• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1415-1423
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• 2007

Carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver injury depends on a toxic agent that has to be metabolized by the liver NAPDH-cytochrome P450 enzyme system to a highly reactive intermediate. Alternations in the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes affect the susceptibility to hepatic injury from $CCl_4$. In this study, we evaluated the potential protective activity of the traditional Korean medicinal herb, Corni fructus (CF), against an experimental model of hepatotoxicity induced by $CCl_4$. The CF exhibited a hepatoprotective activity against $CCl_4-induced$ liver damage in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, as measured by GOT, GPT, ALP and histological observation. The CF also showed significant decrease of malodialdehyde (MDA) and increase of glutathion (GSH), catalase activity in rat liver homogenate. In addition, the expression of CYP2E1, as measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis, was significantly decreased in the liver of CF treated SD rats. But $CCl_4$ and CF has no significant effect on 1A1 and 3A1 isoform of cytochrome P450. Based on these findings, it is suggested that hepatoprotective effects of CF possibly related to antioxidative effects and regulation of CYP2E1 expression.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.206-212
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• 1994

The present study was performed to determine the protective effect of G009 on liver damage induced bv ethanol $CCl_4$ and thioacetamide in rats. In acute fatty liver animal model induced by ethanol, triglyceride accumulation was markedly decreased to the normal control level by 25 mg/kg G009 treatment. In addition, G009 significantly reduced serum ALT and AST levels in $CCl_4$-induced acute hepatitis animals. Treatment of G009 to the acute hepatitis rats induced by thioacetamide resulted in a dose dependent reduction of serum ALT level as well as AST level up to the normal control level. These protective effects of G009 were confirmed by histological examinations of the liver. These results suggested that G009 could be effective for the protection from the liver damage induced by ethanol, $CCl_4$and thioacetamide.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1993.09a
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• pp.30-32
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• 1993

In biological system, there are enzymes such as superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase and glutathione(GSH) peroxidase which scavenge reactive oxygen species as well as antioxidants such as ceruloplasmin, albumin and nonprotein-bound SH including GSH related to defense mechanism. In the present study, the protective effects of ginsenoside $Rb_2$ against oxidative stress were investigated in the SAM-R/1 mice. Treatment with ginsenoside $Rb_2$ significantly increased Cu, Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD in the liver. Ginsenoside $Rb_2$ tended to increase hepatic catalase activity and significantly increased serum albumin and nonprotein-bound SH levels in the liver. But treatment with ginsenoside $Rb_2$ showed a significant decrease in hepatic malondialdehyde(MDA) levels compared to control group. Furthermore, we compared the effects in the hepatic SOD, MDA and serum albumin. These findings suggest that the increase of antioxidants by ginsenoside $Rb_2$ results in the protective effects against reactive oxygen species.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 1993

Meliae toosendan Fructus is the fruit of Melia toosendan $S_{IEB}$. et $Z_{UCC}$. (Meliaceae), which is written in oriental terminology as clearing heat and drying dampness, and also explained using liver, stomach and small intestine for channels entered. Among the five fractions prepared from methanol whole extractive of the herb, the chloroform fraction which suggests the presence of triterpenoid, flavonoid and alkaloid stimulated the activities of drug metabolizing enzymes and bile secretion and lowered the serum transaminase activities of liver damaged by carbon tetrachloride.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2016

Sulfasalzine is a widely administered drug against inflammatory-based disorders in human. However several cases of liver injury are associated with its administration. There is no stabilized safe protective agent against sulfasalazine-induced liver injury. Current investigation was designed to evaluate if N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and dithioteritol (DTT) as thiol reducing agents and/or vitamins C and E as antioxidants have any protective effects against sulfasalazine-induced hepatic injury in an ex vivo model of isolated rat liver. Rat liver was canulated and perfused via portal vein in a closed recirculating system. Different concentrations of sulfasalazine and/or thiol reductants and antioxidants were administered and markers of organ injury were monitored at different time intervals. It was found that 5 mM of sulfasalazine caused marked liver injury as judged by rise in liver perfusate level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p < 0.05). A significant amount of lipid peroxidation and hepatic glutathione depletion were detected in drug-treated livers, accompanied with significant histopathological changes of the organ. Administration of NAC ($500{\mu}M$), DTT (${400\mu}M$), Vitamin C ($200{\mu}M$), or vitamin E ($200{\mu}M$) significantly alleviated sulfasalazine-induced hepatic injury in isolated perfused rat liver. The data obtained from current investigation indicate potential therapeutic properties of thiol reductants and antioxidants against sulfasalazine-induced liver injury.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.370-375
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• 2004

There has been increasing interest in the value of using soybean to delay or reduce the tumor incidence. This study was undertaken to investigate the possible protective effects of soybean against hepatocarcinogenesis induced by DL-ethionine. Accordingly, we measured biochemical changes occurring in serum and liver of rats treated with DL-ethionine in the presence or absence of soybean. Male albino rats were fed a control diet containing the hepatocarcinogen, DL-ethionine, or the control diet plus soybean 30%, or the control diet plus soybean plus DL-ethionine 0.25% for three months and then returned to a control diet for up to nine months. Rats fed a control diet plus DL-ethionine showed a gradual decrease in liver DNA, RNA, total protein, and liver weight and enzyme activites of liver transaminases (GOT and GPT) and alkaline phosphatase over the 7-month study period. This was followed by a large increase in the liver parameters at the end of the $9^{th}$ month, except for 5'-nucleotidase and glucose-6-phosphatase that showed a large decrease. On the other hand, a gradual increase in the serum enzyme activities of GOT, GPT, 5-nucleotidase, alkaline phosphatase, and in the albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio is observed in the group of rats fed a control diet plus DL-ethionine compared to the control group over 8 months, and this was followed by a large increase in all serum parameters studied at nine-months. The administration of 30% soybean to the rat diet in addition to DL-ethionine maintained all parameters studied at near control values until the end of the $9^{th}$ month. This study suggests that soybean has a protective effect against the hepatocarcinogenesis induced by DL-ethionine.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.679-686
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• 2012

This study was to elucidate the effects of Ukgan-san on the hyperthyroidism induced by sodium levothyroxine. Hyperthyroidisms were induced by continuous subcutaneous treatment of LT4, 0.3 mg/kg, once a day for 27days, and 1,500, 1,000 and 500 mg/kg of Ulkansan extracts were orally administered, once a day for 15 days from 12th LT4 treatment, and the changes on the body, thyroid gland, liver and epididymal fat pad weights, serum triiodothyronine(T3), thyroxine(T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH), asparte aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations, hepatic lipid peroxidation(LPO), glutathione(GSH), superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT) activities were investigated with throid gland, liver and epididymal fat pad histopathological changes. The effects of Ukan-san extracts were compared with that of propyl thiouracil(PTU), a standard antithyroidic drug 10 mg/kg(intraperitoneally). 1,500 and 1,000 mg/kg of Ukan-san extracts reversed all LT4-induced hyperthyroidisms and these effects indicating their potential in the regulation of hyperthyroidism. Further, the Ukan-san extract normalized LT4-induced liver oxidative stresses, and also reduced liver damages and epididymal fat pad reducements suggesting its antioxidative and relative organ protective nature. However, nor favorable effects on LT4-induced hyperthyroidisms were detected in Ulkansan 500 mg/kg treated rats as compared with LT4 control rats in the present study. These effects of Ukan-san may help improvement of hyperthyroidisms and accompanied various organ damages.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2024

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic fat accumulation, while nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced form of NAFLD characterized by hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, and liver injury, resulting in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Given the evidence that ginseng and its major bioactive components, ginsenosides, have potent anti-adipogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-fibrogenic effects, the pharmacological effect of ginseng and ginsenosides on NAFLD and NASH is noteworthy. Furthermore, numerous studies have successfully demonstrated the protective effect of ginseng on these diseases, as well as the underlying mechanisms in animal disease models and cells, such as hepatocytes and macrophages. This review discusses recent studies that explore the pharmacological roles of ginseng and ginsenosides in NAFLD and NASH and highlights their potential as agents to prevent and treat NAFLD, NASH, and liver diseases caused by hepatic steatosis and inflammation.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.102-107
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• 2005

In this study, the ameliorating effect of soybean embryos on the impact of alcohol consumption was investigated on rat hepatocytes and in reducing total serum cholesterol levels and total serum lipid levels. Liver histology and two clinically important enzyme markers, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), of rats administered with both alcohol and soybean embryo were compared with a control group. The treatment regimen of soybean embryo significantly reduced the serum ALT and AST levels of the subjects, demonstrating the hepato-protective effects of soybean embryo. Electron microscopy indicated that the administration of soybean embryo preserved the important hepatocyte structures and prevented the presence of lipid droplets and secondary lysosomes. Furthermore, total cholesterol and total lipid levels were significantly reduced. These results indicate that treatment with soybean embryo can positively mediate the effects of alcohol on hepatocytes and general liver functions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.896-901
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• 2017

This study was performed to investigate the protective effects of succinic acid of Succiniter against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. After an adaptation period of one week, Sprague-Dawley rats were administered succinic acid of Succiniter at 200 mg/kg every day for 21 days. Then $CCl_4$ (3.3 ml/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into rats of the other groups except the normal group, five hours after the last treatment of succinic acid of Succiniter on day 21. The succinic acid-treated group showed 93.20% and 88.76% of inhibitory effects in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, respectively, compared with the $CCl_4-treated$ group. The succinic acid-treated group showed inhibition of malonedialdehyde (MDA) by 85.17% compared with the $CCl_4-treated$ group. The succinic acid-treated group in liver homogenate promoted effects of 38.65% and 47.99% in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), respectively, compared with the $CCl_4-treated$ group. In conclusion, the AST and ALT activities of the succinic acid-treated group were both decreased compared with the $CCl_4-treated$ group. The MDA level of the succinic acid-treated group was decreased compared with the $CCl_4-treated$ group. However, the SOD and CAT levels of the succinic acid-treated group in liver homogenate were both increased compared with the $CCl_4-treated$ group. Also, histological examinations showed that the liver cell necrosis and centrilobular congestion aggregation induced by $CCl_4$ were clearly eliminated by treatment with succinic acid of Succiniter. These results suggest that succinic acid of Succiniter has a protective effect against liver damage and could be used in the development of the appropriate drug.