• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2018

Objectives : Liver disease is an inflammatory reaction caused by oxidative stress, viral, alcohol, and drug properties. Inflammatory reaction causes hepatitis and chronic hepatitis is persistent, it progresses to liver fibrogenesis and liver cancer. The aim of this study was to confirm the hepatoprotective effect of Tongyuhwalhyeol-tang(Tongqiaohuoxue Decoction) (TH) and Gamtongyuhawlhyeol-tang(GTH) in TAA-induced liver injury animal model. Methods : The antioxidant activities were evaluated through in vitro experiments, such as 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2'-azinobis-3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging assays, total polyphenol and total flavonoid content measurement. To confirm the liver protective effect, induced by Thioacetamide (TAA) for 3 days injection at 200 mg/kg rats. TH and GTH were treated 3 days at 200 mg/kg/day. The changes of reactive oxygen species (ROS), peroxynitrite ($ONOO^-$), alanine aminotransferanse (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum were analyzed after experiment. Also, expression of anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant related proteins were investigated by western blot analysis. Results : TH was inhibited the antioxidant activities. In the TAA-induced rat, TH decreased ROS, $ONOO^-$, ALT, AST level in serum. Inflammation related protein expressions increased in TAA-induced rat compared to normal rat. However, TH group inhibited the down expression of these proteins. Also, anti-oxidant related protein expressions increased in TH group compared TAA-induced rat. Conclusion : Therefor, these results suggested that TH provided hepatoprotective effects on the hepatic injury leading to the reduction of inflammatory response. In addition, the effect of TH was superior to that of GTH.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 2009

Recently, herbal drugs haver been used world wide. and generally regarded as safe with no serious adverse reaction. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is one of frequent cause of liver diseases. If DILI is not treated, it can be developed into liver cirrhosis, hepatoma, etc. Currently, DILI has been reported to be common cause of acute hepatitis, and oriental medicine and folk remedy are not exception. We encountered one case of DILI, cause by folk remedy. Patients complained chest discomfort, yellow skin and urine, nausea, vomiting. Lab test showed elevated level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (r-GTP), total bilirubin (TB). We estimated acute DILI and stopped taking folk medication made by himself. After 1 week of treatment, the clinical symptoms and liver function improved. Genetic and environmental factors as well as drug itself decide the hepatic toxicity, and the major DILI are belonged in acute type. So we need to get more attention to folk medication to help preventing the DILI cause by folk remedy.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.57-67
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• 2011

In this study, we investigated the correlation between the administration of various antiviral agents and the alternation of specific biomarkers induced by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Eligible subjects diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B were prescribed with antiviral drugs at the Gastroenterology Internal Medicine Department of E University Hospital in Daejeon between May 2004 and September 2009. Lamivudine was prescribed to 66 out of 100 patients. Of the 12 patients, 6 (50.0%) showed a change from being HBe-antigen-positive to being HBe-antigen-negative. Of the 39 patients, 23 (59.0%) showed higher than 40 IU/L alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Of the 65 patients, 41 (63.1%) showed HBV DNA decrease of 1 log, and were prescribed with Lamivudine. Adefovir was prescribed to 3 out of 100 patients. Of the 12 patients, 1 (8.3%) showed a change from being HBe-antigen-positive to being HBe-antigen-negative, and was prescribed with Adefovir. Entecavir was prescribed to 19 (19.0%) out of 100 patients. Of the 12 patients, 3 (25.0%) showed a change from being HBe-antigen-positive to being HBe-antigen-negative. Of the 12 patients, 3 (125.8%) showed higher than 40 IU/L ALT. Of the 65 patients, 14 (21.5%) showed HBV DNA decrease of 1 log, and were prescribed with Entecavir. Clavudine was prescribed to 7 out of 100 patients. Of the 12 patients, 1 (8.3%) showed a change from positive HBe antigen to negative HBe antigen. Of the 39 patients, 5 (12.8%) showed higher than 40 IU/L ALT. Of the 65 patients, 6 (9.2%) showed HBV decrease of 1 log, and were prescribed with Clavudine. These results do not show a statistically significant correlation between drugs and biomarkers. Data on combination therapy using Lamivudine and Adefovir show no statistically significant difference between drugs and biomarkers. Medications for periodic inspection was not correlated to HBe-antigen-negative conversion, ALT, and HBV DNA. HBV DNA was significantly reduced in patients with high levels of AST(aspartic acid aminotransferase) and ALT before treatment. In addition, the decrease of HBV DNA after 12 months of treatment was less frequently observed in patients treated with Lamivudine compared with other drugs. This result is associated with Lamivudine resistance. Although the association of drugs with diagnostic markers and the correct choice of treatment is difficult to determine, these results may be useful for further research on diagnosis and treatment of the hepatitis B virus.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.1-24
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• 2018

Objective This study was aimed to provide the information about Cheongsimyeonja-tang by domestic papers and theses. Method 50 Domestic papers related to Cheongsimyeonja-tang were selected according to the criteria. These papers were classified and analyzed by research designs, methods and results. Result The following results were obtained in this study. 1. 19 experimental studies on the effect of Cheongsimyeonja-tang were mainly focused on anti-aging, followed by anti-allergy, anti-inflammation, improvement of immune system. And there were 4 experimental studies on the safety of Cheongsimyeonja-tang, proving safety by acute toxicity test, nephrotoxicity test, drug interaction, and test of residual ingredients after decoction. 2. 25 clinical studies on the effect of Cheongsimyeonja-tang were mainly focused on cardiovascular and cerebral vascular diseases, followed by psychiatric and otologic disorder, dermatologic and musculoskeletal diseases. Also, there were 2 studies on the effect of Cheongsimyeonja-tang for diabetes insipidus, macular degeneration, digestive disorder in terminal cancer, drug-induced hepatitis. 3. More evidenced studies on Cheongsimyeonja-tang are needed and it is recommended that psychiatric questionnaire should be used for assessing the effects of Cheongsimyeonja-tang.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.387-391
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• 2019

Tea is the most widely consumed beverage after water in the world. The consumption of iced tea has increased in Western countries and spiked among teenagers for enjoyment, freshening up and alertness. A teenager presented with symptoms of hepatitis. Liver ultrasound revealed sludge in the gallbladder. Laboratory investigations excluded all known causes of hepatotoxicity. Detail nutritional history revealed that the patient had been drinking 1.5-2 liters of black iced tea per day for the last three months. He was immediately advised to stop drinking any tea. Gradually all symptoms disappeared and two months after discontinuation of the tea, all liver enzymes returned to normal and the sludge in the gallbladder disappeared. This case report underlines the importance of a meticulous assessment of a child's dietary behavior when investigating a case of hepatotoxicity and raises awareness about the potential side effects of tea overconsumption.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.40-48
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate safety of postpartum herbal medicine by assessing the effect of taking herbal medicine of postpartum period on liver function. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 167 mothers who underwent liver function tests (LFT) within 3 months before and after childbirth among mothers who gave birth at ○○ Hospital between January 1, 2016 and May 31, 2018. Mothers with abnormally elevated LFT during pregnancy were excluded. Among 167 women, 6 women are herbal-medicine-group took herbal medicine for 5-6 weeks during postpartum period, and 161 patients are general -group who did not take herbal medicine. LFT Variation of Subjects before and after childbirth were compared between the two groups. And subjects who had elevated liver levels above the normal range after delivery were classified separately, the characteristics and causes of changes in liver levels were analyzed, and the presence or absence of drug-induced liver damage was confirmed. Results: Among a total of 167 subjects, there were 5 women in the herbal-medicine-group and 150 women in the general-group who had changes in liver values within the normal range after childbirth. Aspartate transaminase (AST) change before and after childbirth in the herbal-medicine-group was 3.40±1.82, and AST change in the general-group was 2.92±8.59, showing no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.901). Increase of Alanine transaminase (ALT) before and after childbirth in the herbal-medicine-group was 5.60±3.65, and ALT change in the general-group was 8.01±11.81, showing no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.651). There were 12 subjects who had elevated AST, ALT above the normal range after delivery, including 1 in the herbal-medicine-group and 11 in the normal mothers group. Valuation of 1 Subject of the herbal-medicine-group before and after delivery was 17 IU/L of AST and 52 IU/L of ALT. Because results of AST, ALT is under the standard to diagnose to liver damage, she was observed without any treatment. However the cause of AST, ALT elevation was not found in the chart, she was receiving treatment for diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The general-group had an average increase of AST 35.64±22.67 IU/L and ALT 53.00±26.80 IU/L. As a result of analyzing the cause, there were direct causes such as autoimmune hepatitis, chronic hepatitis B, and acute pyelonephritis. Abnormal elevations in liver levels were also found in mothers with hypothyroidism, diabetes, and fever of unknown cause, although they were not direct causes. Conclusions: To investigate the safety of taking herbal medicines, we assess the variation in AST and ALT within 3 months before and after delivery in the herbal-medicine-group and general-group. There was no significant difference between two groups.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.542-551
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the effectiveness of Chunggan plus extract (CGX) in improving liver function in a Korean medical clinic. Methods: We collected the data of inpatients who received CGX to improve abnormal liver function test (LFT) results from March 2016 to February 2020. We analyzed the changes in LFT and adverse events based on subjective symptom changes and creatinine results. Results: The data of eight patients, three male and five female, were selected by inclusion criteria (patients who did LFT before and after the prescription of CGX and who prescribed CGX more than 6 days) and exclusion criteria (patients who administered other herbal medicine for improving liver function except CGX and who are diagnosed with terminal stage of hepatobiliary cancer). As a cause of abnormal LFT, one case was diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease, two cases with non-alcoholic fatty hepatitis, and one case with cholecystitis. Three of the other four were suspected to have drug-induced hepatitis, and one case was determined to have an unknown cause. Most patients showed a decrease in LFT results (Aspartate transaminase 87.5%, Alanine transaminase 87.5%, and Alkaline Phosphatase 100%) without any critical adverse events. Conclusions: CGX may be an efficient and convenient herbal medicine for improving liver function regardless of the chief impression. Further study should be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of CGX.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.462-467
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• 2009

Exposure of formaldehyde (FA), one of the major compounds in pesticides and in the onset of sick house syndrome, has been implicated in the development of diverse diseases. Liver is a very important organ to body metabolism and drug detoxification. Apotosis of hepatocytes is associated with the onset of liver diseases such as hepatitis. However, the apoptotic effect of FA in hepatocytes is not clear. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of FA on the apoptosis in HepG2 cells, a human hepatocyte cell line. As a result, FA (> $500\;{\mu}M$) decreased cell viability and increased lactate dehydrogenase activity in HepG2 cells, which was blocked by the treatment of vitamin E and N-acetylcysteine (NAC). In addition, FA decreased glutathione (GSH) contents and Bcl-2 levels, while increasing lipid peroxide formation and Bax levels. It also cleaved caspase-3 form, which was blocked by the treatment of vitamin E and NAC. It is insisted that FA induced apoptosis via oxidative stress in human hepatocytes.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.199-209
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• 1998

In order to find antiviral effect against Human immunodeficiency virus(HIV), Herpes simplex virus type I(HSV-1) and II(HSV-2) from herb medicines, publicated 29 paters on anti-viral effect of herbal medicines and a convenient virus-induced cytopathic effect (CEP) inhibition assay was introduced. The major virus on experiment are HIV, Hepatitis B virus and HSV-1,2. Those of other studies showed inhibition of infected virus DNA replication and screening test of herbal medicines. More than 15 extractions were prepared by pure water boiling from herbal medicines, and their toxicity of infected cell and anti-viral activities were evaluated. Among them, the major part of herbal medicines showed cell stability compared with the contrast. Cytotoxic concentration (CC) of the $H_2O$ extracts of Padoo against HIV was <4.0, Hyungbangpaedoksan against HIV was 9.3, Whangyonhaedoktang against HIV-1 and HSV-2 was 15.3. These are high level cytotoxic concentration compared with the contrast. But antiviral effect was unable to figure out for selective $index(SI)=CC_{50}/EC_{50}$. The other herbal medicines were unable to showed potent anti-HIV and anti-HSV activity. The antiviral activation using herbs in this thesis have unlimited objects, to select research object will help to show the direction of antiviral drug development that have less side effect and more excellent efficiency.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.330-335
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• 2019

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) encoding the HBV x protein (HBx) is a known causative agent of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Its pathogenic activities in HCC include interference with several signaling pathways associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis. Mutant C-terminal-truncated HBx isoforms are frequently found in human HCC and have been shown to enhance proliferation and invasiveness leading to HCC malignancy. We investigated the molecular mechanism of the reduced doxorubicin cytotoxicity by C-terminal truncated HBx. Cells transfected with C-terminal truncated HBx exhibited reduced cytotoxicity to doxorubicin compared to those transfected with full-length HBx. The doxorubicin resistance of cells expressing C-terminal truncated HBx correlated with upregulation of the ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1(ABCB1) transporter, resulting in the enhanced efflux of doxorubicin. Inhibiting the activity of ABCB1 and silencing ABCB1 expression by small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) increased the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin. These results indicate that elevated ABCB1 expression induced by C-terminal truncation of HBx was responsible for doxorubicin resistance in HCC. Hence, co-treatment with an ABCB1 inhibitor and an anticancer agent may be effective for the treatment of patients with liver cancer containing the C-terminal truncated HBx.