• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.268-273
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• 2018

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is linked with high mortality rate. Several agents have been developed so far to reduce the risk of HIRI. In this study, we investigated the effects of combined treatment of Ginko biloba leaves extract and vitamin C (GLEVC) on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. To explore the protective effects of GLEVC on HIRI rats model were tested. After the development of HIRI by using clamping method rats were then randomly divided into four groups. Different doses of GLEVC were administered in HIRI rat model. The level of ALT, AST, SOD and MDA content in serum were detected in HIRI groups. Moreover, the activity of SOD, content of MDA, and GSH in hepatic tissue were also examined. Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression were detected by immunohistochemical staining method. Compared with sham group, GLEVC has the protective effect on the HIRI-induced model. Level of ALT, AST, and MDA in blood were significantly lower in GLEVC group compared with HIRI-induced group. Moreover, SOD activity and GSH were increased in GLEVC group whereas MDA content was reduced by GLEVC treatment. Furthermore, HIRI-induced Bax protein was reduced upon GLEVC treatment, whereas Bcl-2 protein expression was enhanced. These results demonstrate that GLEVC treatment may provide potential ameliorative therapy by reducing damaged signaling mechanism in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury model.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.503-511
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Ginger, a root vegetable, is known to have antioxidant and antiobesity effects. Preparation, such as by steaming, can affect the chemical composition of prepared root vegetables or herbs and can change their functional activities. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of steamed ginger against oxidative stress and steatosis in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet. MATERIAL/METHODS: The levels of polyphenols and flavonoids in two different extracts of steamed ginger, i.e., water extract (SGW) and ethanolic extract (SGE); as well, their antioxidant activities were examined. Forty male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet (ND, n = 10), high-fat diet (HFD, 60% fat, w/w, n = 10), HFD supplemented with 200 mg/kg of SGE or garcinia (GAR) by weight (SGED or GARD, respectively, n = 10) for 12 weeks. Serum chemistry was examined, and the expressions of genes involved in lipid metabolism were determined in the liver. Histological analysis was performed to identify lipid accumulations in epididymal fat pads and liver. RESULTS: The SGE had higher contents of polyphenols and flavonoids and higher DPPH and $ABTS^+$ free radical scavenging activities compared to those of SGW. Treatment with SGE or GAR significantly decreased the HFD-induced weight gain. Both SGE and GAR significantly reduced the high serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein levels induced by HFD. Compared to ND, HFD significantly increased hepatic TC and TG levels. SGE or GAR supplementation significantly decreased the increase of hepatic lipids by HFD. Interestingly, SGE had a more significant effect in reducing hepatic TC and TG levels than GAR. Furthermore, hepatic genes involved in lipogenesis and lipolysis were altered in both the SGED and GARD groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that steamed ginger supplementation can decrease plasma TC and TG and can inhibit liver steatosis by regulating the expressions of hepatic genes.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.262-268
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• 2014

Rutaecarpine is one of the major alkaloids present in the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa. In this study, rutaecarpine was evaluated, both in vitro and in vivo, for its hepatoprotective properties against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic fibrosis. The results showed that rutaecarpine inhibited TAA-induced cytotoxicity, reduced the expression of the fibrogenic cytokine transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$), and induced the expression of bcl-2. To evaluate its in vivo effects, animal models with TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis were utilized. Levels of liver tissue injury-associated enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were monitored. $TGF-{\beta}1$ and the ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}$-SMA) were measured as markers of the protective effects on hepatic fibrosis. The AST and ALT levels in blood were greatly enhanced by TAA and completely blunted by rutaecarpine. Rutaecarpine led to the down-regulation of $TGF-{\beta}$ and Bax mRNA expression, as well as the up-regulation of Bcl-2 and $Bcl-X_L$ mRNA levels. In conclusion, rutaecarpine inhibited TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis and apoptosis by inducing the expression of Bcl-2 while blocking $TGF-{\beta}1$ in our TAA-intoxicated model.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.138-143
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• 2008

We investigated if Chlorella vulgaris (CV) has protective effects on cadmium (Cd) induced liver damage in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Forty rats, aged 5 weeks old and weighed 90-110g, were divided into a control (with Cd free water), 50 ppm of $CdCl_2$ in drinking water treated groups (Chlorella 0% diet group (Cd/CV0%), Chlorella 5% diet group (Cd/CV5%) or Chlorella 10% diet group (Cd/CV10%). All the rats had freely access to water and diet for 8 weeks. The results show that body weight gain and relative liver weight had significantly lower in Cd/CV0%-treated group than in Cd/CV-treated groups. Hepatic Cd contents showed significantly less by feeding CV (P<0.05). Cd/CV0%-treated rats had significantly (P<0.05) higher hepatic T-MTs, and Cd-MTs concentrations, compared to Cd/CV5% or Cd/CV10% treated rats. The MT I/II mRNA was expressed in the liver of all experimental rats. Its expression was more increased in Cd/CV5%- or Cd/CV10%-treated rats, compared to control and Cd-treated rats. Thus, this study suggested that CV would have a protective effect on Cd-treated liver injury by the reduction of Cd concentrations and stimulation of Cd-MT binds in the liver. However, more studies are needed to identify the proper mechanism of CV and liver toxicity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.102-106
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• 2001

To investigate the effects of leek green juice on the damaged liver of $CCl_{4}$-treated rats, Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing about 100g, were divided into 4 groups ; control group (CON), leek green juice-administered group (LGJ), $CCl_{4}$-treated group (CCL) and leek green juice and $CCl_{4}$-treated group (LCL). After 6 weeks, the activities of sGPT and sGOT, and content of hepatic TBA-reactants, elevated by $CCl_{4}$ treatment, were markedly decreased by administering leek green juice, compared to CCL. It was also observed that activities of hepatic SOD and GSH-Px were elevated by $CCl_{4}$-treatment as compared to CON, but concomitant treatment of leek green juice and $CCl_{4}$ decreased those levels adjacent to CON, whereas catalase activity did not show significant decreasing effects compared to CCL. The hepatic content of glutathione, decreased by $CCl_{4}$, was more abundantly increased by leek green juice administration than by CCL. These results suggest that leek green juice is believed to b a possible protective effect for the carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rat liver.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.508-513
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• 1998

The hepatoprotective effect of DA-9601, a quality-controlled extract of artemisisa asiatica, on liver damage induced by acetaminophen (APAP) and carbon tetrachloride ($CCI_{4}$) was investigated by means of serum-biochemical, hepatic-biochemical, and histopathological examinations. Doses of Da-9601 (10, 30, or 100 mg/kg) were administered intragastrically to each rat on three consecutive days i.e. 48 h, 24 h and 2 h before a single administration of APAP (640 mg/kg, i.p.) or $CCI_{4}$ (2 ml/kg, p.o.). Four h and 24 h after hepatotoxin treatment, the animals were sacrificed for evaluation of liver damage. Pretreatment of Da-9601 reduced the elevation of serum ALT, AST. LDH and histopathological changes such as centrilobular necrosis, vacuolar degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration dose-dependently. Da-9601 also prevented APAP- and $CCI_{4}$-induced hepatic glutathione (GSH) depletion and $CCI_{4}$-induced increase of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), a parameter of lipid peroxidation, in a chemically induced liver injury by complex mechanisms which involve prevention of lipid peroxidation and preservation of hepatic GSH.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex, a mixture of Aloe vera and Silybum marianum, against acute liver injuries. Acute liver damages were induced by intraperitoneal injection of galactosamine (GalN, 700 mg/kg), naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT, 40 mg/kg) and ethionine (500 mg/kg). $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 (85, 170 and 340) was administered orally 48 h, 24 h, 2 h before and 6 h after the injection of hepatotoxins. At 24 h after GalN treatment the levels of serum aminotransferases and hepatic lipid peroxidation were significantly elevated, whereas hepatic glutathione, serum triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol were decreased. These changes were attenuated by $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex. The serum aminotransferase activities and total bilirubin significantly increased at 48 h after ANIT treatment, but were attenuated by $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex. The bile flow was lower after ANIT treatment, which was restored by $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex. $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex reduced the ethionine-induced elevated hepatic TG contents. Histopathological analysis revealed that signs of liver injury were prominent at 24 h as result of ethionine injection, demonstrated by extensive areas of fatty change and microvesicular steatosis were observed around cells. These changes were attenuated by $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex. Our results suggest that the $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex has a protective effect on acute liver injury.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2017

Ursi Fel's component ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a traditional medicine, is used for the treatment of hepatic diseases. UDCA derivatives prepared by conjugation with antioxidant moiety such as maltol, sesamol, eugenol, mesitol and 3,4-(methylenedeoxy)aniline were expected to have various biological activity caused by synergistic effect of UDCA. Therefore, in this study, it was conducted the study of the manufacture of the UDCA derivatives and their biological activity. As a result, UDCA derivatives showed weak antioxidant activity in TBA method in vitro compared to original agents. SJ-505, SJ-502 and SJ-504 showed the effect of reducing ALT, AST, sorbitol dehydrogenase and ${\gamma}-glutamyltransferase$ in $CCl_4-induced$ liver injury experiment in vivo, even if the effects are weaker than UDCA and silymarin of the control group.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.931-939
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• 2017

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a complex multifaceted disease that involves oxidative stress and inflammation as the key mediators. Despite decades of intensive research, there are no FDA-approved therapies, and/or no effective cure is yet available. Probiotics have received increasing attention in the past few years due to their well-documented gastrointestinal health-promoting effects. Interestingly, emerging studies have suggested that certain probiotics may offer benefits beyond the gut. Lactobacillus fermentum LA12 has been previously demonstrated to play a role in inflammatory-related disease. However, the possible protective effect of L. fermentum LA12 on ALD still remain to be explored. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effect of L. fermentum LA12 on alcohol-induced gut barrier dysfunction and liver damage in a rat model of alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH). Daily oral administration of L. fermentum LA12 in rat model of ASH for four weeks was shown to significantly reduced intestinal nitric oxide production and hyperpermeability. Moreover, small intestinal histological- and qRT-PCR analysis further revealed that L. fermentum LA12 treatment was capable of up-regulating the mRNA expression levels of tight junction proteins, thereby stimulating the restitution of barrier structure and function. Serum and hepatic analyses also revealed that the restoration of epithelial barrier function may prevent the leakage of endotoxin into the blood, subsequently improve liver function and hepatic steatosis in the L. fermentum LA12-treated rats. Altogether, results in this study suggest that L. fermentum LA12 may be used as a dietary adjunct for the prevention and treatment of ASH.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 2002

Inhibitory effects of the essential oils obtained from ten herbs were tested on acetaminophen-induced lipid peroxidation in the rat. The oil of Artemisia princeps var. orientalis buds (AP-oil) showed the most significant hepatic malondialdehyde value which was comparable to those of ascorbic acid and methionine. This was warranted by the protective effect on hepatic glutathione depletion. Overview of the data on the activities of hepatic microsomal enzymes, aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase led to the notice that the suppressed activities of those enzymes are mainly responsible for the anti-lipid peroxidation. The interpretation of GC-MS data on the AP-oil revealed the ingredient of cineol, thujone, carvone, borneol, camphor and terpineol.