• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.307-312
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate the effects of Acer tegmentosum Maxim. extract (ATE) on non-alcoholic fatty liver in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. During oral administration of ATE, non-alcoholic fatty liver was induced by treatment with DL-ethionine. The lipid, total cholesterol (T-CHO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver tissue of ATE-fed rats showed lower levels, as compared to ATE-unfed rats. In ATE-fed rats, the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were lower than the case of ATE-unfed rats. Oil red staining of the liver showed that the lipid deposits were decreased by feeding ATE. These results strongly indicated that ATE has positive effects of protection against non-alcoholic fatty liver formation.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2003

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of trauma on alterations in cytochrome P450 (CYP 450)-dependent drug metabolizing function and to determine the role of Kupffer cells in hepatocellular dysfunction. Rats underwent closed femur fracture (FFx) with associated soft-tissue injury under anesthesia, while control animals received only anesthesia. To deplete Kupffer cells in vivo, gadolinium chloride (GdCl$_3$) was injected intravenously via the tail vein at 7.5 mg/kg body wt., 1 and 2 days prior to FFx surgery. At 72 h after FFx, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was increased, and this increase was attenuated by GdCl$_3$ pretreatment. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lipid peroxidation levels were not changed by FFx. Hepatic microsomal CYP 450 content and aniline p-hydroxylase (CYP 2E1) activity were significantly decreased; decreases that were not prevented by GdC1$_3$. The level of CYP 2B1 activity was decreased by Kupffer cell inactivation, but not by FFx. There were no significant differences in the activities of CYP 1A1, CYP 1A2 and NADPH-CYP 450 reductase among any of the experimental groups. Our findings suggest that FFx trauma causes mild alterations of hepatic CYP 450-dependent drug metabolism, and that Kupffer cells are not essential for the initiation of such injury.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.72-77
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was designed to observe the effects of Zizyphus jujuba seed extract on the concentrations of the lipids and blood glucose in the S.D. rats fed the experimental diets for 4 weeks. Concentrations of total cholesterol, atherosclerotic index, LDL, LDL-cholesterol, free-cholesterol, cholesteryl ester, triglyceride (TG), phospholipid (PL) and blood glucose in serum were significantly higher in the cholesterol administration groups (group 2 (cholesterol+water), group 3 (cholesterol+Zizyphus jujuba seed extract)) than those in the control group (group 1, basal diet+water). But the concentrations of total cholesterol, atherosclerotic index, LDL, LDL-cholesterol, free-cholesterol, cholesteryl ester, TG, PL and blood glucose in serum ware remarkably lower in the group 3 than those in the group 2. In the ratio of HIDL-cholesterol concentration to total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentration, Zizyphus jujuba seed extract administration group was higher percentage than in the group 2. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine amino-transferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum were rather lower in the Zizyphus jujuba seed extract administration group (group 3) than in the cholesterol diet group (group 2). From the above research, Zizyphus jujuba seeds were effective on the improvement of the blood glucose, lipid compositions in serum of dietary hyperlipidemic rats. And particularly, Zizyphus jujuba seeds were more effective as a therapeutic regimen for the control of metabolic derangements in adult disease.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.135-144
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was carried out to research the protective effects of Sagunja-Tang(SA) through in vivo experiments, and tried to investigate the relation between oxidation of renal tissues and deficiency of Qi. Methods : Acute renal injury which initiated from free radical induced by $HgCl_2$, were applied to mice and metabolic data were obtained. In order to measure the degree of renal injury, serum level of creatinine, blood urea nitrogen(BUN), total protein(TP) and glucose were measured. Besides, serum level of alanine aminotransferase(AST), aspartate aminotransferase(ALT) were measure too. Lipid peroxidation of renal cortex was examined by measuring malondialdehyde(MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation. Results : SA had protective effects on acute renal injury caused by decrease of glomerular filtration which was initiated by subcutaneous injection of $HgCl_2$. SA protected acute liver injury too. Conclusions : Through this study, we found that SA have healing effects on renal injury of $HgCl_2$ induced oxidative stress that is similar to deficiency of Qi. And further studies have to be followed to certify the mechanisms.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.91-101
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• 1996

Exposure indices are important tools which enable scientists to reliably predict and detect exposures to xenobiotics and resultant cell injury. Since the de novo synthesis of stress proteins can be detected early after exposure to some agents, analysis of toxicant-induced changes in gene expression, i.e. alterations in patterns of protein synthesis, may be useful to develop as biomarkers of exposure and toxicity. The acute and chronic effects of cadmium(Cd, $CdCl_2$ 20 mg/kg) on Wistar male rats were evaluated concerning cadmium contents, tissues enzyme activity, HSP expression. The results of the study were as follows: 1. Less cadmium was absorbed through the digestive tracts, but the ratio of contents in renal to hepatic cadmium was higher at 8 weeks after treatment. 2. ALT(alanine aminotransferase), AST(aspartate aminotransferase), glucose, BUN(blood urea nitrogen), creatinine, the key indices of the clinical changes in hepatic and renal function were significantly changed by the cadmium treatment after 1 week in liver, after 4 weeks in kidney. 3. Enhanced synthesis of 70 KDa relative molecular mass proteins were detected in 2 hours after cadmium exposure, with maximum activity occurring at 8~48 hours. Induction of $HSP_{70}$ was evident at proximal tubules and glomeruli in kidney. Testicular cells produced enough HSP to be detected normally. From the above results, it could be concluded that $HSP_{70}$ induction by the cadmium treatment was a rapid reaction to indicate the exposure of xenobiotics.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.103-109
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• 2006

We investigated liver protection effect of the Hovenia dulcis Thunb extraction which has treated with carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$, 1.0 ML/kg) in SD male rat (20 weeks). We observed the amount of leukocyte, erythrocyte, hemoblobin and hematocrit are increased and the number of plaque is decreased for treatment of $CCl_4$, However, after treatment of Hovenia dulcis Thunb extraction (15 mL/kg), we have same result that of control group which has treated with $CCl_4$ The blood biological data showed that the value of AST (Aspartate aminotransferase), ALT(Alanine aminotransferase) and LDH (Lactate dehydronase) are increased significantly for the negative control group compared to that of control group. For experimental group, respectively, In addition, it was confirmed that the recovery effect of a mysterious death of an interstitial cell of the experimental group is to be compared to that of the negative control group for a sample of pathological tissue.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.182-188
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• 2016

Objective: This study was designed to assess the clinical effect of traditional Korean medicine on primary biliary cirrhosis.Method: We provided herbal medicine and acupuncture therapy to a 38-year-old male patient who complained about jaundice, itching, and fatigue. During a six-day hospital stay, we checked any changes in symptoms and conducted liver function tests (such as aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], and gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT], among others) to evaluate any improvement.Results: We observed that herbal medicine and acupuncture therapy appeared to decrease the symptoms of primary biliary cirrhosis. During each hospital stay, the symptoms and liver function test both showed improvement, especially in ALP.Conclusion: Based on the therapeutic results of the six-day hospital stay, we report improved primary biliary cirrhosis symptoms and a decreasing tendency in ALP and GGP levels following treatment with traditional Korean medicine.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 2014

Degradation of glucose is aberrantly increased in hyperglycemia, which causes various harmful effects on the liver. Methylglyoxal is produced during glucose degradation and the levels of methylglyoxal are increased in diabetes patients. In this study we investigated whether methylglyoxal induces mitochondrial impairment and apoptosis in HepG2 cells and induces liver toxicity in vivo. Methylglyoxal caused apoptotic cell death in HepG2 cells. Moreover, methylglyoxal significantly promoted the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and depleted glutathione (GSH) content. Pretreatment with antioxidants caused a marked decrease in methylglyoxal-induced apoptosis, indicating that oxidant species are involved in the apoptotic process. Methylglyoxal treatment induced mitochondrial permeability transition, which represents mitochondrial impairment. However, pretreatment with cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of the formation of the permeability transition pore, partially inhibited methylglyoxal-induced cell death. Furthermore, acute treatment of mice with methylglyoxal increased the plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), indicating liver toxicity. Collectively, our results showed that methylglyoxal increases cell death and induces liver toxicity, which results from ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.280-285
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• 1997

Pectenotoxin 2 (PTX2), isolated from marine sponges, was examined for its hepatotoxic potential using male ICR mice. PTX2 $(20\;or\;100\;{\mu}g/kg/day,\;ip)$ was administered to mice repeatedly for one or two week. Histopathological examination revealed an increase in granularity in the liver from the mice treated with PTX2. PTX2 did not alter the parameters for hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity such as sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Cytochrome P-450, cytochrome $b_5$, or NADPH cytochrome c reductase was net changed by repeated administration of PTX2. Hepatic microsomal activity of p-nitroanisole O-demethylase, but not aminopyrine N-demethylase, was slightly depressed by PTX2 administerd repeatedly $(100\;{\mu}g/kg/day,\;ip)$ fur 2 weeks. The toxicity of PTX2 $(200\;{\mu}g/kg/day,\;ip)$ was determined in mice pretreated with a metabolic inducer or inhibitor such as phenobarbital, 3-methyl-cholanthrene, $CoCl_2$, or SKF 525-A. Significant alterations in lethality and hepatotoxicity of PTX2 were observed in mice pretreated with a metabolic modulator. The results suggest that liver seems to be the target organ for PTX2 toxicity and also that induction of the PTX2 toxicity may be associated with hepatic drug metabolizing activity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.204-210
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate effects of Chiarella vulgaris on lipid metabolism in rats fed high fat diet. Sixty 6-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into two groups; normal diet group and high fat diet group, then the rats in each group were further divided into three subgroups and fed 0%, 5% and 10% (w/w) chlorella-containing diets, respectively, and raised for 9 weeks, Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and total protein and albumin concentration were not different among groups. Serum total lipids and liver TG concentration were significantly lower in 5% and 10% chlorella groups than 0% chlorella group in high fat diet groups (p<0.05). Serum TG, serum total cholesterol, liver total lipid and liver total cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in 10% chlorella groups than 0% chlorella group in high fat diet groups (p<0.05). Fecal total lipid, TG and total cholesterol excretions were significantly higher in 5% and 10% chlorella groups than 0% chlorella groups in normal diet and high fat diet groups, respectively (p<0.05). These results suggest that Chlorella vulgaris is effective for prevention of dyslipidemia which may be due to the modulation of lipid metabolism and increased fecal excretion of lipid.