Inhibition of Hepatic Triglyceride Accumulation and Stimulation of Alcohol Metabolism by the Herbal Extract Containing Phaseoli radiati semen in Rats Fed Ethanol

급성 알콜 투여 흰쥐에서 녹두 함유 복합생약제제의 간 중성지방 축적억제 및 알콜대사 촉진 효과

An ethanol administration causes hepatic triglyceride accumulation in rats. To assess whether the herbal extract containing Phaseoli radiati semen(herbal extract) inhibit s the triglyceride accumulation in the liver, we determined the hepatic triglyceiide levels in rats fed ethanol and the herbal extract. In addition, the blood ethanol concentrations and the activities of hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase(ALDH) were measured to determine the effects of the herbal extract on alcohol metabolism in rats. The administration of the herbal extract markedly reduced the triglyceride levels elevated by ethanol in the liver as well as in the serum. The herbal extract remarkably lowered blood ethanol concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. The ADH activities decreased by ethanol were recovered to the normal level by the herbal extract treatment. Moreover, the ALDH activities slightly decreased by ethanol increased beyond the normal level by the herbal extract treatment. We conclude that the herbal extract inhibits the hepatic triglyceride accumulation and stimulates alcohol metabolism by preventing ADH and ALDH from inhbition by the ethanol administration in the rat liver.