• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.400-402
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• 2007

Tacrine is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that is approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, tacrine treatment for Alzheimer's disease results in reversible hepatotoxicity in 30-50% of patients, which seriously limits its clinical use. Accordingly, the identification of constituents in natural products that have protective effects on tacrine-induced hepatotoxicity would be valuable. In the present study, an immortalized human hepatoma cell line, HepG2 was employed to screen for agents that protect against tacrine-induced hepatotoxicity. The bioassay-guided fractionation of water extract of Cassiae Semen furnished two anthraquinones, aurantio-obtusin (1) and obtusifolin (2). Compounds 1 and 2 showed hepatoprotective effects with the protection ratio values of 55.3 +/- 0.5% and 41.2 +/- 0.8% at $160{\mu}M$, respectively.

• 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.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.290-296
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• 2005

Effects of water extract obtained from Chrysanthemum boreale M. (CE) on serum enzyme activities and Kupffer cells of carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced rats were investigated. Thirty-two healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal (N), $CCl_4$-induced (T), CE-supplemented (C), and $CCl_4$-induced and CE-supplemented (TC) groups. $CCl_4$ injection significantly increased aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase activities in serum. Significant increases in total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were also observed in $CCl_4$-induced rats. Oral administration of CE at 300 mg/kg body weight significantly decreased serum enzyme levels and suppressed $CCl_4$ hepatotoxicity-induced lipid profile changes. Histological findings showed fatty change, fibrosis and increased number of Kupffer cells in T group. Electron microscopic examination showed increased lysosome content and dilation of rough endoplasmic reticulum within Kupffer cells in T group, whereas CE supplement attenuated liver injury in $CCl_4$-induced liver. These results indicated CE could significantly alleviate CC4-induced hepatotoxicity injury.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.73-77
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• 2006

Poisoning with mushroom containing amatoxin may be a real medical emergency and is characterized by long incubation time lag, gastrointestinal symptoms, hepatotoxic phase and sometimes death. We report a family of parents and two children who ingested wild mushroom and recovered from varying degrees of hepatotoxicity. After eating cooked wild mushroom and its soup, they all developed abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea 11 hours later, Their liver enzymes reached peak level between 48 and 72 hours after the ingestion. Among the family members, 5-year-old girl showed the most severe hepatic toxicity of AST/ALT 14,099/13,176 IU/L. They were all treated with supportive measures including repeated activated charcoal and penicillin G and recovered from the hepatotoxicity between 7 and 28 days after the ingestion. Being based on the shape and a typical course of the amatoxin poisoning, we presume that this wild mushroom belongs to Amanita virosa.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.79-83
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• 2010

Herbal hepatotoxicity is a one of the most often encountered controversial issues in medical society. Some believe herbs are totally safe while others regard treatment with herbs as a very common cause of hepatotoxicity. But there are no comparative clinical hepatotoxicity studies between herbal and conventional medicines. We investigated incidence of patients with abnormal liver function who were treated with herbal or conventional medicine at Dongguk University International Hospital. Each group consisted of 300 patients, who were admitted for longer than 30 days during the year 2008. We compared albumin, total bilirubin, AST (aspartate aminotransferase), and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) levels, and excludes patients who had abnormal liver function test or liver-related disease when admitted. As a result, incidence of total bilirubin, AST, and ALT elevation in the CT (conventional treatment) group was more frequent than in the TKM (traditional Korean medicine) group (p<0.05) during admission. Albumin level also decreased more frequently in the CT group than in the TKM group (p<0.05). According to these results, herbal medicine is not more hepatotoxic than conventional medicine, and not a main cause of liver injury in inpatients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1219-1224
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• 2019

Objective: To investigate the possibility of hepatotoxicity by supplemental foods or folk herbs such as Salvia Plebeia R. Br. Methods: A hospitalized male patient with alcoholic liver disease and electrolyte imbalance had recovered, and then followed by rapid hepatic serum enzymes after taking S. Plebeia. This study monitored the clinical outcome and biochemical parameters. Result: A 58-year male had drunk frequently, which led to alcoholic steatohepatitis and hospitalization. Two weeks after his discharge from hospital, he felt nausea, dizziness, and mild difficulties in speech and walking, resulting in re-hospitalization at the Korean Medical Hospital. The symptoms disappeared on correction of the electrolyte imbalance suspected to have been caused by severe sweating while working in the outdoors, and the patient was discharged. During treatment and monitoring of his health as an outpatient, the serum hepatic enzyme rapidly elevated approximately 10-fold in hepatic enzymes; the enzyme levels fluctuated according to whether or not he was taking the boiled water of S. Plebeia. The RUCAM score was 12, which met the criteria for toxic hepatitis by S. Plebeia. His general condition and abnormal hepatic enzymes recovered with cessation of S. Plebeia and administration of Chungganplus syrup (CGX). Conclusion: This study reports the hepatotoxic risk of Salvia Plebeia, which is commonly used as a folk remedy in Korea.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 1996

The effect of Cimicifuga heracleifolia on CC1$_4$-induced hepatotoxicity was investigated. Cimicifuga heracleifolia has been used to diaphoresis, antipyretics and detoxification in oriental remedy. We examined the effect of Cimicifuga heracleifolia methanol extract by blood chemical analysis and histopathologic examination. ALT and AST were decreased by 38% and 67% in pretreatment group of Cimicifuga heracleifolia compared to CC1$_4$control group respectively. There were significant changes neither in total protein, albumin, triglyceride and cholesterol nor in BUN and creatinine. In histopathologic examination, there were severe necrosis and hemorrhage with infiltration of inflammatory cells around the central vein, zone 3 in the liver of CC1$_4$ treated rat. Ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes were frequently noted in the periphery of the hemorrhagic necrosis. In Cimicifuga heracleifolia pretreatment group, we observed mild degree of ballooning degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration. No gross necrosis was observed. We measured malondialdehyde (MDA) formation by TBA method. It showed that the formation of MDA in Cimicifuga heracleifolia pretreatment group was decreased compared to the $CCl_4$control group. We got the result of the effect of Cimicifuga heracleifolia on CC1$_4$-induced hepatotoxicity by decreasing serum ALT and AST. It seems that the decrease of lipid peroxidation is related to the recovery effect.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 1996

The studies were attempted to investigate the therapeutic effect of Solanum lyratum extract(SLE) on the liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats. Male rats (Sprangue-Dawley) were treated with subchronic concentration of $CCl_4$, which was 1 mg/kg of $CCl_4$ via per oral administration daily for three days. The level of serum cholesterol, transaminase, bilirubin and BSP were measured. Treatment of SLE significantly decreased the increment in serum transaminase activities, total cholesterol and enlargement of liver but serum bilirubin was not reduced. The protective effect was observed when SLE was given daily for 4 weeks after $CCl_4$ treated for 3 days. SLE administration to rats prevented the development of fatty change, necrosis, and fibrosis induced by $CCl_4$. The results suggest that SLE has appreciable therapeutic effect on $CCl_4$ induced hepatotoxicity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.351-357
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• 2003

Five kinds of allylthiopyridazine derivatives were synthesized and their chemoprotective activities examined in rats exposed to aflatoxin $B_1$-toxicant. Rats were pretreated with five allylthiopyridazine derivatives at daily oral doses of 50 mg/kg for 10 consecutive days, and during this period with one or three repeated doses of the potent hepatotoxin, aflatoxin $B_1$. The hepatoprotective effects of the allylthiopyridazine derivatives against aflatoxin $B_1$ (1 mg/kg, three times at intervals of 3 days, i.p., or at 3 mg/kg, once at final days, i.p.) administration were showed the significantly normal as compared with control in body and liver weights. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were markedly elevated after aflatoxin $B_1$ administration, and pretreatment with allylthiopyridazine derivatives, before aflatoxin $B_1$ administration, resulted in decreased levels of these enzymes. In addition, the allylthiopyridazine derivatives, K6 (3-methoxy-), K8 (3-chloro-), K16 (3-ethoxy-) and K17 (3-n-propoxy), induced elevated hepatic GSH levels. Four kinds of allylthiopyridazine derivatives investigated were effective against aflatoxin $B_1$ -induced hepatotoxicity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.293-298
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• 2000

Bergenin is a C-glucoside of 4-O-methyl gallic acid that has been isolated from the cortex of Mallotus japonicus (Euphorbiaceae). Acetylbergenin was synthesized by acetylation from bergenin to increase lipophilic and physiological activities. The therapeutic effects of bergenin and acetylbergenin were evaluated against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Bergenin and acetylbergenin were administered orally once daily for successive 5 days, after the intraperitoneal injection of a mixture 0.5 m1/kg of $CCl_4$ in olive oil (1:1). The substantially elevated serum enzymatic activities of alanine/aspartate aminotransferase, sorbitol dehydrogenase and ${\gamma}$-glutamyltransferase induced by $CCl_4$ were restored towards normalization by posttreatment with bergenin and acetylbergenin. Bergenin and acetylbergenin also significantly prevented the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde formation and depletion of glutathione content induced by $CCl_4$ in a dose dependent fashion. In addition, the decreased activities of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase were restored towards normalization. These results suggest that therapeutic effects of bergenin and acetylbergenin may be related complex mechanisms that involve prevention of lipid peroxidation and preservation of hepatic GSH. The results of this study clearly indicate that bergenin and acetylbergenin have potent hepatothrapeutic action against $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. In addition, acetylbergenin 50 mgHg showed almost the same levels of hepatoprotective activity as those of bergenin 100 mgAg, indicating the fact that lipophilic acetylbergenin is more effective in the hepatoprotective action against $CCl_4$ than bergenin.