• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.95-99
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• 2008

In a project to study the hepatroprotective effect of some plant extracts four plants Ephedra foliate Boiss, Alhagi maurorum Medikus, Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. were studied. The ethanol extract of the aerial part of the first three plants and the flowers of H. sabdariffa were subjected to hepatoprotective assays using Wistar albino rats. Liver injury induced in rats using carbon tetrachloride. The biochemical parameters; serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin were estimated as reflection of the liver condition. Based on the good results of the biochemical parameters measurements, histopathological study was performed on the liver of rats treated with E. foliate. The normal appearance of hepatocytes indicated a good protection of the extract from carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity. All the results were compared with silymarin, the reference hepatoprotective drug.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.28-38
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• 2002

Objectives : This study was to examine the efficacy of GCT on the hepatoprotective effect in the liver function and immune octivity. Methods : The experiment to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of GCT on the liver damage was conducted with D-galactosamine. The experiments to verify the effects of GCT on the immune activity were conducted by carbon clearance assay, plaque-forming cell SRBC assay of IgM, lymphoproliferation assay of T and B cells, and adherence and phagocytosis of mocrophages. Results: In the damage of liver induced by D-galactosamine, GCT carried hepatoprotective effect on AST. In carbon clearance assay GCT showed significant effect on phagocytosis of Kuffer cells. In the plaque-forming cell assay, GCT improved the formation of IgM. In the lymphoproliferation assay, GCT activated the formation of T and B lymphocytes. In macrophages, GCT activated adherence and phagocytosis. Conclusion : Though further study is needed, our findings suggest that GCT could be recommended as hepatoprotector and immune modulator for liver disease.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.197-202
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• 1993

Three components, fraxetin-8-glucoside, esculetin-6-glucoside and mannitol, were isolated from the stem bark of Fraxinus chiisanensis var. stenophylla, F. japonica var. intermedia and F. densata. The MeOH extract of the cortex of F. densata had the antiinflammatory activity on the carrageenin-induced paw edema in rat. The MeOH extracts of the cortex of all three Fraxinus spp. have the potent analgesic activity on the HOAc-induced writhing syndrome in mouse and the hepatoprotective activity on the $CCl_4-induced$ fatty liver in rat: protection of ballooning formation and inhibition of sGPT and sGOT increased by $CCl_4$.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.287-292
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• 2006

Protective effects of the water extract of Protaetia brevitarsis larva against $CCl_4-induced$ toxicity were investigated in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. The extract used in these studies contained several minerals, fatty acids and amino acids. Treatment of hepatocyte cultures with the extract provided a significant protection from the increased LDH activity induced by $CCl_4$. The results demonstrated that the extract may have the protective effect against $CCl_4-induced$ toxicity in hepatocyte cultures.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.68-77
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• 2021

Silymarin is a standardized extract obtained from the seeds and fruits of Silybum marianum L., or commonly called milk thistle, a member of Carduus marianum family that contains mix of flavonolignans. Some epidemiological and preclinical studies revealed that S. marianum L. has been used for herbal remedies for centuries for its pharmacological activity. In this review, pharmacological studies in vitro and in vivo of silymarin are discussed thoroughly stressing on antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-carcinogenic aspects of silymarin. In addition, the protective influences of silymarin on some organs such as heart, liver, bone, and neuron tissue are reviewed as well. This review would be useful for further study regarding the potential of natural plant, notably silymarin, and its therapeutic potential in the prevention and treatment of diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.767-772
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• 2006

This study was to investigate the effect of betaine on the hypoglycemia and hepatoprotection of streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing around 280 g were randomly assigned to the three experimental groups: a healthy normal group and two groups with STZ-induced diabetes and fed either control diet or betaine diet. Betaine given to the STZ-diabetic rats had significant effect in lowering the serum glucose concentrations compared to the STZ-diabetic rats. The alanine aminotransferase (AST) and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) activities and triglyceride contents in serum were dramatically higher in the STZ-diabetic rats, but these increases in relation to diabetes also decreased in the STZ-diabetic rats fed betaine. However, the total-cholesterol concentration in the STZ-diabetic rats was even increased by betaine. The morphology of the pancreatic islets in the normal rats showed a typical round form, but most of the islets in the STZ-diabetic rats showed severe morphological alterations by being markedly destroyed. However, the islet morphology of STZ-diabetic rats given betaine mostly maintained a normal rounded appearance. The present study strongly suggests that the administration of betaine showed a moderate hypoglycemic effect by protecting the pancreatic beta-cells by morphological examination from STZ-induced destruction.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.132-137
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• 2013

Geniposide is an active product extracted from the gardenia fruit, and is one of the most widely used herbal preparations for liver disorders. This study examined the cytoprotective properties of geniposide and its metabolite, genipin, against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 60 min of ischemia followed by 6 h of reperfusion. Geniposide (100 mg/kg) and genipin (50 mg/kg) were administered orally 30 min before ischemia. In the I/R mice, the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase and hepatic lipid peroxidation were elevated, whereas hepatic glutathione/glutathione disulfide ratio was decreased. These changes were attenuated by geniposide and genipin administration. On the other hand, increased hepatic heme oxygenase-1 protein expression was potentiated by geniposide and genipin administration. The increased levels of tBid, cytochrome c protein expression and caspase-3 activity were attenuated by geniposide and genipin. Increased apoptotic cells in the I/R mice were also significantly reduced by geniposide and genipin treatment. Our results suggest that geniposide and genipin offer significant hepatoprotection against I/R injury by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.617-624
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to investigate the protective effects of 25 herbal formulas on acetaminophen (APAP) or D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced hepatotoxicity in primary rat hepatocytes. Cell viability was measured using by Cell Counting Kit-8. 15 kinds of herbal formulas significantly reversed the cell viabilities of D-GalN-treated rat hepatocytes compared with D-GalN alone (p<0.05). In particular, 9 herbal formulas (Bangpungtongseong-san, Bojungikgi-tang, Galgeun-tang, Gumiganghwal-tang, Guibi-tang, Sagunja-tang, Samsoeum, Pyeongwi-san and Yijin-tang) showed the potent protective effects. However, 8 herbal formula exerted weak protective effects and 2 herbal formula did not exert effects on hepatotoxicity by D-GalN. On APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, 7 kinds of herbal formulas increased the viabilities of hepatocytes compare with APAP alone (p<0.05). These results could be provide a valuable information for the future in vivo or clinical studies to predict the hepatoprotective effects of herbal formulas.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.400-402
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• 2007

Tacrine is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that is approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, tacrine treatment for Alzheimer's disease results in reversible hepatotoxicity in 30-50% of patients, which seriously limits its clinical use. Accordingly, the identification of constituents in natural products that have protective effects on tacrine-induced hepatotoxicity would be valuable. In the present study, an immortalized human hepatoma cell line, HepG2 was employed to screen for agents that protect against tacrine-induced hepatotoxicity. The bioassay-guided fractionation of water extract of Cassiae Semen furnished two anthraquinones, aurantio-obtusin (1) and obtusifolin (2). Compounds 1 and 2 showed hepatoprotective effects with the protection ratio values of 55.3 +/- 0.5% and 41.2 +/- 0.8% at $160{\mu}M$, respectively.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2013

Korean red ginseng is known to regulate the immune system and help the body struggle infection and disease. Cadmium is widely distributed in the environment due to its use in industry. Exposure to cadmium is problematic causing organ dysfunction. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of Korean red ginseng extract (RGE) against cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. In experiments, animals were orally administrated with RGE (25, 50 mg/kg) for 7 d and then intravenously injected with cadmium ($CdCl_2$, 4 mg/kg) to induce acute hepatotoxicity. Cadmium caused the elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase in serum. In contrast, pretreatment with RGE significantly reduced those serum indexes related with liver damage. In histopathological analysis, RGE decreased the centrilobular necrosis around central veins and the peripheral hemorrhage around portal triads. Moreover, RGE restored the deficit in hepatic glutathione level resulting from cadmium treatment. RGE also inhibited the increase in the expression of Bad, a representative apoptosis marker protein, induced by cadmium treatment. Collectively, these results demonstrate that RGE can reduce the cadmium-induced hepatic toxicity, partly via anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic process.