• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.254.1-254.1
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• 2003

CCl4 has been known as typical chemical which induce acute hepatitis accompanying increase in the levels of acute phase proteins in serum. In this study, after acute liver damage was induced by CCl4 in Sprague-Dawley rats, the levels of serum acute phase proteins were examined using 2-dimensional electrophoresis and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in blood were also examined at 1, 2, 3 days after the induction to confirm acute hepatitis. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.121.1-121.1
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• 2003

Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HCT) is a herbal plant growing in China, Japan and Korea. According to the records of the Chinese medicine, this plant has been used as folk medicine for analgesics, beriberi, edema, hepatitis, icterus, etc. TCDD (2, 3, 7, 8 -tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), one of the notorious toxic environmental pollutants, damages various organs including liver and is regarded as an endocrine disrupter. After 7 days from TCDD (1$\mu$g/kg) injection, HCT (200 mg/kg) was administered into rats intraperitoneally for 4 weeks. (omitted)

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.376-383
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• 2015

Background: Panax ginseng has a wide range of biological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory functions. Wild ginseng cambial meristematic cells (CMCs) were obtained from P. ginseng cambium. This study examined the protective mechanism of wild ginseng CMCs against $\small{D}$-galactosamine (GalN)-induced liver injury. GalN, a well-known hepatotoxicant, causes severe hepatocellular inflammatory damage and clinical features similar to those of human viral hepatitis in experimental animals. Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats using GalN (700 mg/kg, i.p.). Wild ginseng CMCs was administered orally once a day for 2 wks, and then 2 h prior to and 6 h after GalN injection. Results: Wild ginseng CMCs attenuated the increase in serum aminotransferase activity that occurs 24 h after GalN injection. Wild ginseng CMCs also attenuated the GalN-induced increase in serum tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-6 level, and hepatic cyclooxygenase-2 protein and mRNA expression. Wild ginseng CMCs augmented the increase in serum interleukin -10 and hepatic heme oxygenase-1 protein and mRNA expression that was induced by GalN, inhibited the increase in the nuclear level of nuclear factor-kappa B, and enhanced the increase in NF-E2-related factor 2. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that wild ginseng CMCs protects liver against GalN-induced inflammation by suppressing proinflammatory mediators and enhancing production of anti-inflammatory mediators.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.423-433
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• 1997

The acute and subacute toxicity of water soluble dimethyl dimethoxy biphenylate derivative (new DDB), hepatitis therapeutics, were investigated in SD rats. In the acute toxicity study, body weights and clinical signs were observed for 7 days after the intravenous injection of new DDB at doses of 140, 182, 236, 307 and 400 mg/kg(r=1.3). Death. Severe convulsion, tremor and decrease motor activity were observed in almost treated groups (except the 140 mg/kg treated group). Changes of body weight in treated groups were not significantly different from control group. Autopsy of survived animals revealed no abnormal gross findings related to new DDB. As a results, the $LD_{50}$ values of new DDB were 244.1 mg/kg for male and 232.5 mg/kg for female. In subacute toxicity study, body weights and clinical signs were observed after intravenous injection of new DDB at doses of 57, 75 and 100 mg/kg/day for 28 days. Death, decrease motor activity and tremor were observed above 75 mg/kg treated groups. Statistically significant changes were observed in hematological and biochemical parameters of new DDB-treated groups; however, these changes were within normal range and had no relationship with dosage. Several abnormal findings were observed in microscopic examination of tissue; however, these findings were not caused by new DDB but environmental factor. The no toxic dose level of new DDB were estimated to be 57 mg/kg/day in this study.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.411-429
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• 1997

Recent survey shows that chronic liver disease such as chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatoma is the third leading causes for death in Korea. In oriental medicine, viral hepatitis is related to Hwangdal(黃疸) and alcoholic liver disease is related to Joosang(酒傷). ARTEMISIAE HERBA and PUERARIAE RADIX have long been used in treating those symptoms. This study was done to evaluate the effect of AR1EMISIAE HERBA and PUERARIAE RADIX on viral and alcoholic hepatitis. ARTEMISIAE HERBA and PUERARIAE RADIX were decocted respectively with water and followed by vaccum evaporation. The solution was diluted to adequate concentration. Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this experiment. Each group was given PUERARIAE RADIX or ARTEMISIAE HERBA solution orally and CCl4, d-galactosamine or alcohol was given orally 30 minutes later. After 24 hours of starvation, blood samples were taken to check serum GOT, GPT, LDH and ALP activities, TC, TG, glucose and BUN levels. These results show that ARTEMISIAE HERBA has better effect on liver injury induced by d-Galactosamine than PUERARIAE RADIX and that both ARTEMISIAE HERBA and PUERARlAE RADIX have good effect on acute alcoholic liver disease while in the liver injury induced by $CCl_{4}$, PUERARIAE RADIX has better inhibitory effect on serum AST, ALT and ALP levels and ARTEMISIAE HERBA has better inhibitory effect on serum total cholesterol and triglyceride. And the result that high concentration group has better effect shows these effects are concentration-dependent. Further study on the mechanism of these herbs is still required.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2010

Bear bile has been used as a therapeutic for cerebral and coronary thrombosis, convulsion, hepatitis, jaundice, and abscess in traditional oriental medicine. In recent decades, the effects of bile acids on cancer, cholestasis, and liver injury have been investigated in many studies. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of whole bear bile (WBB) and its two major components, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), on rectal inflammation in rats. Bile acids in WBB were quantitatively analyzed by HPLC. Rectal inflammation was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by insertion of croton oil-saturated cotton tips. WBB, UDCA or CDCA solution was orally administered to rats one hour after induction of rectal inflammation. Rats were sacrificed 4 or 24 hours after induction of rectal inflammation. The evaluation included measurement of weight and thickness of rectum and histopathologic examination of rectal tissue. Furthermore, we examined the inhibitory effect of WBB, UDCA or CDCA against NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The contents of UDCA and CDCA in WBB were $39.26{\mu}g/mg$ and $47.11{\mu}g/mg$, respectively. WBB treatment significantly reduced the weight and thickness of rectum compared with UDCA or CDCA treatment. The inhibition of NO production by WBB, UDCA and CDCA in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells was much higher than that by the control. And, WBB treatment suppressed the induction of NO synthase in rectum homogenates. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of WBB is related to the suppression of NO synthase induction and the inhibition of NO production by UDCA, CDCA and other bile acids of WBB.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.311-321
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• 2016

Chronic or acute alcohol abuse often leads to liver injury associated with alcoholic hepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. In addition to the liver, alcohol abuse also induces a variety of other tissue injuries including pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, neurotoxicity and muscle loss. Chronic skeletal muscle myopathy, independent of peripheral neuropathy, is well recognised in alcoholic patients. Several mechanisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of alcoholic myopathy. Ethanol is a potent inhibitor of muscle protein synthesis. Gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles are Type II fiber-predominant and usually considered representative of the musculature as a whole. Whereas, soleus muscle is Type I fiber predominant. Shihosogan-san is a traditional Korean medicine that is widely employed to treat indigestion and liver diseases. Muscle diseases are often related to liver diseases and conditions. We therefore tested the hypothesis that treatment with Shihosogan-san could ameliorate the ethanol-induced changes in muscle protein synthesis. Young male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally given 25% ethanol (5ml/kg, body weight) daily with Ethanol for 28 days. Normal group was similarly administrated with saline. In Shihosogan-san treated group, rats were orally administrated Shihosogan-san extract, and rats of EtOH group were given with the vehicle only. After 4 week, the morphology of gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. For comparative purposes, liver function was also investigated. The muscles from rats of EtOH group displayed a significant reduction in average cross section area compared to Normal group. Shihosogan-san treated group had increased fiber compared to the EtOH group. Moreover, Shihosogan-san treated group compared with EtOH group showed significantly decreased pro-apoptotic BAX expression and increased anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression. In conclusion, Shihosogan-san extract showed ameliorating effects on chronic alcohol toxicity in skeletal muscle.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2016

Chronic alcoholic myopathy is one of the most common skeletal muscle disorders. It is characterized by a reduction in the entire skeletal musculature, skeletal muscle weakness, and difficulties in gait. Patients with alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis have severe muscle loss that contributes to worsening outcome. Although the myopathy selectively affects Type II (fast twitch, glycolytic, anaerobic) skeletal muscle fibers, total skeletal musculature is reduced. The severity of the muscle atrophy is proportional to the duration and amount of alcohol consumed and leads to decreased muscle strength. The mechanisms for the myopathy are generally unknown but it is not due to overt nutritional deficiency, nor due to either neuropathy or severe liver disease. Skeletal muscle mass and protein content are maintained by a balance between protein synthesis and breakdown and in vivo animal models studies have shown that ethanol inhibits skeletal muscle protein synthesis. Daekumeumja is a traditional Korean medicine that is widely employed to treat various alcohol-induced diseases. Muscle diseases are often related to liver diseases and conditions. The main objective of this study was to assess that Daekumeumja extract could have protective effect against alcoholic myopathy in a Sprague-Dawley rat model. Rats were orally given 25% ethanol (5ml/kg, body weight) for 8 weeks. After 30 minutes, rats were administrated with Daekumeumja extract. Controls were similarly administrated with the vehicle alone. The weights of gastrocnemius, soleus and plantaris muscles were assessed and the morphologic changes of gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles were also assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. In results, The muscles from ethanol treated rats displayed a significant reduction in muscle weight and average cross section area compared to Normal group. Daekumeumja extract treated group showed increased muscle weight and muscle fiber compared to the ethanol treated group. It was concluded that Daekumeumja extract showed ameliorating effects on chronic alcohol myopathy in skeletal muscle.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.280-287
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• 2015

Probiotics are microbial food supplements or components of bacteria which have traditionally been added to dairy foods for extra health boost. Our aim was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Bifidobacterium adolescentis SPM0212 as probiotics, which we previously found has potential anti-hepatitis B virus activity. The study was conducted using Wistar albino rats and probiotics were treated orally for 9 days consecutively and acute liver injury was induced by administration of carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) on the 7th and 8th days. Liver damage was assessed by quantifying serum activities of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), as well as by histopathological examination. B. adolescentis SPM0212 significantly prevented the elevation of SGOT and SGPT levels, and reduced the negative effect of $CCl_4$ on body and organ weights. Histopathological study revealed the livers of the carbon tetrachloride treated rats showed almost complete loss of normal hepatocyte architecture, but that rats treated with B. adolescentis SPM0212 showed minimal damage and normal hepatocyte architecture. Our results suggest that B. adolescentis SPM0212 be considered useful probiotics for protecting the liver from xenobiotics and hepatitis B virus, and as well as useful as a functional food for maintaining human health.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.539-547
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Semisulcospira libertina extract on liver injury induced by D-galactosamine in rats. After the administration of S. libertina extract, the local fat degeneration and infiltration of inflammatory cells in liver tissues were significantly decreased and peripheral hemorrhages around portal triads and central necrosis around central veins were found to be protective. The elevated levels of plasma ALT, AST, and LDH, the ALP activation lipid peroxidation, and the lipid contents of a damaged liver were recovered in experimental rats administrated with S. libertina extract, suggesting its role in blood enzyme activation and lipid content restoration within damaged rat liver tissues. Moreover, the expression rate of TNF-α, which accelerates inflammation and induces tissue damage and necrosis, was significantly decreased. In addition, the activities of antioxidant enzymes were more effectively upregulated compared to those of the control group induced hepatotoxicity. All data showed that S. libertina extract has a preventive role against liver damages, such as inflammation and tissue necrosis, as instigated with D-galactosamine by improving the activities of blood enzymes and antioxidant enzymes and modulating the expression of inflammation factor, suggest S. libertina extract is an effective medicinal resource for the restoration of hepatotoxicity.