, chronic ethanol treatment causes hepatosteatosis by regulating sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c), which increases the synthesis of hepatic lipids. The effect of ethanol on SREBP-1c is mediated through mammalian sirtuin-1 (SIRT-1), a NAD⁺-dependent protein deacetylase that regulates hepatic lipid metabolism. Ginseng is a widely used herbal medicine that is used in Asia for its anti-diabetes and anti-obesity effects. The pharmacological and therapeutic effects of ginseng are primarily produced by bioactive constituents known as ginsenosides. Here, we examined the regulatory effects of Korean red ginseng (KRG) extracts on SREBP-1c and SIRT-1 on lipid homeostasis in AML-12 mouse hepatocytes. AML-12 cells were treated with ethanol and/or KRG extracts (0 - 1,000 μg/ml). Lipid droplets were assayed using Oil red O staining, and western blotting was used to measure SIRT-1 and SREBP-1 expression. Treatment with KRG extracts restored SIRT-1 expression and reduced SREBP-1c expression in ethanol-treated cells. We also showed that KRG extract and ginsenosides Rb₂ and Rd significantly decreased SREBP-1 acetylation in ethanol-treated cells. These results show that treatment with KRG extract and its active ginsenoside constituents Rb₂ and Rd protected against alcohol-related hepatosteatosis via regulation of SIRT-1 and downstream acetylation of SREBP-1c, which altered hepatic lipid metabolism.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.486-498
• /
• 2024

This study examined the effects of a soybean sprouts mixture containing 1.5% Hovenia dulcis Thunb. fruit concentrate (SHM) on relieving hangovers and improving liver function in chronically alcohol-treated rats. The ampelopsin and L-asparagine contents in the SHM were 10.52, 35.19 ppm. When chronic alcohol-induced rats were treated with SHM, the body weight increased and the liver weight decreased. The serum alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations were lowest in the SHM group, and the hepatic ADH and ALDH activities were highest in the SHM group. Chronic alcohol induction increased the activity of liver function indicator enzymes such as ALT, AST, and GGT, but the activity was decreased significantly with the SHM treatment. The triglyceride content in hepatic and serum blood samples was lowest in the SHM group. The serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol contents decreased in the SHM group, and the HDL cholesterol content increased. The color of the hepatic observed morphologically in the SHM group was reddish brown, and the size and number of lipid droplets in the hepatic observed pathologically decreased. The hepatic and serum lipid peroxidation content of the SHM group decreased. The hepatic and serum GSH content increased in the SHM group. Therefore, SHM can be a functional food that can help hangovers and improve liver function.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.859-866
• /
• 1995

This study was done to investigate the effects of chronic ethanol feeding on hepatic microsomal cytochrome system, lipid peroxidation and peroxide metabolizing enzyme activities in 2-acetylaminofluorene(2-AAF) treated rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 120~125g, were pair-fed liquid diets containing 35% of total calories either as ethanol or isocaloric carbohydrates for 6 weeks. After 4 weeks of experimental diet feeding, 2-AAF(100mg/kg body weight) was injected twice a week intraperitoneally. Both weight and percent liver weight per body weight were significantly changed by ethanol feeding. Hepatic microsomal lipid peroxide value and the activities of glutathione(GSH) peroxidase and GSH reductase were not changed by either ethanol or 2-AAF treatment. However the analysis of cytochrome systems showed that both ethanol and 2-AAF increased cytochrome P-450 and bs contents although cytochrome P-450 content was moe affected by 2-AAF while cytochrome b5 content by ethanol. Cytosolic GSH S-transferase activity, which is often elevated during chemical carcinogenesis, also significantly increased by either ethanol feeding or 2-AAF treatment. Overall values for the cytochrome contents and GSH S-transferase activities were highest in 2-AAF treated rats fed ethanol. These results might support the hypothesis that the increase in liver cancer risk associated with chronic ethanol consumption might be due to, at least in part, enhancement of carcinogen bioactivation by ethanol.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.650-658
• /
• 2016

Chronic alcohol consumption causes alcoholic liver disease, which is associated with the initiation of dysregulated lipid metabolism. Recent evidences suggest that dysregulated cholesterol metabolism plays an important role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic fatty liver disease. Ecklonia stolonifera (ES), a perennial brown marine alga that belongs to the family Laminariaceae, is rich in phlorotannins. Many studies have indicated that ES has extensive pharmacological effects, such as antioxidative, hepatoprotective, and antiinflammatory effects. However, only a few studies have investigated the protective effect of ES in alcoholic fatty liver. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal diet (ND) (fed a normal diet for 10 weeks) and ethanol diet (ED) groups. Rats in the ED group were fed a Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet (containing 5% ethanol) for 10 weeks and administered ES extract (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day), silymarin (100 mg/kg/day), or no treatment for 4 weeks. Each treatment group comprised of eight rats. The supplementation with ES resulted in decreased serum levels of triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase. In addition, there were decreases in hepatic lipid and malondialdehyde levels. Changes in liver histology, as analyzed by Oil Red O staining, showed that the ES treatment suppressed adipogenesis. In addition, the ES treatment increased the expression of fatty acid oxidation-related genes (e.g., PPAR-${\alpha}$ and CPT-1) but decreased the expression of SREBP 1, which is a TG synthesis-related gene. These results suggest that ES extract may be useful in preventing fatty acid oxidation and reducing lipogenesis in ethanol-induced fatty liver.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.867-873
• /
• 1995

This study was done ot investigate the effect of chronic alcohol feeding and acetylaminofluorene(2-AAF) treatment on hepatic mitochondrial ATPase activity andmembrane lipid composition. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 120~125g, were fed for 6 weeks on a liquid diet containing 35% of calories as ethanol. After 4 weeks of experiment diet feeding, 2-AAF(100mg/kg body weight) was injected twice a week intraperitoneally. Body weight and percent liver weight per body weight were significantly changed by ethanol feeding. Hepatic mitochondrial ATPase activity significantly decreased by ethanol feedings but not by 2-AAF treatment. In comparison to control, the ATPase activity of ethanol-AAF group decreased 29.3%. Since phospholipid(PL) content of mitochondria has an interaction effect between ethanol and 2-AAF treatment, 2-AAF treatment significantly increased phospholipid content in only ethanol fed group. Total cholesterol(C) level of mitochondria significantly increased by ethanol feeding. Consequently C/PL ratio of ethanol group was significantly higher than that of control group. The analysis of mitochondrial PL composition showed that cardiolipin(CL) significantly increased by 2-AFF treatment in control group. Phosphatidyl choline(PC) significantly increased by ethanol feeding, whereas PC significanlty decreased and phosphatidyl ethanolamine(PE) significantly increased by 2-AAF treatment. 2-AAF treatment also showed a significant increase in PE/PC ratio. Fatty acid patterns of mitochondria were also changed by either ethanol or 2-AAF although the severity of the changes was not great. These data suggest that the reduced mitochondrial ATPase activity in ethanol-AAF group may be a consequence of a changes in mitochondrial membrane lipid composition such as PE/PC ratio, C/PL ration and fatty acid patterns.