• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.413-416
• /
• 2008

Effects of extracts obtained from the flowers of Elsholtzia splendens on the serum lipid profile and hepatotoxicity in mice were investigated. Female ICR mice were given E. splendens ethanolic extract (ESEs) orally at a dose of 10 or 50 mg/kg BW for 50 days. Significant dose-dependent decreases in triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol of serum were observed. In addition, ESEs prolonged the lag-time of LDL oxidation in vitro. In the serum of ICE mice given ESEs orally at 10 and 50 mg/kg BW, the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) increased significantly, while total protein, albumin, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bilirubin did not change. Therefore, ESEs may be beneficial to human health, although it has some hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.1020-1025
• /
• 2011

Effects of Hwangryeun(Copitidis rhizoma) extract on recovery of liver function were researched in $CCl_4$ intoxicated rats. Concentration ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein, total protein in plasma showed a tendency to decrease in Hwangryeun(Copitidis rhizoma) extract applied groups while that of albumin showed a increase. Activities of plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in Hwangryeun(Copitidis rhizoma) extract applied groups showed a lower value than those of controlled groups. Alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase activities showed a tendency to decrease in Hwangryeun(Copitidis rhizoma) extract applied groups. Concentration of plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol showed a lower values than that of control group.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.11 no.6
• /
• pp.583-588
• /
• 2002

Heavy metals like Mercury and Cadmium cause various kinds of toxicities in the organs of Liver and Kidney. To observe the results of toxicity in the liver, kidney, and serum when the rats were injected subcutaneously with HgCl$_2$ and CdC1$_2$ and sacrificed after 24 hours and 72 hours from the last injection, we measured variation of lipidperoxide values in rat liver homogenate, variation of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in rat serum. Variation of lipidperoxide values in rat kidney homogenate and variation of BUN in rat serum. It was found that Mercury and Cadmium administered subcutaneously to the skin in the air could cause the damages of liver and kidney.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.232-239
• /
• 2005

An aqueous extract of oriental herbal composition named Onchengyeum and curcumin, an antioxidant isolated from turmeric (Curcuma Zonga L.) reduced hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCI_4$). Improved liver function was observed by measuring the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CRE), total cholesterol (T-CHO), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-CHO), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-CHO), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and total bilirubin (BIL) in serum. Hepatic parameters monitored were levels of cholesterol (CHO), triglyceride (TG), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and activities of cytochrome P450 (CYP), NADPH-CYP reductase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The histopathological examination showed that the treatment of Onchengyeum and curcumin relieved the ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes which had been generated by $CCI_4$. The results suggested that hepatoprotective effects of Onchengyeum and curcumin possibly are due to their promising antioxidative activity.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.410-414
• /
• 2003

The effect of treatment with pine needle oil complex (complex of pine needle oil and Korean medicinal herbs) upon rat hepatocytes exposed to alcohol was investigated. We compared body weight gain and ratios of liver and kidney to body weight and the serum biochemistry of rats administered both alcohol and Pine needle oil complex to control rats treated with alcohol alone. Pine needle oil complex treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and triglycerides (TG) compared to the control rats. These data suggest that Pine needle oil complex represents an excellent candidate for protection of rat hepatocytes from alcohol-mediated damage.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.20 no.2 s.49
• /
• pp.161-165
• /
• 2005

The present study was carried out to find the possible protective effects of Angelica koreana water extract on biochemical parameters in benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P)-induced liver injury in rats. B(a)P treatment (0.1 mg/kg, 1.p.) caused a liver damages, which led to biochemical alterations in serum and liver enzyme activities and serum lipid levels. The activities of liver marker enzymes, especially, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were markedly changed in B(a)P treatment. Oral administration of Angelica koreana (50 mg/kg) recovered these biochemical Parameters to near normal levels. Therefore, the present results have revealed that Angelica koreana water extract might have the antihepatotoxic effect and consequently ameliorate liver damage associated with B(a)P in rats.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.552-557
• /
• 2000

In order to investigate the effects of Yukmijihwang-Tang on the hepatic microsomal function of Cd-poisoned rats, 3 mg/kg of cadmium (Cd) and 500 mg/kg of Yukmijihwang-Tang extract (YJT), a herbal hepatoprotective medicine, were administered concurrently to rats for 4 weeks. The levels of protein, aniline hydroxylase (AH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were increased in Cd-treated group. This increase was suppressed by treatment or YJT. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-P) and ${\delta}-aminolevulinic$ acid dehydratase (ALAD) of Cd-treated group were decreased. This decrease was inhibited by treatment of YJT. Treatment with YJT significantly protects cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.50-56
• /
• 2004

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is used extensively in the plastic industry and has been known as an endocrine disruptor. Present study was undertaken to examine whether DBP can induce oxidative stress in mice. In this study, oxidative stress was measured in terms of the modification of lipid peroxidation and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity. The serum toxicity index, level of lipid peroxidation and triglyceride (TG), and activity of GGT were measured in male ICR mice after a single administration of DBP (5 g/kg, po). DBP did not alter serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, glucose and cholesterol level. However, the treatment with DBP was found to significantly increase the level of lipid peroxidation in liver and lung. The TG content and activity of GGT in the liver of DBP-exposed animals was also increased. These results indicate that DBP can induce mild oxidative stress in mice. The GGT activity is considered to be increased as one of the adaptive defense mechanisms to oxidative stress induced by DBP.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.183-186
• /
• 1997

Acute toxicity of pectenotoxin 2 (PTX2) was examined in mice. Treatment of mice with a toxic dose of PTX2 resulted in clinical signs such as ataxia, cyanosis and an abrupt decrease in body temperature. Histopathological studies revealed that the liver is the major target organ for PTX2. Activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) were significantly elevated by PTX2 administration. Glucose-6-phosphatase activities were not changed by the treatment. The PTX2 treatment decreased relative liver weight without changing the body weight. The effect of PTX2 on hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme system was determined. An ip dose of PTX2 (200 $\mu$g/kg) induced a significant decrease in the hepatic microsomal protein content. Cytochrome P-450 content, cytochrome b$_5$ content, NADPH cytochrome c reductase, aminopyrine N-demethylase activities, or hepatic glutathione content were not altered by PTX2 treatment.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.269-273
• /
• 2002

Dengue fever (DF) is an acute febrile illness caused by dengue viruses in the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus. DF has so far posed any problem in Korea, however it has been recently believed to be associated with oversea's traveler infected with dengue virus. Antibody titers of sera from DF patients against dengue virus were measured by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), including the haematologic test. Three of patients with DF showed highly fluorescent and neutralizing antibody titers by IFA and PRNT assay. Two of them showed higher, remarkably. Meanwhile, one of them was tested and resulted in severe tirombocytopenia, elevated serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities as well as mild leucopenia, increased monocytes and basophils and depressed lymphocytes in haematological differential count.