• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2001

To investigate the effects of safflower seed supplementation diet on the hepatic injury of rats administered with carbon tetrachloride (CCI$_4$), histopathological changes were assessed following acute and chronic administration in rats. In acute cases, all rats in group fed with 10% safflower seed supplementation diet survived despite the administration of lethal doses of $CCl_4$. However, most rats in group fed with control diet died. The hepatic injuries of survived rats, in the histopathological findings, were mild compared to those of dead rats. In the chronic cases, livers of group 2 fed with control diet were more progressive in fatty changes and centrilobular necrosis than those of group 3 fed with 20%safflower seed diet. However, after six weeks, livers of group 2 and 3 showed severe necrosis and mild fibrosis at the same time. Group 5 fed with 10% safflower seed supplementation diet and water containing 0.05% phenobarbital sodium showed mild fatty changes and necrosis compared with group 4 fed with control diet and water containing 0.05% phenobarbital sodium at sixth week. At 8 to 10 wee71s after the administration of $CCl_4$, severe fibrosis. fatty changes and marked necrosis were observed in group 4, but hepatic injuries were less severe in group 5. The present results suggested that safflower seed has some protective effect in hepatic lesions and consequently delay the progression of hepatic fibrosis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.53-59
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• 2016

Alcoholism is a significant health problem in the world. The liver is the first and primary target organ for alcohol metabolism. Alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase play important roles in the metabolism of alcohol and aldehyde. In this study, I aimed to investigate the eliminatory effects of a Phellinus spp. extract on alcohol metabolism in drunken Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Male SD rats were given Phellinus spp. extract at 30 min after 40% (5 g/kg) alcohol ingestion. To assay the effect of Phellinus spp. extract on blood alcohol concentration, blood samples were taken from the tail vein at 1, 3 and 5 h after alcohol ingestion. The concentrations of alcohol, alcohol dehydrogenase, and aldehyde dehydrogenase in Phellinus spp. extract treated rat were significantly lower than that of the control with a time-dependent manner. In addition, the alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities of Phellinus spp. extract-treated groups were altered compared to those of the control group. These results suggest that Phellinus spp. extract intake can have a positive effect on the reduction of alcohol, alcohol dehydrogenase, and aldehyde dehydrogenase concentrations in the blood and may alleviate acute alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity by altering alcohol metabolic enzyme activities. Phellinus spp. extract is thus a good nutraceutical candidate.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2005

The hepatoprotective effects of chalcone derivatives were evaluated in D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide (D-GaIN/LPS)-induced fulminant hepatic failure in mouse. Thirteen chalcone derivatives were synthesized for study and their hepatoprotective effects were evaluated by assessing aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in serum. Chalcone preparations were injected into mice at 12 hand 1 h before intraperitoneal injection of D-GaIN/LPS. After abdominal administration, changes in AST and ALT between the control and treated groups were observed. Ten of the synthesized chalcone derivatives exhibited inhibitory effects on D-GaIN/LPS-induced levels of AST and ALT in mice. Compounds 2, 3, 8, 9, and 12 markedly reduced serum AST and ALT at 8 h, inhibited hepatocyte necrosis and showed significant hepatoprotective activities. The activity of compound 3 was compared with the bifendate (DDB) through oral administration. Compound 3 showed much higher inhibitory effects than bifendate for decreasing AST and ALT activity. The results indicate that compound 3 has strong hepatoprotective activity through suppression of tumor necrosis factor­alpha (TNF-alpha) preduction, reduction of the histological change in the liver, and attenuated of hepatocyte apoptosis confirmed by DNA fragmentation assay.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1207-1213
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• 2008

The possible protective effects of highly zinc-containing yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, FF-10 strain, isolated from tropical fruit rambutan on acute alcoholic liver injury in rats were evaluated. Zinc concentration in this strain was 30.6mg%. The activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and $\gamma$-glutamyl transpeptidase ($\gamma$-GTP) were highly increased when alcohol was treated, relative to the normal rats. Also, a highly significant increase in the blood alcohol and acetaldehyde levels by alcohol treatment was observed. Administration of FF-10 strain markedly prevented alcohol-induced elevation of the activities of serum ALT, AST, and $\gamma$-GTP, and the levels of blood alcohol and acetaldehyde, and these reduced levels reached to that of normal rats. As compared with alcohol treated control rats, the FF-10 strain supplementation showed highly decreased the triglyceride concentration in serum. Alcohol treatment induced the marked accumulation of small lipid droplets, hepatocytes necrosis, and inflammation, but FF-10 strain administration attenuated to alcohol-induced accumulation of small lipid droplets and hepatocyte necrosis in the liver. Therefore, the current finding suggests that zinc-enriched yeast FF-10 strain isolated from tropical fruit rambutan may have protective effect against alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1186-1192
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of Chlorella vulgaris extract (CVE) against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. The mice received silymarin (100 mg/kg), intragastrieally (i.g.) and CVE (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, i.g.), respectively, every other day, for 4 weeks before $CCl_4$ administration. Twenty-four hr after the administration of $CCl_4$, the serum and liver were analyzed. Our study found that in the CVE groups, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels had decreased significantly and the tissue injury was notably diminished compared to the $CCl_4$ group. The antioxidant activities of CVE groups, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione (GSH), were significantly increased and the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was remarkably increased in a CVE concentration-dependent manner. In the CVE groups, cytochrome P450 2B1/2B2 (CYP2B1/2) content was decreased. These results indicate that CVE has protective effects against $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity via stimulation of the antioxidant activity and nitric oxide (NO) production, and through inhibition of CYP2B1/2.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.65-73
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• 2011

Objectives : The present study was evaluated the protective roles of Spatholobi Caulis in hepatotoxic rats due to APAP overdose. Methods : In experiments, rats were orally administrated with the aqueous extract of Spatholobi Caulis (SCE; 50, 100 mg/kg) for 4 days and then, orally gavage with APAP (1.2 g/kg) to induce acute liver damage. Results : Oral injection of APAP caused severe hepatic injury. Plasma ALT, AST and LDH levels were significantly elevated, but SCE significantly decreased ALT, AST and LDH to the normal level. In histopathological analysis, peripheral hemorrhage around portal triads and central necrosis around central veins were founded after APAP treatment. However, these histopathological changes were recovered by SCE pretreatment. SCE also decreased the percentage of generative hepatic regions (%/$mm^2$ hepatic parenchyma), the numbers of inflammatory cells (cells/$mm^2$ hepatic parenchyma) and the number of degenerative hepatic cells (N/100 hepatic cellls) which were significantly elevated after APAP injection. Furthermore, SCE down-regulated the contents of hepatic MDA and up-regulated hepatic GSH. SCE also inhibited the decrease in the expression of pro-caspase-3 by APAP treatment. Conclusions : Collectively, these data indicate that SCE protected APAP-induced hapatic damages through antioxidative and anti-apoptotic process. These findings the significant therapeutic potential of SCE during APAP-induced liver injury.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1178-1184
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• 2008

The effect of some peptides on hepatoprotection and cecal fermentation against D-galactosamine (GalN)-treated rats was studied. In acute hepatic injury tests, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotranferase (AST), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were remarkably increased after injection of GalN. However, potato and soybean peptides significantly decreased GalN-induced alterations of serum ALT and AST activities. Hepatic thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) concentration in GalN-treated groups fed potato and soybean peptides was significantly lower than that in GalN-treated control group. Hepatic glutathione level in the GalN-treated group fed potato peptide was significantly higher than that in GalN-treated control group. Furthermore, cecal Lactobacillus level in GalN-treated groups fed potato and soybean peptides was significantly higher than that in GalN-treated control group, and cecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations in GalN-treated group fed potato peptide were significantly higher than in GalN-treated control group. These results indicate that potato peptide may improve the cecal fermentation and prevent the GalN-induced liver damage in rats.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.202-208
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• 2007

Persimmon is well-known as a Korean traditional medicine for alleviating coughs and enhancing blood circulation; it is also used for treatment of hypertension, cancer, diabetes and atherosclerosis. To evaluate the protective properties of persimmon leaf methanol extract (PLME) and persimmon fruit methanol extract (PFME) administration on acute ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity, C57BL/6 male mice were gavaged with or without persimmon extracts for 1 week. Hepatotoxicity was then induced by gavage of 5 g/kg BW ethanol. After 12 hr of ethanol administration, blood and liver were collected and analyzed for biochemical markers of hepatotoxicity. The results showed PLME and PFME treatments decreased the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) compared with ethanol control. Both PLME and PFME reduced serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, but elevated alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity. Serum triglyceride (TG) and hepatic cholesterol levels were significantly decreased when treated with PLME and PFME. Liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased in PLME and PFME groups compared with ethanol control. Furthermore, the administration of PLME and PFME significantly increased the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GSH-red). In summary, PLME and PFME appeared to prevent hepatic injury by accelerating alcohol metabolism by increasing alcohol-metabolizing enzyme activities, by activating the antioxidative enzyme system against oxidative stress, and by decreasing fat accumulation, which is evidenced by decreased hepatotoxic indices in serum.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.383-388
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• 2007

It has been reported that sulfur-containing intermediates or products in the transsulfuration pathway including S-adenosylmethionine, 5'-methylthioadenosine, glutathione and taurine can prevent liver injury mediated by inflammation response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. The present study examines the modulation of hepatic metabolism of sulfur amino acid in a model of acute sepsis induced by LPS treatment (5 mg/kg, iv). Serum TNF-alpha and hepatotoxic parameters were significantly increased in rats treated with LPS, indicating that LPS results in sepsis at the doses used in this study. LPS also induced oxidative stress determined by increases in malondialdehyde levels and decreases in total oxy-radical scavenging capacities. Hepatic methionine and glutathione concentrations were decreased, but S-adenosylho-mocysteine, cystathionine, cysteine, hypotaurine and taurine concentrations were increased. Hepatic protein expression of methionine adenosyltransferase, cystathionine beta-synthase and cysteine dioxygenase were induced, but gamma-glutamylcysteine ligase catalytic subunit levels were decreased. The results show that sepsis activates transsulfuration pathway from methionine to cysteine, suggesting an increased requirement for methionine during sepsis.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.155-158
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• 2019

Imatinib mesylate is currently used as the first-line treatment for metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Imatinib-induced hepatotoxicity in patients with GIST is very rare. Its features vary from subclinical elevation of serum aminotransferase to clinically apparent acute hepatitis, which is associated with immunologic reactions. Imatinib-induced hepatotoxicity with autoimmune-like features can be treated by the discontinuation of imatinib mesylate and the administration of oral steroids. Here, we report a case of late-onset imatinib-induced hepatitis with autoimmune-like features in a patient with metastatic GIST, which was improved by oral corticosteroids.