• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2009

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of zinc proteases that serve the function of breaking down extracellular matrix (ECM). The present study evaluated the role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the increased deposition of ECM in hepatic and glomerular fibrosis caused by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$). The activity of MMPs increased and the levels of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1 and 2 (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) decreased in the liver and kidney of $CCl_4$-treated rats. Rats treated with $CCl_4$ and NAC showed increased activities of MMPs and decreased levels of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in the liver and kidney. Treatment with NAC resulted in the effective degradation of ECM due to an increase in the activities of MMPs and a decrease in the levels of TIMPs.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.267-273
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• 2006

Tungtungmadic acid(3-caffeoyl, 4-dihydrocaffeoyl quinic acid: CDCQ) is a new chlorogenic acid derivative isolated from the Salicornia herbacea. The suppressive effects of CDCQ on the progress of acute carbon tetrachloride($CCl_4$)-induced hepatic fibrosis were investigated in mice. CDCQ significantly suppressed $CCl_4$-induced hepatic necrosis and inflammation, as determined by serum enzymatic activities of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase and serum TNF-$\alpha$ levels in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, increased hepatic lipid peroxidation and fibrosis after acute $CCl_4$ treatment were suppressed by the administration of CDCQ. CDCQ also significantly prevented the elevation of hepatic hydroxyproline and collagen content and ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin(${\alpha}$-SMA) expression in the liver of $CCl_4$-intoxicated mice. These results suggest that the suppressive effects of CDCQ against the acute $CCl_4$-induced hepatic fibrosis possibly related to its ability to block both hepatic inflammation and the activation of hepatic stellate cells.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.32-35
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic changes of verapamil in rabbits with hepatic disorder induced by carbon tetrachloride. The plasma concentrations of verapamil were increased significantly (p<0.05, in slight group; P<0.01, in moderate and severe group) in all groups of hepatic disorder compared to the control group. Morover, the $C_{max}\;in\;slight\;(77.9\%$ increase), moderate ($110\%$ increase), and severe ($174\%$ increase) hepatic disorder groups were significantly (p<0.05, in slight; p<0.01, in moderate and severe) higher than that in control rabbits. These resulted in significantly (p<0.05, in slight; p<0.01, in moderate and severe) greater area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) in moderate ($49.8\%$ increase), moderate ($95.0\%$ increase), and severe ($144\%$ increase) hepatic disorder groups than that in control rabbits. Hence, the relative bioavailability values were 149, 195, and $244\%$ for slight, moderate, and severe hepatic disorder groups, respectively. This could be due to decrease in metabolism of verapamil in the liver because of suppressed hepatic function in the hepatic disorder groups because verapamil is mainly metabolized in the 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.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.428-436
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• 1996

The protective effect of Carthamus tinctorius L. Semen on the carbon tetrachloride induced liver damaged rats were studied. First, methanol extract was prepared and the extract was fractionated with hexane, $CHCl_3$, BuOH and $H_2O$ respectively. Animals were divided into 6 groups and each group was treated with each fraction respectively. To investigate the hepato-protective effect of Carthamus tinctorius L. Semen AST, ALT, albumin, TP, cholesterol, TG, creatinine and total bilirubin values were measured in each treated group and compared with those of control group. GST activity was increased in BuOH group compared with the control group. In malondialdehyde levels, all fractions was decreased compared with the control group. In histopathologic examination, hexane and $H_2O$ fractions of Carthamus tinctorius L. Semen observed mild degree of ballooning degeneration. The results show the protective effect of Hexane,$CHCl_3$, BuOH and $H_2O$ fractions on hepatotoxicity of $CHl_4$ by decreasing ALT, AST, bilirubin, cholesterol, TG and BUN. It seems that the decrease of MDA are related to the recovery effect. The protective effects of Carthamus tinctorius L. Semen fractions in hepatotoxic pathogenesis by $CHl_4$ was suggested in blood chemistry analysis and histopathologic examination.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.83-86
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• 2003

In the present study, Thespesia populnea (Malvaceae) bark was extracted with methanol and water. The extracts were vacuum dried to yield the respective methanol (MET) and aqueous extract (AET). The extracts were evaluated for hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_{4})$ induced liver damage at 2 dose levels (250 and 500 mg/kg). The biochemical parameters observed in serum were total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) levels and total protein. Aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and total protein levels in liver were also evaluated. Histopathological study on the liver tissue was also performed. The extracts exhibited dose dependent reduction in total bilirubin, ALP SGOT, SGPT, AST, ALT and increase in total protein (serum and liver) levels. The extracts also exhibited only mild hepatocytic damage compared to the $CCl_{4}$ Treated group. MET was found to exhibit higher hepatoprotection than AET.

• 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.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.184-188
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• 2004

The present study was carried out to clarify whether tectorigenin and tectoridin isolated from the rhizomes of Belamcanda chinensis (Iridaceae) inhibit hepatic damage induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-intoxication in rats by the experimental methods in vitro and in vivo. Tectorigenin and tectoridin exhibited a significant decrease in serum transaminase activities elevated by hepatic damage induced by $CCl_4$-intoxication in rats, as well as in a lipid peroxidation causing a significant decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) production by thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-reactant assay. Both compounds also showed strong increase in the antioxidant enzymes such as hepatic cytosolic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activities in $CCl_4$-intoxicated rats. These results suggested that tectorigenin and tectoridin isolated from the rhizomes of B. chinensis possess not only the antioxidative, but also the hepatoprotective activities in $CCl_4$ -intoxicated rats.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 1971

The anthelmentic effects of Fuadin (sodium antimony-III-bis-pyrocatechin-disulphonate), Bithionol 2-2-thiobis 4,6-dichlorophenol)), hexachlorethane and carbon tetrachloride were studied on Eurytrema pancreaticum infected in sheep and goats. The evaluation on the effects was based upon the egg reduction in the feces of the experimental animals administered the drugs. The number of eggs per 5gm. of the feces was respectively calculated before the treatments, and the follw-up for the egg reductions was carried out over a period of three or four weeks(calculated twice a week). Oral administration of Bithionol (once a day for 2 succeed days, at the rate of 75 mg per kg of bady weight) and of hexachlorethane (once a day, at the rate of 300ml per kg of body weight) did not reveal any egg reduction in sheep host. Intramuscular injection of carbon tetrachloride with olive oil (once a day, at the rate of 0.05ml per kg of body weight) did not show the egg reduction in goats. Intramuscular injections of Fuadin for 5 days (the dosage schedule was 0.5ml at 1st day, 1.0ml at 2nd and 3rd day, 1.5ml at 4th and 5th day, to amount of 5.5ml) were completely devoid the fluke eggs in the feces of goats on 4 weeks after each treatment. Throughout the studies, Fuadin was only proved its anthelmintic effect to the goats infected with E. pancreaticum. On the other hand, Bithional, hexachlorethane and carbon tetrachloride did not reveal any effect as Fuadin showed.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 1999

Hepatoprotective effects of Malloti cortex extract (MCE) from Mallotus japonicus against the carbon tetrachloride (CCl$_{4}$) and galactosamine (GalN) were investigated. Whereas serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were markedly elevated after CCl$_{4}$ and GalN administration, pretreatment and posttreatment with MCE before and after the injection of CCl$_{4}$ and GalN resulted in decreases in elevated serum aminotransferase activities. Whereas CCl$_{4}$ and GalN treatment caused 3~7 fold increases in sorbitol dehydrogenase and ${\gamma}$-glutamyltransferase activities, pretreatment and posttreatment with MCE resulted in the blocking of CCl$_{4}$ and GalN-induced liver toxicity. The hepatoprotective effect of MCE was in part due to MCE-induced elevation of hepatic glutathione levels. Pretreatment and posttreatment with MCE also reduced increased lipid peroxidation induced by CCl$_{4}$ and GalN. These results suggest that MCE may be useful for the prevention and therapy of hepatotoxic pathogenesis. It is presumed that protective and therapeutic effects of MCE due to be inducible glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase activities, involving in glutathione-medicated detoxication and maintainment of glutathione content, respectively.