• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.344-349
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was carried out to investigate the effect of scoparone(6, 7-dimethoxyco-umarin) on liver function. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with scoparone at a dose of 20mg/kg body weight for 5 days. Hepatic bile flow, liver weight, BSP(bromosulfophthalein) biliary excretion, alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) activities, malondialdehyde production and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release were assayed. Among them, ALT and AST activities, malondialdehyde production and LDH release were assayed by using primary hepatocyte cultures at a concentration of 0.1mg/ml. Scoparone treatment had no effect on liver weight and hepatic bile flow. Scoparone treatment not only increased BSP biliary excretion, but also recovered the decreased BSP biliary excretion by CCl4, Also scoparone significantly decreased with the increases of ALT and AST activities, malondialdehyde production and LDH release induced by CCl4. These results suggested that scoparone could protect the liver damage by chemicals via promoting the liver excretory function.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.190-195
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• 2007

In the present study, the author investigated to the cytotoxocity in cultured rat hepatocytes of Viscum album lectin. The cytotoxcity effect in Viscum album lectin on the activity of LDH was also investigated. Viscum album lectin significantly increased LDH leakage into medium of hepatocytes treated or untreated with $CCl_4$ (p<0.001). However, Viscum album lectin significantly increased LDH leakage from $CCl_4$-induced hepatocyte (p<0.001). There was a significant increase in LDH levels relative to the control group. Histological observation basically supported the result obtained from LDH assay. The livers of rats challenged with $CCl_4$ produced a marked increased cytoplasmic vacuoles and inflammatory cells in number, while the number of necrotic cells and swollen hepatocytes did not change significnatly. Rats administered DMSO alone did not alter the normal hepatic architecture. Histological observation of liver section in rat treated 72 hrs with either Viscum album lectin $CCl_4$-induced liver damage showed number of cytoplasmic vaculoe and necrotic cell. The number of inflammatory cell increased markedly. This results suggest to the conclusion that Viscum album lectin has a effect of hepatotoxicity activator.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.76-82
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• 2012

Stamens of Mesua ferrea L. are a well-known herbal drug used in Indian System of Traditional Medicine to treat various diseases. The claimed activity of this plant part is necessitated to investigate antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity. Authenticated plant sample was extracted with hexane, ethanol (EtOH) and water (aq.) using ASE 100 accelerated solvent extractor. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by means of different in vitro assays. Hepatoprotective effect was investigated on carbon tetrachloride induced oxidative stress in liver slice culture model. Cytotoxic marker lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released in culture medium and the activity of lipid peroxidation along with antioxidant enzymes (AOEs) namely superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) were estimated. Hexane and EtOH extracts were significantly inhibited DPPH, NO, SOD and $ABTS^+$ radical in dose dependent manner. The trade of phenol content was: aq. extract < hexane extract < EtOH extract. A significant correlation was shown by total phenol content and free radical scavenging activity of extracts. The culture system treated with hexane extract, EtOH extract or ascorbic acid exhibited significant depletion in LDH, lipid peroxidation, antioxidative enzymes SOD, CAT and GR. Hexane extract and EtOH extracts of stamen of M. ferrea protected liver slice culture cells by alleviating oxidative stress induced damage to liver cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 2002

Jaboyangyeong-hwan (IAE) has been known as a traditional medicine for the treatment of debility, fatigue, and liver diseases. The hepatoprotective effect of the water extract of Jaboyangyeong-hwan was investigated against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatic damage. A single intraperitoneal injection of $CCl_4$produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the significant rise of aspartate aminotransferase (AST, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum as compared to those of untreated normal group. Pretreatments of rats with the JAE extract (300, 600, and 1200 mg/kg for 7 days) were significantly reduced AST, ALT, and ALP levels compared with $CCl_4$-treated control group. Treatment of rats with $CCl_4$led to significantly increase in lipid peroxidation and significantly decrease in cytochrome P450 and P450 reductase. The oral administration of the JAE extract significantly inhibited the accumulation of microsomal thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and increased the cytochrome P450 and P450 reductase activity. All these biochemical alterations resulting from $CCl_4$administration were inhibited by the pretreatment with JAE extract. These results suggest that JAE water extract can be useful as a hepatoprotective agent.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.198-207
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• 1999

The aim of the present investigation was to examine whether YH439, a hepatoprotective agent, exerts protective effect against hepatotoxicity and reduces the production of cytokines and NO in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-primed rats with carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$). Administration of LPS following a single dose of CCl4 injection resulted in remarkable elevations of the serum $TNF{\alpha},{\;}IL-l{\beta$ and IL-6 level. The serum NO level was moderately elevated and severe liver damage was evidenced by increases in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) activities. YH439 decreased the levels of TNF, $IL-l{\beta}$, IL-6, ALT, SDH as well as NO in the serum elevated by CCl4+LPS in a dose-dependent manner. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) level was decreased in the liver of rats treated with YH439. The increased iNOS activity induced by LPS and $interferon-{\gamma}$ was significantly decreased in RAW 264.7 cells by YH439 treatment. YH439 increased the GSH level decreased by $CCl_4+LPS$ and suppressed the ratio of GSSG/GSH. The reduction of hepatotoxicity by YH439 may associated with the decrease in the production of cytokines as well as suppression of iNOS protein in conjunction with an increase in the GSH level.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1362-1373
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• 2004

In studying the specific effects of some drugs, animals under experiments get some stress through laboratory environments, drug injection, and adaptation period. These stimuli do harms on liver function. Nowadays studies on liver intoxication and its protection are under research, but the function of dissolution is rarely under studies. It is widely accepted that Soshiho-tang has function of clearing away low spirits, and that it enables liver bloods to move stronger, and to have calm mind. So I injured rats liver by injectioning CCI₄. And the rats took in Soshiho-tang solution. I made a comparison between the functions before and after rat's liver damage. There are many representative serums used to note an index on liver damage. I used total protein, albumin, ALP, GOT, GPT activity, P450, SOD, Catalase, GST, GR, and GPx. I got the following results. When Soshiho-tang was injected after CCI4 intoxication, total protein and albumin decreased. When Soshiho-tang was injected, ALP decreased, compared with control group. When Soshiho-tang was injected after CCI₄ intoxication, AST and ALT decreased. When Soshiho-tang was injected before CCI₄ intoxication, P450 was restrained. When Soshiho-tang was injected, LPO was all restrained. When Soshiho-tang was injected, SOD, Catalase, GST, GR, and, GPx increased. These results show that blood test reveals that it is good to inject Soshiho-tang after CCI₄ intoxication, but that it is good to inject Soshiho-tang before CCI₄ intoxication in case of P450, LPO, SOD, Catalase, GST, GR, and GPx. It is estimated that the medication period and time of liver damage by CCI₄ have counter results, and that it needs more modified study.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.1 s.144
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• pp.28-32
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• 2006

Hepatoprotective effects of an aqueous extract prepared from the aerial part of Agrimonia eupatoria L., a species of agrimmony, were investigated in experimental liver-damaged models. To investigate hepatoprotective effects, the agrimmony extract were fed orally to experimental animals. Thereafter a single dose of hepatotoxin, carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_4)$ or D-galac-tosamine was orally administrated. Chronic liver damage was induced by oral administration of $CCl_4$ for 2 weeks (1 time/day). Hepatoprotective effects were monitored by estimating serum AST and ALT levels. The results showed that the agrimmony extract significantly reduced AST and ALT levels compared with those of control group in both acute and chronic animal models. It was concluded that the agrimmony extract have hepatoprotective effects against rat liver injury induced by $CCl_4$ or D-galactosamine.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.106-112
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to investigate the protective effects of ethanolic extract of Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai (AE) against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver injury in rats. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups in order to receive the following experimental diets with intraperitoneal injection of $CCl_4$ (2.0 mL/kg body weight, 20% solution 0.65 mL) for eight weeks (n = 8 per group): $CCl_4$ control (CON), $CCl_4$ + AE 1% (AE1), $CCl_4$ + AE 3% (AE3), or $CCl_4$ + acanthoic acid 0.037%, which is equivalent to AE 3% (AA). Results: Highest serum ALT activity and albumin level were observed in the $CCL_4$ control group, but showed a significant decrease by either AE or AA supplementation in a dose-dependent manner (p = 0.0063 and 0.0076, respectively). Both hemotoxylin and eosin staining and Masson's staining indicated remarkable prevention of $CCl_4$-induced liver damage in the AE3 group. $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-6 production were significantly lowered in the AE treated groups, but not in the AA group (p = 0.0016 and p = 0.0002, respectively). The effects of AE3 were greater than those of AA for inflammation and liver toxicity biomarkers. Conclusion: Taken together, the results suggested that ethanolic extract of Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai provided hepatoprotective effects, leading to the reduction of inflammatory response. In addition, the effect of AE was superior to that of single compound AA.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2002

Effect of cyclohexanone treatment on the activities oxygen free radical and cyclohexanone metabolizing enzyme in acute liver damaged rats, was investigated. Acute liver damage was induced in rats with pretreatment of 50% $CCl_4$ in olive oil(0.1ml/100g body wt) intraperitoneally 3 times every other day. Cyclohexanone(1.56g/kg body wt, i.p.) was administered to the animals 24 hours after the last Pretreatment of CC1$_4$. Rats were sacrificed at 4 hours after injection of cyclohexanone. On the basis of liver weight/body weight(％), serum levels alanine aminotransferase activity and hepatic protein content, cyclohexanone treatment to acute liver damaged animals led to the more enhanced liver damage. On the other hand, injection of cyclohexanone to the rats led to the increased activities of hepatic cytochrome P-450 dependent aniline hydroxylase and xanthine oxidase. Furthermore, by treatment of cyclohexanone to the acute liver damaged rats hepatic xanthine oxidase activity was more increased than the $CCl_4$ treated rats. In case of oxygen free radical scavenging system, the hepatic glutathione content and the activities of hepatic glutathione S-transferase, catalase, superoxide dismutase were generally increased by injection of cyclohexanone to rats, and the hepatic glutathione content, catalase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities were more decreased in liver damaged rats by the treatment of cyclohexanone. In conclusion, the cyclohexanone treatment to acute liver damaged rats led to enhancement of liver damage that may be due to oxygen free radical together with cyclohexanone.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.156-162
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• 2016

Iridoid glycosides (mainly geniposide) and crocetin derivatives (crocins) are the two major active constituents in Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. In the present study, geniposide, crocins, crocin-1 and crocetin were separated from gardenia chromatographically. Then, mice were orally administrated with geniposide (400 mg/kg b.w.), crocins (400 mg/kg b.w.), crocin-1 (400 mg/kg b.w.) and crocetin (140 mg/kg b.w.) once daily for 7 days with $CCl_4$. Hepatoprotective properties were evaluated by biochemical parameters: Administration of geniposide, crocins, crocin-1and crocetin significantly lowered serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in $CCl_4$-treated mice. The reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) activities were also increased by geniposide, crocins, crocin-1 and crocetin. Histopathological examination of livers showed that these components reduced deformability, irregular arrangement and rupture of hepatocyte in $CCl_4$-treated mice. These biochemical results and liver histopathological assessment demonstrated that geniposide, crocetin derivatives and crocetin show comparative beneficial effects on $CCl_4$-induced liver damage via induction of antioxidant defense. Therefore, contents of geniposide and crocetin derivatives should be both considered for hepatoprotective efficacy of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis.