• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제4권5호
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• pp.369-374
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• 2010

Grape is one of the most popular and widely cultivated fruits in the world. Although grape skin and seeds are waste product of the winery and grape juice industry, these wastes contain large amounts of phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and anthocyanidins, which play an important role as chemopreventive and anticancer agents. We evaluated efficacies of grape skin and seeds on hepatic injury induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) in rats. Treatment with DMN significantly increased levels of serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin. Diet supplementation with grape skin or seeds (10% daily for 4 weeks) prevented these elevations. The grape skin and seeds also restored serum albumin and total protein levels, and reduced the hepatic level of hydroxyproline and malondialdehyde. Furthermore, grape skin and seeds reduced DMN-induced collagen accumulation, as estimated by histological analysis of liver tissue stained with Sirius red. Grape skin and seeds also reduced hepatic stellate cell activation, as assessed by ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin staining. In conclusion, grape skin and seeds exhibited in vivo hepatoprotective and antifibrogenic effects against DMN-induced liver injury, suggesting that grape skin and seeds may be useful in preventing the development of hepatic fibrosis.

• 약학회지
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• 제56권4호
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• pp.260-267
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• 2012

This study examined the effects of baicalin, a bioactive flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis, on hepatic injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in alcoholic fatty liver. Rats were fed an ethanol liquid diet or a control isocaloric diet for 5 weeks, and then subjected to 60 min of hepatic ischemia and 5 h of reperfusion. Baicalin (200 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 24 and 1 h before ischemia. After reperfusion, baicalin attenuated the increase in serum alanine aminotransferase activity. The levels of cytosolic cytochrome c protein expression, caspase-3 activity, the number of apoptotic cells increased after reperfusion, which were higher in ethanol-fed animals, were attenuated by baicalin. Following I/R, the hepatic lipid peroxidation was elevated, whereas hepatic glutathione content was decreased. These changes attenuated by baicalin. In ethanol-fed animals, baicalin augmented the increases in heme oxygenase-1 protein and mRNA expressions, and nuclear Nrf2 expression. In conclusion, our findings suggest that baicalin ameliorates I/R-induced hepatocellular damage by suppressing apoptosis and oxidative stress in alcoholic fatty liver.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2021

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Chaenomelis Fructus (CF) water extract on thioacetamide (TAA)-treated rats. Methods: Rats were divided into five groups: one normal group (n=8) and four with TAA-induced hepatic injury. These treatment groups were administered distilled water (n=8); silymarin 100 mg/kg (n=8); CF 100 mg/kg (n=8); and CF 200 mg/kg (n=8). In the TAA groups, the acute liver injury was induced via IP injection (200 mg/kg), and the silymarin and CF extract were then orally administered for three days. Subsequently, serum levels of GOT, GPT, and ammonia were confirmed as well as protein expressions using liver tissue. Results: In the liver injury-induced rats, CF administration reduced tissue damage and serum levels of GOT, GPT, and ammonia. In addition, CF increased the anti-oxidant proteins Nrf2, Keap1, HO-1, and catalase and significantly regulated matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2). Conclusions: In this animal model of liver injury induced by TAA, CF extract is determined to have a hepatoprotective effect by increasing anti-oxidant proteins that relieve damage and by regulating the expression of matrix metalloproteinases.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.65-73
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• 2011

Objectives : The present study was evaluated the protective roles of Spatholobi Caulis in hepatotoxic rats due to APAP overdose. Methods : In experiments, rats were orally administrated with the aqueous extract of Spatholobi Caulis (SCE; 50, 100 mg/kg) for 4 days and then, orally gavage with APAP (1.2 g/kg) to induce acute liver damage. Results : Oral injection of APAP caused severe hepatic injury. Plasma ALT, AST and LDH levels were significantly elevated, but SCE significantly decreased ALT, AST and LDH to the normal level. In histopathological analysis, peripheral hemorrhage around portal triads and central necrosis around central veins were founded after APAP treatment. However, these histopathological changes were recovered by SCE pretreatment. SCE also decreased the percentage of generative hepatic regions (%/$mm^2$ hepatic parenchyma), the numbers of inflammatory cells (cells/$mm^2$ hepatic parenchyma) and the number of degenerative hepatic cells (N/100 hepatic cellls) which were significantly elevated after APAP injection. Furthermore, SCE down-regulated the contents of hepatic MDA and up-regulated hepatic GSH. SCE also inhibited the decrease in the expression of pro-caspase-3 by APAP treatment. Conclusions : Collectively, these data indicate that SCE protected APAP-induced hapatic damages through antioxidative and anti-apoptotic process. These findings the significant therapeutic potential of SCE during APAP-induced liver injury.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.113-118
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• 2020

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play essential roles in normal and pathophysiological function in liver. In steady state, HSCs contribute to retinoid storage, immune tolerance, and extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis. Upon liver injury, they become activated and lead to morphological and functional changes. Studies have demonstrated that activation of HSCs by various stimuli such as toxins, microbial infection, or metabolic overload can promote the fibrotic changes in liver by production of ECM. Herein, we provide current knowledge about the basic characteristics of HSCs and the mechanism by which they are activated.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.495-500
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• 2000

We investigated whether S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) treatment improved ischemic injury using perfused rat liver after sequential periods of 24 h cold and 20 min re-warming ischemia. SAM (100 $\mu\textrm{mol/L}$) was added to University of Wisconsin (UW) solution and Ringers lactate solution. After cold and sequential warm ischemia, releases of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) markedly increased during repefusion. The increase in PNP was significantly reduced by SAM treatment. While the concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) in ischemic livers significantly decreased, the concentration of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) increased. This decrease in GSH and increase in GSSG were suppressed by SAM treatment. Lipid peroxidation was elevated in cold and warm ischemic and reperfused livers, but this elevation was also prevented by SAM treatment. Hepatic ATP levels were decreased in the ischemic and reperfused livers to 42% of the control levels. However, treatment with SAM resulted in significantly higher ATP levels and preserved the concentration of AMP in ischemic livers. Our findings suggest that SAM prevents oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation and helps preserve hepatic energy metabolism.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.58-63
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• 1993

In order to elucidate the alteration of drug-metabolizing enzymes and mechanism in the animal with hepatic injury and ketosis, the regulation of P450IIE was studied in the rats with heaptic injury caused by CCl$_4$ and with ketosis caused by streptozotocin and high-fat diet. P450IIE expression in liver was examined by the combination of enzyme activities, Western immunoblot, and mRNA Northern blot analyses using specific polyclonal antibody and cDNA probe for P450IIE. Enzyme activity and amounts of immunoreactive P450IIE were rapidly decreased in a time-dependent manner after a single dose of CCl$_4$ . However, the decreases in P450IIE enzyme activity and immunoreactive protein by CCl$_4$ were not accompanied by a decline in its mRNA level. The data thus suggested a post-translational reduction of P450IIE by CCl$_4$. The enzyme activities (aniline hydroxylase) in hepatic microsomes were elevated about 2-3-fold by streptozotocin and feeding with a high fat diet. This increases in enzyme activities were also accompanied by 3-fold increases in immunoreactive P450IIE protein and its mRNA. Our data thus indicated that P450IIE induction during the ketosis appears to be due to pretranslational activation.

• BMB Reports
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.166-174
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• 2022

Hepatic macrophages are key immune cells associated with the broad ranges of liver diseases including steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. Hepatic macrophages interact with other immune cells and orchestrate hepatic immune circumstances. Recently, the heterogenous populations of hepatic macrophages have been discovered termed residential Kupffer cells and monocyte-derived macrophages, and identified their distinct population dynamics during the progression of various liver diseases. Liver injury lead to Kupffer cells activation with induction of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which triggers recruitment of inflammatory monocyte-derived macrophages. To understand liver pathology, the functions of different subtypes of liver macrophages should be regarded with different perspectives. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the roles of hepatic macrophages under liver damages and suggest hepatic macrophages as promising therapeutic targets for treating liver diseases.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.10-14
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• 2007

The present study was performed to elucidate the recovery effect of needle-acupuncture (needle-AP) and moxibustion treatments at Gan Shu (BL18) on $CCl_4$ induced hepatic injury in dogs, Total 9 clinically healthy experimental dogs (1 to 2 years old, 2.3-5.3kg body weight) were divided into control (3 dogs), needle-AP (3 dogs) and moxibustion (3 dogs) groups, respectively. Hepatic iniw was induced by intraperitoneal injection with $CCl_4$ (olive oil : $CCl_4=1:1,\;1ml/kg$, once/day). As far the treatments in each group, control group was not treated at all after induction of the hepatic injury till the end of experiment. Needle-Af group was treated by AP at BL18 (once/day, 20 minutes) from the next day of induction of the hepatic injury for 11 days. Moxibustion group was also treated with commercial moxa at BL18 (once/day, 20minutes) for 11days. The changes of the serum alanine transaminase(ALT), aspartate transaminase(AST) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activities were investigated on pre, 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11 days after hepatic injury, respectively. Histopathological changes were also investigated in the liver tissues on day 11 in experimental and control groups. The results obtained in the present study were as follows. In needle-AP group, they showed significant lower values on the 1st (p<0.05) and $3^{rd} day (p <0.05)$ in serum ALT activities, and the $11^{th}$ day in serum GGT activities, compared with those of control group, respectively. However, the significances were not detected in serum AST activities of needle-AP group by comparison with those of control group. In moxibustion group, they showed significant low values on the $1^{st}(p<0.05)$, 3rd day (p<0.05) and $5^{th}$ day (p<0.05) in serum ALT activities, compared with those of control group, respectively. However, significances were not detected in serum GGT and AST activities of moxibustion group by comparison with those of control group. Among the experimental groups, the significant low values were found on $1^{st}\;and\;3^{rd}$ day in serum ALT activities (p<0.05), and $3^{rd}\;and\;5^{th}$ day in serum GGT activities (p<0.05) in needle-AP group, compared by those of moxibustion group, respectively. In addition, the marked recovery findings of histopathological changes in experimental groups were found, compared by those of control group: mild vacuolar degeneration and necrosis findings in needle-AP group, and moderate vacuolar degeneration and necrotic findings in moxibustion group were found, in contrast to severe changes such as accumulation of bile juice, vacuolar degeneration and necrotic findings observed in control group. In conclusion, needle-AP and moxibustion treatments at BL-18 were effective for the recovery for $CCl_4$ induced hepatic injury and needle-AP was more effective than that of moxibustion in dogs.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제28권12호
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• pp.1392-1399
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• 2005

This study evaluated the effect of $\alpha$-tocopherol ($\alpha$-TC), ischemic preconditioning (IPC) or a combination on the extent of mitochondrial injury caused by hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Rats were pretreated with $\alpha$-TC (20 mg/kg per day, i.p.) for 3 days before sustained ischemia. A rat liver was preconditioned with 10 min of ischemia and 10 min of reperfusion, and was then subjected to 90 min of ischemia followed by 5 h or 24 h of reperfusion. I/R increased the aminotransferase activity and mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, whereas it decreased the mitochondrial glutamate dehydrogenase activity. $\alpha$-TC and IPC individually attenuated these changes. $\alpha$-TC combined with IPC ($\alpha$-TC+IPC) did not further attenuate the changes. The mitochondrial glutathione content decreased after 5 h reperfusion. This decrease was attenuated by $\alpha$-TC, IPC, and $\alpha$-TC+IPC. The significant production of peroxides observed after 10 min reperfusion subsequent to sustained ischemia was attenuated by $\alpha$-TC, IPC, and $\alpha$-TC+IPC. The mitochondria isolated after I/R were rapidly swollen. However, this swelling rate was reduced by $\alpha$­TC, IPC, and $\alpha$-TC+IPC. These results suggest that either $\alpha$-TC or IPC reduces the level of mitochondrial damage associated with oxidative stress caused by hepatic I/R, but $\alpha$- TC combined with IPC offers no significant additional protection.