• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.84-93
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• 2003

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate effects of the Sungjuchunggan-tang(Xingjiuqinggan-tang), which has been used for alcoholic diseases in Oriental medicine, on alcoholic metabolism and alcoholic liver damage. Methods : We evaluated the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH)and aldehyde dehydrogenase(ALDH), and measured the levels of AST, ALT, glucose, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and phospholipid in serum of guinea pigs. Results and Conclusions : In this experiment, Sungjuchunggan-tang, Pharbitidis Semen and Puerariae Radix significantly suppressed the activity of ADH which is a precursor enzyme of acetaldehyde. Sungjuchunggan-tang and Pharbitidis Semen significantly suppressed the activity of ALDH, which is a catabolic enzyme, and increased its level. Due to alcohol consumption, level of ALT and AST were significantly reduced. These experimental results suggest that Sungjuchunggan-tang and Pharbitidis Semen inhibit the formation of acetaldehyde in the metabolism of alcohol, and affect the recovery of weakened liver functions caused by alcohol.