• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.789-794
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• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Cassia tora ethanol extracts on carbon tetrachloride($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following 4 groups: normal group, $CCl_4$, treated group, $CCl_4-0.25%$ Cassia tora ethanol extracts group and $CCl_4-0.5%$ Cassia tora ethanol extracts group. Rats were fed with each experimental diet and water for 5 weeks. Liver weights of rats treated only with $CCl_4$, were significantly increased compared to normal group, but not in rats fed diet containing Cassia tora ethanol extracts. Cholesterol and triglyceride contents in serum and liver were also not influenced by either $CCl_4$, treatment or the supplementation of Cassia tora ethanol extracts. $CCl_4$, treatment significantly increased ALP activities, however the supplementation of Cassia tora ethanol extracts significantly decreased the activities of serum ALT, AST, ${\gamma}-GTP$ in dose-dependent manner. Cassia tora ethanol extracts significantly reduced $CCl_4-induced$ elevation of liver TBARS contents. Activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were decreased by $CCl_4$, treatment, however by the supplement of Cassia tora ethanol extracts slightly increased activities of SOD and catalase. The activity of glutathione peroxidase in groups fed diets containing Cassia tora ethanol extracts was significantly decreased compared to that of the control group. These results suggest that Cassia tora ethanol extracts may exert protective effect against $CCl_4-induced$ liver injury through the prevention of lipid peroxidation.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.147-169
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• 2007

To evaluate the therapeutic effects of BGG on atopic dermatitis, we investigated the composition of immune cells of lymph node, PBMC and skin of Dermatophagoides farinae-induced NC/Nga mice. The levels of immunoglobulins in serum were analyzed at the protein level and the amount of pathologic cytokines were investigated using CD3/CD28 stimulated splenocytes. The results are summarized below; 1. BGG showed no cytotoxic effect up to $200\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ on mLFC in vitro. 2. BGG showed no hepatotoxicity in vivo based on the levels of ALT and AST. 3. Atopic dermatitis was improved through naked eye examination. BGG reduced the skin clinical index from 2.9 to 1.3 (p<0.01). 4. H&E and toluidine blue staining of tissue biopsies revealed that BGG inhibited the infiltration of lymphocytes and mast cells to skin. 5. BGG reduced the number of CD19 positive B cells in PBMCs by 16% (p<0.01), whereas cells were increased by 26% (p<0.05) in lymph nodes. 6. BGG reduced the numbers of B220+/CD23+ cells by 15% (p<0.01) and 33% in PBMCs and lymph node, respectively. 7. BGG reduced the numbers of B220+/IgE+ cells in PBMCs and lymph node by 21% and 33% (p<0.01), respectively. 8. BGG suppressed the levels of IgE (13%, p<0.001) as well as IgM (34%, p<0.001), IgG2a (40%, p<0.001) and IgG2b (26%, p<0.05). 9. BGG reduced the levels of IL-4 and IFN-$\gamma$ by 7% (p<0.05) and 13% (p<0.001) in anti-CD3 and anti-CD28-activated splenocytes, respectively. 10. BGG considerably inhibited the production of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 by 42% (p<0.01) and 15% in the serum, respectively. Based on the results above, we concluded that BGG has therapeutic effects on atopic dermatitis by regulating the differentiation of B cells and isotype switching of IgE. Further investigations on the molecular mechanisms of BGG on atopic dermatitis are anticipated.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.131-137
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• 2005

Acetaminophen(APAP) is one of the most extensively used analgesics and antipyreics worldwide. In order to investigate preventive effects of white and red ginseng extracts, male ICR mice pretreated with white or red ginseng extracts(50 or 250 mg/kg/day, for 5 days, orally) before treatment with acetaminophen(800mg/kg, i.p, single dose). In an attempt to elucidate the possible mechanism of hepatoprotective effect, superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT), hydroperoxide, malondialdehyde(MDA) contents were studied. In pretreatment with red ginseng extract(250 mg/kg), the activities of SOD, CAT were generally highest and the hydrogen peroxide content was lowest. The levels of MDA were significantly lower in white and red ginseng extract groups than those in the APAP groups. By treatment with ginseng extract, high content of hydrogen peroxide and increased lipid peroxidatiion level caused by APAP could be lowered. Also, ginseng extracts were found to increase antioxidative enzyme activity. Finally, the results suggest that the antioxidant effects of (white and red) ginseng extracts prevent oxidative damage by direct antioxidant effects involving SOD, CAT and increasing the ability to synthesize endogenous antioxidants. It was concluded that ginseng can protect against APAP intoxication through its antioxidant properties.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotecive effect of silk protein hydrolysates (SDH), which was prepared by acid hydrolysis, in rats. SDH itself did not exhibit any cytotoxic effect on hepatic tissues. SDH showed a protective effect on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced hepatotoxicity and liver damage. SDH effectively reduced AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase), which are biomarkers for liver damage, in a dose-dependent manner. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxidation product, was significantly reduced by SDH. A high dose of SDH (2 g/kg) reduced t-BHP-induced MDA production by 40%. Glutathione (GSH), which is an endogenous antioxidant molecule, was effectively increased by SDH treatment. GSH content was enhanced by around 2.5-fold, compared with t-BHP control, upon SDH (2 g/kg) treatment. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which is an enzyme released by cell cytotoxicity, was greatly increased by t-BHP, but significantly decreased by SDH treatment. Furthermore, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining showed that SDH suppressed t-BHP-induced lesions in liver tissue. Taken together, SDH might be used as a protective agent against liver damage.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.865-870
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• 2003

Opuntia ficus-indica is widely used as folk medicine for burned wound, edema and indigestion, etc. After the adaptation of rats for seven days, OF (200mg/kg) was administered into rats intraperitoneally every day for two weeks. On the 14th day, $3.3m\ell$ of $CCl_4$ (50% $CCl_4$ : Olive oil = 1 : 1) was treated to rats and on the 15th day, they were operated. We measured the levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, total lipid and triglyceride (TG) in serum and Malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissue. Opuntia ficus-indica and $CCl_4$-treated group (OFC) significantly decreased lipid peroxidation by 32.6% compared to $CCl_4$-treated abnomal group (CTA). Total lipid and TC of OFC administered group were lower than those of CTA group. Cholesterol levels showed significant effect in OFC group. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in OFC administered group were decreased by 12.7% and 17.4%, respectively, compared to those of CTA group. HDL-cholesterol in OFC administration group was increased by 19.7% compared to CTA group. This finding suggests that lipid peroxidation was inhibited in the significant level when $CCl_4$-induced rats were treated with OF. Based on this analysis, further study to identify the active components in this sample is warranted.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.4 s.71
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• pp.572-577
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• 2005

In this study, the effect of Epimedii Herba (EH) on the antioxidative enzymatic activity was investigated. EH (100mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered into rats for 2 weeks. On the last day, carbon tetrachloride $(50\%\;CCl_4,\;3.3ml/kg,\;i.p.)$ dissolved in olive oil was injected before 12 hours. EH-pread-ministered and $CCl_4-treated$ (EC) group showed higher inhibitory effect in aminotransferase (AST, ALT) activity compared to $CCl_4-treated (CT)$ group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase in EC group were increased compared to those of CT group. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was significantly higher than those of CT group compared to EC group. These results suggest that EH has a hepatoprotective effect through scavenging the free radicals induced by $CCl_4$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.516-520
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• 2002

This study was designed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Semisulcospira libertina and garlic on the acute hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl$_4$) of rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200∼220g were pretreated with dehydrated powder of Semisulcospira libertina (2.1 g/kg, po; SL) and dehydrated powder mixture of Semisulcospira libertina and garlic (3g/kg, 7:3 ratio, po; SG) once daily for 3 consecutive days, and then given a single dose of CCl$_4$(1g/kg in 5ml/kg corn oil, po) and liver function was determined 24 hrs later. Liver damage was assessed by quantitating activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as by histopathological examination. Pretreatments with SL and SG significantly decleased CCl$_4$-elevated ALT (48% and 61% respectively), AST (32% and 47%) and SDH (51% and 76%), but had no effect on ALP. SL and SG had revealed hepatoprotective effects against CCl$_4$-induced histopathological changes such as severe necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration and congestion in the central gene of hepatic lobule. These findings demonstrate that SL and SG may haute the hepatoprotective effect on CCl$_4$-induced liver damage.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to determine hepatoprotective effects of pig placenta hydrolysates (PLA) on liver damage-induced rats. Sprague Dawley rats were subcutaneously injected with carbon tetrachlorides and divided into 4 groups: negative control (DMSO treated), two PLA treated groups, low dosage of PLA (LPLA; 300 mg/kg body weight) and high dosage of PLA (HPLA; 1000 mg/kg body weight), and silymarin treated group (80 mg/kg body weight). Rats in each group orally received assigned compounds for 3 weeks. For the normal control group vehicle (corn oil) was injected. After 3 weeks, liver and spleen weights were greater in the two PLA and silymarin groups than the negative control group. After bromosulfalein (BSP) treatment, the clearance rates were in the descending order of negative control > LPLA > HPLA = silymarin and serum BSP levels exhibited the opposite trends of the clearance rates. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, triglyceride, and cholesterol lowered with PLA in a dose-dependent manner. The decrease with HPLA was similar to that with silymarin. In addition, triglyceride, cholesterol, lipid peroxides levels in the liver decreased in HPLA and silymarin compared to the negative control. The liver morphometry was improved in HPLA- or silymarin-treated rats in comparison to the negative control. In conclusion, HPLA administration ameliorated the hepatotoxicity as much as silymarin in rats injected with carbon tetrachlorides.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.569-573
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of Hovenia dulcis Thumb leaves extract on liver damage in benzo($\alpha$)pyrene (B($\alpha$)P)-treated mice. Hovenia dulcis Thumb leaves methanol extract was intra-peritoneally injected once daily for 5 successive days, followed by treatment with B($\alpha$)p. The elevated activities of serum aminotransferase and hepatic cytochrome P450 by B($\alpha$)p were decreased by pretreatment with Hovenia dulcis Thumb leaves extract. Hovenia dulcis Thumb leaves extract also significantly prevented the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde content and depletion of glutathione content induced by B($\alpha$)P. In addition, the increased activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase after B($\alpha$)P-treatment were decreased. On the other hand, glutathione S-transferase activity was increased by pretreatment with Hovenia dulcis Thumb leaves extract. These results suggest that Hovenia dulcis Thumb leaves extract have a protective effect on liver damage by B($\alpha$)P through the mechanisms of decreasing lipid peroxide and activities of free radical generating enzymes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.226-234
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• 2006

Disturbance of antioxidant system is very common in chronic alcoholics and herbal or natural products with antioxidant activity have been used for its treatment. This study was to investigate the effect of Vitis vinifera extract(V), Schisandra chinensis extract(S), Taraxacum officinale extract(T), Gardenia jasminoides extract(G), Angelica acutiloba extract(A) and Paeonia japonica extract(P), and their combinations on the antioxidant and ethanol oxidation system. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to Lieber-DeCarli ethanol liquid diet(ED) and were then given different herbal extract mixtures for 6 weeks including VST(V 100+S 150+T 150mg/kg/day), VSG(V 100+S 150+G 150mg/kg/day), VTG(V 100+T 150+G 150mg/kg/day), and VAP(V 100+A 150+P 150mg/kg/day). When the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase(ALDH) were compared between ED only group and herbal extracts treatment group, the differences were statistically significant. Phase I and II(glutathione-S-transferase, phenol sulfatransferase) enzyme activities were found to be significantly higher in the VAT treatment group compared to the ED group. Herbal extracts not only repressed the ethanol-induced elevation of malondialdehyde level, but also protected against ethanol-induced decrease in glutathione content, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. The administration of the herbal extracts was found to be effective in eliminating lipid-peroxides induced by long-term consumption of alcohol by activating various enzyme systems and physiological active compound formation system. After a chronic consumption of alcohol, Angelica Radix protected the liver via activating the ethanol-metabolism enzyme system, and Paeoniae Radix via activating the ethanol-metabolism enzyme and the phase I, II-metabolism enzyme system. Taraxaci Herba was also effective in liver protection via activating the ethanol-metabolism enzyme system and the phase I, II-metabolism enzyme system, Gardeniae Fructus via activating the phase II-metabolism enzyme system and the anti-oxidation system enzyme, and Schisandra Fructus and a grapestone via activating the anti-oxidation system. Our data suggest that these herbal extracts may be useful as a health functional food or new drug candidate for fatty liver and hepatotoxicity induced by chronic alcohol consumption.