• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1342-1347
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• 2008

The purpose of present study was to investigate the protective effect of silkworm excrement powder (SEP) on alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Semisynthetic diet supplemented with SEP (3%, w/w) given to alcohol-feeding rats for 30 days, then blood and tissues were collected, processed and used for alcohol concentration mensuration, various biochemical estimations and histopathological examination. Chronic alcohol administration resulted in significantly increase in the activities of the clinically important liver marker enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), $\gamma$-glutamyl transpeptidase ($\gamma$-GTP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Also, a highly significant increase in the blood alcohol level by alcohol treatment was observed. But alcohol-induced elevation of ALT and LDH levels markedly prevented and the level of blood alcohol decreased in SEP treated rats as compared to alcohol-administered control rats. SEP supplementation showed highly decreased the concentrations of total lipid, triglyceride and cholesterol in serum, as compared with alcohol treated control rats. Alcohol treatment induced the marked accumulation of large lipid droplets, hepatocytes necrosis and inflammation in the liver, but SEP administration attenuated to alcohol-induced accumulation of lipid droplets and hepatocyte necrosis. The results indicated that SEP may exert a protective effect against alcoholic hepatotoxicity through decreasing the activity of hepatic marker enzymes.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.386-393
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• 2006

The effects of Curcuma extract Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum), and maltodextrose on acute hepatotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were investigated. Acute hepatotoxicity was induced by 0.5 mL of carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) per kg of SD rats, which was injected to them before administration of Curcuma extract or both Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum) and maltodextrose mixtures. SD rats dose with Curcuma extract of 4 mg or 40 mg per kg per day significantly (p<0.05) reduced the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) after 7 days compared to the controls dose with water. Treatments of Curcuma extract with 4 mg per kg per day in SD rats significantly (p<0.05) reduced aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) to 78.0%, 82.6%, and 76.3% after 7 days compared to the controls, respectively. The levels of AST and ALT in SD rats dose with both Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum) and maltodextrose mixtures or either alone had no significantly different (p>0.05) compared to the controls. Treatments of Curcuma extract combined with Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum) and maltodextrose mixtures was 'liked more' to the sensory scores for odor and flayer compared to the controls. It was considered that Curcuma extract combined with both Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum) and maltodextrose mixtures could be used to functional food for enhancement of health and consumer acceptance.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.95-100
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Salicornia herbacea L. (SH) on carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_4)-induced$ hepatotoxicity. Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally administered the SH at 100 mg/kg per day for two weeks. Then single dose of $CCl_4$ (3.3 ml/kg) was injected into rats. Twelve hours later, they were anesthesized with ether and dissected. $SH-CCl_4-administered$ group showed $65.56\%\;and\;59.04\%$ of inhibitory effects in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, compared to $CCl_4-treated$ group (p<0.05). Malonedialdehyde (MDA) levels of $SH-CCl_4-administered$ group in liver homogenate and mitochondria were significantly inhibited by $53.74\%,\;89.86\%$, and respectively, compared to $CCl_4-treated$ group (p<0.05). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of $SH-CCl_4-administered$ group in liver homogenate and mitochondria were significantly inhibited by $42.51\%,\;and\;38.42\%$, respectively, compared to $CCl_4-treated$ group (p<0.05). The histological examinations showed that the liver cell necrosis and centrilobular congestive aggregation induced by $CCl_4$ were clearly eliminated by the administration of SH. These results suggest that SH could have the protective effects against hepatotoxicity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.38 no.3 s.150
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• pp.245-253
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• 2007

Artemisia princeps PAMPANINI has been used in traditional medicine of the treatment of inflammatory, liver dysfunction and order disorder in the far east countries including Korea. The present study was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of ethanol extract of Artemisia princeps (AP) and its fermented agents (AP-F) by lactic acid bacteria derived from human intestinal bacteria on liver injured rat induced by $CCl_4$ and d-galactosamine. Hepatoprotective activity was monitored by estimating serum ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione redeuctase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) activities in the liver injured by hepatotoxin. Pretreating rats with AP or AP-F at the same dosage regimen significantly suppressed the acute elevation of serum transaminase, ALP, LDH and GR activities, and significantly increased the lowering of blood SOD and GR activites induced by hepatoxin. Based on these findings, it is presumed that AP and APF may have the hepatoprotective effect on $CCl_4$ and d-galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity rat.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.267-276
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• 1990

To achieve a better understanding of antioxidant action manifested by malotilate, the dithiol malonates, we monitored the oxy radical-scavenging system against the chronic hepatic damage induced by $CCl_4$ alone or in combination with ethanol. Malotilate was given orally at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day and $CCl_4$ 1.5 ml/kg was injected subcutaneously twice a week for 4 weeks. In each group receiving ethanol, drinking water was replaced by 20% aqueous solution or glucose, isocaloric amounts of ethanol, as a control of ethanol was diluted in its drinking water. Each rat was killed as a starved state at 18 hours after the period of the experiment, four weeks. The results were summarized as follows: 1) Malotilate inhibited the rate of generation of superoxide radicals, the accumulation of lipoperoxides, and promoted the synthesis of glutathione in the liver. 2) Malotilate stimulated the enhancement of activity of superoxide dismutase in hepatic mitochondria. 3) Malotilate had no effects on the hepatic $H_2O_2$ contents. 4) Malotilate showed the increase of catalase activity in the liver poisoned with $CCl_4$, and also gave a tendency to increase it in the liver intoxicated with ethanol. Thus, our data suggested that the activation of hepatic antioxidant system in the presence of malotilate would play a role in protecting liver against the toxic effects of oxy radical and/or lipid peroxides under the hepatotoxic conditions induced by $CCl_4$ with or without ethanol. However, the effects of malotilate against the ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity appear to be insignificant.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.507-513
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of silica on cytosolic free calcium mobilization and cell injury in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. Cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca$^{2+}$]) was measured employing calcium sensitive fluorescent dye, Fura-2 / AM, and cell injury was evaluated by determination of cellular ATP contents. Silica increased [Ca$^{2+}$], in a concentration-dependent manner in hepatocytes (10$^{-5}$ ~10$^{-2}$ M). Silica caused a biphasic increase in [Ca$^{2+}$], which was composed of an initial rapid rise and following sustained phase. $Ca^{2+}$ removal from the medium resulted in abolishment of initial and sustained phase of silica (10$^{-2}$ M)-induced [Ca$^{2+}$], in hepatocytes. The pretreatment with nifedipine (1 $\mu$M) attenuated silica-induced [Ca$^{2+}$], increases. Silica decreased cellular ATP contents in a dose-dependent manner. This silica-induced cell injury was attenuated by the pretreatment with EGTA (100 $\mu$M) and nifedipine (1 $\mu$M). This study suggests that the elevation of [Ca$^{2+}$], caused by silica may be due mainly to influx through a plasma membrane $Ca^{2+}$ channel and hepatotoxicity by silica relate with alteration of calcium homeostasis.ium homeostasis.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.290-299
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• 2010

The bioactive effects of ethanol extracts from fly maggot (ME) on reduction of plasma lipids levels in rats fed high-fat diets (Expt. Ⅰ), and on liver function recovery of hepatotoxicity rats by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) or by orally administration of alcohol (Expt. II) were investigated. In expt. I, twenty seven, male rat SDS(sprague dawley strain) were randomly assigned to three treated groups, including normal control group, HF (group with high fat diets which have no extracts) and HFE (HF plus orally administered doses of ME extract at 5.0 mg/100g of body weight). In expt. II, forty five, male rats (SDS) were randomly assigned to each of the five groups: T1 (control), T2 (intraperitoneal injection of $CCl_4$), T3 (intraperitoneal injection of $CCl_4$ after orally administered with ME), T4 (orally administered with combination of ME and alcohol), T5 (orally administration of ME after orally administered with alcohol). There were significant decreases in plasma (TAG), (TC), (LDL-C) in the HFE group with orally administered doses of ME at 5.0 mg/100g of body weight, respectively, however, the (HDL-C) were significantly increased in HFE group as compared to HF group with high fat diets which have no extracts (p<0.05). The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transferse(${\gamma}$-GTP) and bilirubin were highest in T2 or T3, and high in order T4 or T5, and lowest in T1 except for bilirubin which has same with T4, T5 (p<0.05). The high recovery of liver damage by $CCl_4$ from the light microscopic appearance was observed in rats (T3) with extracts, and also high in T4 than T5 by orally administrated with alcohol. In conclusion, the ethanol extracts from fly maggot may have a bioactive effects to prevent for human lipids disorder and alcoholic disease.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.220-227
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• 2006

The therapeutic effect of tissue cultured root of mountain ginseng (Panax ginseng) (tcMG) on 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodaibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induced toxicity in rat was investigated. The rats were assigned into three groups (10 rats/group), control, TCDD exposed group and tcMG treated group after TCDD exposed. $50\;{\mu}g/kg$ of TCDD was injected by i.p. for TCDD exposed group and 30 mg/kg of tcMG saponin was administered for 4 weeks by oral gavage for tcMG treated group. The weights of body, spleen, kidney, thymus, testes and epididymides were decreased in the single TCDD treatment. However these organs was significantly recovered by tcMG saponin except thymus (p<0.05). tcMG decreased the level of hepatic demage maker enzymes, AST and ALP. It also lowered total cholesterol and triglyceride. The level of serum triglyceride was significantly decreased in tcMG saponin treated group compared with the control. Histopathological examination revealed morphological change in the liver spleen, thymus and testes of TCDD treated rats. However they were relatively well preserved in the tcMG treatment group. In conclusion, TCDD induced toxicity was some repaired by tcMG. tcMG may be useful for prevention and treatment of TCDD induced toxicity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.674-679
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• 2002

The toxicity and bioaccumulation of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) continues to be a focus of research in human and various species. The main human exposure is via the dietary route. This study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of Cornu Cervi Parvum extract on clinical parameters and hepatotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley rat (SD rat) accutely exposured to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Male SD rats received single intraperitoneal (ip) injection of TCDD (40 ㎍/kg), and administered 10 or 20 mg/kg/day of the ethanol extract oral injection for 4 weeks from 1 week before TCDD treatment. The gain in body weight was less in group treated with TCDD than in CON group, while that of C/H+ TCDD group (Cornu Cervi Parvum extract 20 mg/kg/day) increased. The decrease in spleen and testis weight caused by TCDD was prevented by Cornu Cervi Parvum extract 20 mg/kg/day. The fluctuation in BUN content, WBC and platelet count by TCDD intoxication were significantly attenuated by the ethanol extract treatment (20 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks). Treatments of rats with the extract (10 or 20 mg/kg/day) were significantly reduced AST and ALT levels compared with TCDD-treated group. Moderate swelling of hepatocytes, hyperchromatism, acidophilic cytoplasm and cytoplasmic vacuolation were observed in TCDD-treated animals (TCDD group). The administration of EtOH extract 10 or 20 mg/kg along with TCDD significantly alleviated the liver histopathological alteration induced by TCDD. These results suggest that Cornu Cervi Parvum extract can be useful as a protective agent against TCDD, an endocrine disruptor.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.53-59
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• 2016

Alcoholism is a significant health problem in the world. The liver is the first and primary target organ for alcohol metabolism. Alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase play important roles in the metabolism of alcohol and aldehyde. In this study, I aimed to investigate the eliminatory effects of a Phellinus spp. extract on alcohol metabolism in drunken Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Male SD rats were given Phellinus spp. extract at 30 min after 40% (5 g/kg) alcohol ingestion. To assay the effect of Phellinus spp. extract on blood alcohol concentration, blood samples were taken from the tail vein at 1, 3 and 5 h after alcohol ingestion. The concentrations of alcohol, alcohol dehydrogenase, and aldehyde dehydrogenase in Phellinus spp. extract treated rat were significantly lower than that of the control with a time-dependent manner. In addition, the alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities of Phellinus spp. extract-treated groups were altered compared to those of the control group. These results suggest that Phellinus spp. extract intake can have a positive effect on the reduction of alcohol, alcohol dehydrogenase, and aldehyde dehydrogenase concentrations in the blood and may alleviate acute alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity by altering alcohol metabolic enzyme activities. Phellinus spp. extract is thus a good nutraceutical candidate.