• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2145-2150
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• 2016

Background: Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major global public health problem, with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Human cytosolic glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) include several classes such as alpha (A), mu (M), pi (P), sigma (S), zeta (Z), omega (O) and theta (T). The present study aimed to investigate the role of GST omega genes (GSTO1 and GSTO2) in different groups of patients infected with HBV. Materials and Methods: HBV groups were classified according to clinical history, serological tests and histological analysis into normal carriers (N), acute (A), chronic (CH), cirrhosis (CI) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases. The study focused on determination of the genotypes of GST omega genes (GSTO1 and GSTO2) and GST activity and liver function tests. Results: The results showed that GSTO1 (A/A) was decreased in N, A, CH, CI and HCC groups compared to the C-group, while, GSTO1 (C/A) and GSTO1(C/C) genotypes were increased significantly in N, A, CH, CI and HCC groups. GSTO2 (A/A) was decreased in all studied groups as compared to the C-group but GSTO2(A/G) and GSTO2(G/G) genotypes were increased significantly. In addition, GST activities, albumin and TP levels were decreased in all studied groups compared to the C-group, while the activities of transaminases were increased to differing degrees. Conclusions: The results indicate that GSTO genetic polymorphisms may be considered as biomarkers for determining and predicting the progression of HBV infection.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.162-169
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• 2014

Purpose: To study temporal pattern of serum liver enzymes levels in newborns with hepatic injury associated with birth asphyxia (BA). Methods: Singleton term newborns with BA and ${\leq}72$ hours of age admitted to neonatal intensive care unit were prospectively enrolled. Term newborns with physiological jaundice and without BA were studied as controls. Serum liver enzymes were measured at <24 hours, 24-72 hours, and at 6-12 days of age for cases and at 1-6 days of age for controls. BA was defined by 1 minute Apgar score <7 or delayed or absent cry with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. BA-associated liver injury was defined as serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation beyond +2 standard deviation (ALT > +2 SD) above the mean of control subjects at any of the three time points. Results: Sixty controls and 62 cases were enrolled. Thirty-five cases (56%) developed BA-associated liver injury (ALT>81 IU/L). They had higher serum levels of ALT, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase than the control infants, with peak at 24-72 hours. In controls, serum liver enzyme levels were significantly higher in appropriate-for-date (AFD) babies than small-for-date (SFD) babies. Serum enzyme pattern and extent of elevation were comparable between SFD and AFD babies. Degree of serum liver enzyme elevation had no relationship with severity of hypoxic encephalopathy. Conclusion: Serum liver enzyme elevation is common in BA; it peaks at 24-72 hours followed by a sharp decline by 6-12 days of age. Pattern and extent of enzyme elevation are comparable between SFD and AFD babies.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.309-320
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was done to investigate the protective effects of Samgiinjin-tang on liver injury of rats induced by CCI4 and d-galactosamine. Methods: All animals were divided into .5 groups, those were normal group(untreated), control group(treated with 0.9% Saline solution), sample I group(2,250mg/kg administrated), sample II group(4,500mg/kg administrated), Silymarin 200mg/kg administrated group. Liver injury of rats were induced by CCI4 and d-galactosamine, and then the serum transaminases(ALT&AST) alkaline phosphatase(ALP), lactic dehydrogenase(LDH) for enzyme activities, liver weight, lipid peroxidation and catalase, glutathione S-transferase(GST) for enzyme activities were measured. Results : The inhibitory effects on the serum ALT, AST activities in liver injury of rats induced by CCI4 were noted in both sample I and sample II group. The inhibitory effects on the serum ALP, LDH activities and the Lipid peroxidation of Mitochondria & Cytosol were noted in only sample II group. The decreased effects on the GST activities of Homogenate & Cytosol were inhibited in both sample I and sample II groups. The decreased effects on the GST activities of Mitochondria & Microsome were inhibited in sample II group. The inhibitory effects of the serum ALT, AST, LDH activities in liver injury of rats induced by d-galactosamine were noted in both sample I and sample II groups. In serum AST activities, sample II group. Conclusions : Samgiinjin-tang has protective effects against liver injury of rats induced by CCI4 and d-galactosamine. So it is required to study about the actions of mutual relation of medicines and patho-mechanism by experiment.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.466-471
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Currently, natural products have been shown to exhibit interesting biological and pharmacological activities and are used as chemotherapeutic agents. The purpose of this study, conducted on Wistar rats, was to evaluate the beneficial effects of Artemisia arborescens oil on oestroprogestative treatment induced damage on liver. MATERIALS/METHODS: A total of 36 Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups; a control group (n = 9), a group of rats who received oestroprogestative treatment by intraperitoneal injection (n = 9), a group pre-treated with Artemisia arborescens then injected with oestroprogestative treatment (n = 9), and a group pre-treated with Artemisia arborescens (n = 9). To minimize the handling stress, animals from each group were sacrificed rapidly by decapitation. Blood serum was obtained by centrifugation and the livers were removed, cleaned of fat, and stored at $-80^{\circ}C$ until use. RESULTS: In the current study, oestroprogestative poisoning resulted in oxidative stress, which was demonstrated by 1) a significant increase of lipid peroxidation level in hepatic tissue 2) increased levels of serum transaminases (aspartate amino transferase and serum alanine amino transferase), alkaline phosphatase, glycemia and triglycerides and a decrease in the level of cholesterol 3) alteration of hepatic architecture. Pre-administration of Artemisia arborescens oil was found to alleviate oestroprogestative treatment induced damage by lowering lipid peroxidation level and by increasing activity of catalase, superoxide-dismutase, and glutathione-peroxidase in liver and by reducing disruption of biochemical parameters. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the results obtained in this study confirmed that Artemisia essential oil protects against oestroprogestative administration induced hepatotoxicity by restoration of liver activities.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.106-110
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• 2004

The antioxidant activities of Acanthopanax senticosus stems were evaluated in $CCl_4$-intoxicated rats. The n-butanol fraction from the water extract of the stems, when pretreated orally at 200 mg/kg/day for 7 consecutive days in rats, was demonstrated to exhibit significant increases in antioxidant enzyme activities such as hepatic cytosolic superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase by 30.31, 19.82 and 155%, respectively. The n-butanol fraction whereas showed a significant inhibition of serum GPT activity (65.79% inhibition) elevated with hepatic damage induced by $CCl_4$-intoxication. Eleutheroside B, a lignan component, isolated from the n-butanol fraction was found to cause a moderate free radical scavenging effection DPPH, its scavenging potency as indicated in $IC_{50}$ value, being 58.5$\mu$ M. These results suggested that the stems of A. senticosus possess not only antioxidant but also hepatoprotective activities.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.99-110
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• 1991

This study was initiated to investigate the effects of organic germanium on cadmium and mercury intoxication. The effect was determined by the metallothionein induction in liver and kidney. Male rats (Sprague-Dawley) were treated with CdCI$_{2}$ (2mg/kg), HgCI$_{2}$ (1 mg/kg) and organic germanium (GE-132) (100 mg/kg) in single and in combination via intraperitoneal injection or intragastric administration every other days for 17 days. Experimental animals were sacrificed after 7, 12 and 17 days treatment. The serum transaminase activities (SGOT, SGPT), concentration of metal and metallothionein, metal-binding capacity of metallothionein in liver and kidney were determined and pathomorphological observations were undertaken. The combined treatment of GE-132 and CdCI$_{2}$ significantly decreased the increment of serum transaminase activities in rats treated with CdCI$_{2}$ only, but the combined treatment of GE-132 and HgCI$_{2}$ did not affect to activities of transaminases induced by mercury only. The concentration of metals (Cd and Hg) except Ge in the liver and kidney of rats increased with the time of treatment. Mercury concentration in kidney of rat treated with HgCI$_{2}$ only was significantly higher than the combined treatment of GE-132 and HgCI$_{2}$. The combined treatment of GE-132 and CdCI$_{2}$ significantly increased the concentration of metallothionein in liver compared to the CdCI$_{2}$ only, although the concentration of cadmium in liver were not significantly different between two groups. This indicates that GE-132 decreased toxicity of cadmium in liver by promoting metallothionein induction. There were no significant differences in metallothionein concentration in liver and kidney of rats between the combined treatment of GE-132 and HgCI$_{2}$ and HgCI$_{2}$ only. Metal-binding capacity of metallothionein varied with each time intervals in liver and kidney of metals treated rats except the liver of the combined treatment of GE-132 and CdCI$_{2}$. This finding explains the concentration of metallothionein in liver keeps abreast with the concention of metal. Furthermore, the combined treatment of GE-132and CdCl$_{2}$ revealed pathologically less changes in liver tissue than CdCl$_{2}$ only; the damages of liver cell, such as lobular necrosis and portal inflammation, were relieved and appeared more later. From the above results, organic germanium is considered to have some beneficial effect on the protection of liver from the cadmium intoxication.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2012

Cherry silverberry (Elaeagnus multiflora) contains bioactive phenolics. This study was conducted to determine whether feeding cherry silverberry wine (CSW) to rats would alleviate the progress of alcoholic fatty liver. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided by weight into the following three groups. Two groups of rats were fed 6.7% ethanol or the caloric equivalent Lieber-DeCarli diet containing maltose-dextrin, and the other group an isocaloric Lieber-DeCarli diet containing CSW at the same ethanol level for 6 weeks. CSW's flavonoids, its antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities, serum transaminases, serum and hepatic lipids, and liver histology were examined. Our results showed that CSW exerted significant antioxidant and radical scavenging activities. The serum activities of alanine and aspartate transminases were markedly decreased by CSW at 6 weeks. Also, CSW feeding resulted in significant reductions in blood cholesterol and triglyceride. The development of alcoholic fatty liver was significantly delayed by lowering fat accumulation. Taken together, these results indicate that CSW may help protect the liver against alcoholic fatty liver by improving serum and hepatic lipid status. This may be associated with the protective effect of CSW on alcoholic fatty liver via bioactive phenolic compounds.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.187-193
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• 2014

This study investigated whether or not Citrus unshiu peel extract (CPE) affects fat accumulation in livers of rats fed an ethanol-containing liquid diet. Initially, male Sprague-Dawley rats were housed individually in stainless steel, wire-bottomed cages with free access to a Lieber-Decarli control liquid diet. Rats were divided by body weight into three groups of eight each: one group of rats was fed the Lieber-Decarli control liquid diet devoid of ethanol (control), another was fed the Lieber-Decarli ethanol diet (ethanol), and third was fed the same ethanol diet except containing CPE. All three groups were fed their respective diets for 6 weeks. Serum and liver lipids were analyzed and liver histology performed. Body weight did not differ among the groups over the 6-wk duration. Histology images showed that CPE administration significantly improved fat accumulation in livers, which was induced by ethanol diet. Serum levels of transaminases and lipids also were reduced by CPE consumption. Taken together, the results indicate that CPE may protect ethanol-induced fatty liver by lowering fat accumulation in both the liver and blood. The protective effects of CPE appear to be due to its phenolic contents.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2006

Purpose: Glycogen storage disease type III (GSD-III), is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of glycogen metabolism. The affected enzyme is amylo-1,6-glucosidase, 4-alpha-glucanotransferase (AGL, glycogen debranching enzyme), which is responsible for the debranching of the glycogen molecule during catabolism. The disease has been demonstrated to show clinical and biochemical heterogeneity, reflecting the genotype-phenotype heterogeneity among different patients. In this study, we analyzed mutations of the AGL gene in three unrelated Korean GSD-III patients and discussed their clinical and laboratory implications. Methods: We studied three GSD-III patients and the clinical features were characterized. Sequence analysis of 35exons and part exon-intron boundaries of the AGLgene in patients were carried out by direct DNA sequencing method using genomic DNA isolated from patients' peripheral leukocytes. Results: The clinical features included hepatomegaly (in all patients), seizures (in patient 2), growth failure (in patients 1), hyperlipidemia (in patients 1 and 3), raised transaminases and creatinine kinase concentrations (in all patients) and mild EKG abnormalities (in patients 2). Liver transplantation was performed in patient 2due to progressive hepatic fibrosis. Administration of raw-corn-starch could maintain normoglycemia and improve the condition. DNA sequence analysis revealed mutations in 5 out of 6 alleles. Patient 1 was a compound heterozygote of c.1282 G>A (p.R428K) and c.1306delA (p.S603PfsX6), patient 2 with c.1510_1511insT (p.Y504LfsX10), and patient 3 with c.3416 T>C (p.L1139P) and c.l735+1 G>T (Y538_R578delfsX4) mutations. Except R428K mutation, 4 other mutations identified in3 patients were novel. Conclusion: GSD-III patients have variable phenotypic characteristics resembling GSD-Ia. The molecular defects in the AGL gene of Korean GSD-III patients were genetically heterogeneous.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.63-74
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• 1984

Preventive effect of the saponin fraction extracted from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer against ethanol intoxication of the liver has been investigated biochemically and morphologically. Previous work in this laboratory showed that the moderate amounts of ginseng sponins stimulated several enzymes including mitochondrial dehydrogenases and transaminases so far examined in vitro. It was also realized that the half life of the saponin in the liver was estimated approximately five hours and the saponin concentration in the liver was around $10^{-5}\%$ level at two hours after the saponin (1mg) administration orally. In this study, it was confirmed that ginseng saponins stimulated alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase and microsomal ethanol oxidizing system in vivo as well as in vitro. It seemed likely that toxic aldehyde formed during ethanol oxidation in the body might be removed relatively quickly from the liver and the excess hydrogen was used for the biosynthetic work in the presence of the saponin, resulting in the liver protection from alcohol intoxication. Electron microscopic observation demonstrated that the hepatocytes of rats doses with $12\%$ ethanol instead of water for six days were found severely damaged while those of the ginseng saponin administered rats were not impaired suggesting that the sapcnin protected the liver against ethanol intoxication.