• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.323-328
• /
• 2010

Root extract of Lythrum salicaria reported a hepato-protective effect on $CCl_4$-induced liver toxicity of rat was prepared into fractions such as n-hexane up layer (HA), n-hexane down layer (HB), diethyl ether (E), ethylacetate (EA), n-butanol (B) and water (W). Fractions prepared were tested their activities in vitro and in vivo condition. All of the fractions showed effective antioxidant asctivities on DPPH radical and $CuSO_4$-induced oxidation of human low density lipoprotein and E fraction showed the highest inhibitory effect (98.1% at $50\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) on linoleic acid autoxidation at $40^{\circ}C$, which was more effective than $\alpha$-tocopherol (82.4%). Five fractions (H = HA plus HB, E, EA, B, and W, 150 mg/kg/day) were fed into Sprague Dawley, male rats for 4 days, which were intoxicated with intra-peritoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride ($1\;m{\ell}/kg$ in corn oil) at the 4th day and were sacrificed in 24 hrs. Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-$\alpha$), a proinflammatory cytokine, elevated with $CCl_4$-intoxication in negative control group ($83\;pg/m{\ell}$) was significantly decreased in E fraction-supplemented group ($18\;pg/m{\ell}$). Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased in negative control group (0.12 U/mg protein) was decreased in E fraction (0.07 U/mg protein). From the results, it is suggested that ether fraction from root extract of L. salicaria would be a potent antioxidant candidate for ameliorating liver injury induced by chemical intoxicant.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.282-289
• /
• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Makgeolli and Makgeolli precipitate on hepatotoxity and the serum lipid content in rats. First, we investigated the effect of Makgeolli and ethanol on the progress of alcoholic fatty liver. The effect of Makgeolli precipitate on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity in the rats was then studied. Indicators of the health status of the experimental period, the body weight gain in ethanol-treated group tended to be lower than those in the control and the Makgeolli-treated groups. The weight of the liver tissue decreased significantly following the administration of ethanol. However, this was not seen following the administration of Makgeolli. The activities of serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were decreased in the Makgeolli group compared to the ethanol group. Serum cholesterol concentrations increased in the ethanol group, but decreased in the Makgeolli-treated group to an equal volume of the ethanol-treated group. The serum HDL-cholesterol content was significantly higher in the Makgeolli group than in the ethanol group. Analysis of the impact of the Makgeolli precipitate on toxicity induced by $CCl_4$ in the liver showed that the $CCl_4$ treatment significantly increased the activities of serum ALT and AST. However, the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride in serum were decreased. The $CCl_4$ treatment increased the activities of AST and ALT. However, the raw Makgeolli precipitate decreased their activities. Moreover, raw Makgeolli precipitate significantly reduced the $CCl_4$-induced elevation of serum lipids more than heated Makgeolli precipitate. These results suggest that raw Makgeolli precipitate may exert a protective effect against $CCl_4$-induced liver injury by preventing lipid peroxidation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.34 no.9
• /
• pp.1344-1349
• /
• 2005

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Welsh onion administration on $CCl_4$-induced hepatic injury in rats. The increasing rate of the body and organ weight was not significantly different by the ad-ministration of the Welsh onion. Welsh onion (2, 4, $10\%$ w/w) was given for 4 weeks with the injections of $CCl_4$. Total serum lipid was significantly decreased in all treatment groups compared to $CCl_4$ only treatment group (p<0.05). The Welsh onion from winter season was more protective effect by lowering the serum levels of transminase (SGOT and SGPT) compared with others, the levels of transminase - phosphatase (ALP) in serum. The Welsh onion from winter at a dose of $4\%,\;10\%$ (w/w) showed significantly hepatoprotective activity which was comparable to that $CCl_4$-induced hepatic damage. Histological evaluation showed that Welsh onion partially prevented $CCl_4$-induced inflammation, necrosis and vacuolation. Pretreatment of Welsh onion reduced extent of the necrosis found 24 hr after the intraperitoneal administration of $CCl_4$. The present study shows the liver protective action of the Welsh onion against experimentally induced liver damage in rats. This suggests that the Welsh onion may be used as an effective hepatoprotective agent.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.7-14
• /
• 2006

Entomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps militaris is famous for its medicinal efficacies. It has been reported to have various pharmacological activities such as anti-tumour, insecticidal, antibacterial, immunomodulatory and antioxidant. In this study, we investigated the effect of the extract of C. militaris (MPUN8501), which was identified by the analysis of the nucleotide sequences of 5.8S ribosomal RNA, on the function of liver. C. militaris powder was extracted using hot water extracts method as time, volume and temperature and using method as differential polarity of organic solvent. Each fraction was tested for the improvement of hepatic enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. The BuOH extracts (CME) had highest activity which was used for the test of toxicity and efficacy of C. militaris. The enhancing effect of CME on the activity of ADH and ALDH was much more than medicine, drink, natural tea etc. Thus CME promoted the resolution of alcohol and acetaldehyde in rats, inducing recovery to normal condition rapidly. Furthermore, oral administration of CME effectively protected the carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatic injury as revealed by the hematological parameters (levels of sGOT and sGPT) and histological observation. CME was ascertained to be safe by regulatory toxicity studies of single dose toxicity and genotoxicity. These results suggest that CME would be useful for the maintaining normal hepatic activity as a functional health food.