• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.207-221
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• 2018

Objectives : Present study investigated hepatoprotective effect of Haegan-jeon extract (HE) and tried to elucidate molecular mechanism involved. According to molecular mechanism, present study optimized herbal composition of HE (op-HE) and compared in vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective effects of op-HE to HE. Methods : For in vitro experiments, HepG2 cells were exposed to arachidonic acid (AA, $10{\mu}M$) and iron ($5{\mu}M$) for inducing oxidative stress. Cell viability, GSH contents, $H_2O_2$ production, mitochondrial membrane potential, immunoblot and reporter gene assay were performed to investigate cytoprotective effects and responsible molecular mechanisms. For in vivo experiments, hepatoprotective effect of HE and op-HE were assessed on $CCl_4-induced$ liver injury mice model. Results : HE pretreatment prevented AA+iron-mediated hepatocytes apoptosis. In addition, AA+iron-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, $H_2O_2$ production, glutathione depletion were reduced by HE pretreatment. In addition, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) phosphorylation, antioxidant response element (ARE)-driven reporter gene activity, and antioxidant genes expression were increased by HE. Based on reporter gene and MTT assays, we found that op-HE consisting three medicinal herbs also significantly increased transactivation of Nrf2 and reduced the AA+iron-mediated cytotoxicity. Moreover, in $CCl_4-induced$ liver injury mice model, HE-op had an ability to ameliorate $CCl_4-mediated$ increases in serum alanine transferase and aspartate aminotransferase activity, hepatic degeneration, inflammatory cell infiltration, and collagen deposition. Hepatoprotective effects of op-HE were comparable to those of HE. Conclusions : Present study suggests that op-HE as well as HE exhibit hepatoprotective effect against oxidative stress-mediated liver injury via Nrf2 activation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.2 no.1 s.2
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• pp.111-133
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• 1999

These studies were carried out to investigate the effect of Herbal-acupuncture with Inzinsammultang extract on the recovery from liver injury of rats. The liver injury of rats induced with 0.3ml/ea carbon tetrachloride. The Herbal-acupunture with Inzinsam multang extract solution inserted into corresponding focus of Kansu(BL18) in rats. In this study, SD-Rats(Sprague-Dawley) were divided into 4 groups ; Normal group (None treated group), Control-group(The group not treated after $CCI_4$-intoxication), Treated group; Example I-group(Saline-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication) and Example II-group(Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication). Through histological observation, Example II-group sho-ws that liver injury is weaker than Control group.(p<0.05) Biochemical assays for each serum enzyme activities of AST, ALT and LDH, levels of albumin, ${\gamma}$-GT, TG, total cholesterol were performed. The results were summarized as follows 1. AST(Aspartate aminotransferase) activity in serum significantly decreased in the Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication. Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication showed significantly higher AST activities, compared with the Saline-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication.(p<0.05) 2. ALT(Alanine aminotransferase) activity in serum significantly decreased in the Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication. The Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication showed significantly higher AST activities, compared with the Saline-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication(p<0.05) 3. Level of Albumin in serum significantly increased in the Inzinsarnmultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication. 4. LDH(Lactate dehydrogenase) activities in serum significantly decreased in the Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication.(p<0.05) 5. ${\gamma}$-GT(Glutamyl transferase) in serum significantly decreased in the Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication(p<0.05) 6. As for the TG(Triglyceride) levels in serum, Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication is no significant differences compared with the Saline-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication.(p<0.05) 7. Total cholesterol in serum significantly increased in the Inzinsarnmultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication.(p<0.05) Those results indicate that the Inzinsammultang Herbal-acupuncture have significant effects on the liver injury induced by $CCl_4$. So it is expected that the Inzinsammultang Herbal-acupuncture can be used to cure inflammations and recover the functions of damaged liver cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.10
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• pp.1391-1397
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• 2016

We investigated the hepatoprotective effects of Angelica keiskei Koidzumi extract (AK) in HepG2-overexpressing cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) and C57BL/6J mice. In HepG2 cells expressing CYP2E1, cell viability and catalase activity in the ethanol-AK co-treated group significantly increased compared to those in the ethanol-treated group. In the in vivo study with C57BL/6J mice, the AK-supplemented group with ethanol liquid diet showed significantly reduced hepatic markers, including serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transferase, compared to the ethanol group without AK supplementation. AK supplementation (20 mg/kg BW/d) also significantly attenuated reactive oxygen species generation and malondialdehyde level. Notably, a low dose of AK supplementation (20 mg/kg BW/d) suppressed expression of hepatic CYP2E1 and inhibited CYP2E1 enzyme activity. These data indicate that a low dose of AK supplementation could restrain alcohol-induced hepatic damage mediated by CYP2E1.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.589-600
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• 2005

The purposes of this study is to discuss and analyze the effect on the recovery from cut in sciatic nerve. This study used 9 weeks male rats of Sprague-Dawley family. Rat in groups 4 were treated with pulsed therapeutic ultrasound for 3 minutes. 3 times weekly at 3MHz respectively (intensity; $0.2W/cm^2,\;0.5W/Cm^2,\;10W/cm^2$); rat in group 1 received placebo ultrasound. In addition, changes of serum aspartate amino-transferase(AST) and creatine phosphokinase(CPK) levels were also demonstrated with diameter of individual muscle fasciculate and number of muscle fiber in each of three types of muscles located in gastrocnemius, soles. The results of comparing the changes in groups are as follows; 1. We found out that hypertrophic epineurium was present in sciatic nerve injured ultrasound treatment of groups. 2. In the gastrocnemius morphological investigation of the group I (control group), severe muscle atrophy were observed at the 7th days of the sciatic nerve injury. however, muscle atrophy of the group IV ($1.0W/cm^2$) were slightly recovered at the 14th days after treatment ultrasound. At the 28th days, muscular fibers were formed in polygon and were significantly recovered. 3. C-fos immunoreactive of the group II ($0.2W/cm^2$), III ($0.5W/cm^2$) were remarkably increased at the 1th day after treatment of ultrasound. Group IV were markedly deceased. 4. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor(BDNF) immunoreactive of the group II, III were increased after 7 days of the sciatic nerve injury. Group IV were markedly increased from 14th days to 28th days after treatment of ultrasound. 5. A significant increase of serum AST levels were demonstrated in control group. However, serum AST levels of massage groups were significantly decreased compared to that of control group in followed order ; ($0.2W/cm^2<0.5W/cm^2<1.0W/cm^2$). 6. A significant increase of serum CK levels were demonstrated in control of group. However, serum CK levels of massage groups were significantly decreased compared to that of control group in followed order ; ($0.2W/cm^2<0.5W/cm^2<1.0W/cm^2$). The above results suggest that ultrasound treatment after peripheral nerve injury might reduce noxious stimuli, facilitate nerve recovery and effective in the functional improvement delaying muscle atrophy or degeneration.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.4 s.63
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• pp.728-739
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• 1998

To improve wellness and quality of life by recognizing the health efforts of stress, the author estimated the relationships between stress, subjective symptoms and clinical diagnosis through a questionnaire and a battery of specified laboratory tests; electrocardiography, blood pressure, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), gamma glutamyl transferase$(\gamma-GTP)$, fasting blood sugar, gastro-endoscopy or UGI, abdominal sonography, etc. The data was gathered from 337 clients who were undergoing multiphasic screening program at a University Hospital from January to March 1998. The mean age of subjects was $46.5{\pm}11.2$ years and the mean of body mass index was $24.0{\pm}3.7kg/m^2$. The mean vol of stress was $18.5{\pm}6.0$ expressed as the score out of 40. By general characteristics and lift style among male, mean level of stress was significantly higher in case of lower socioeconomic status, habitual drug use, longer daily working time(>10 hours), no regular exercise, drinkers, irregular meal, skip-ping breakfast(p<0.05). In case of female, that was significantly higher in case of lower education, lowe. socioeconomic status, longer daily working time(>10 hours), no regular exercise, drinkers, smokers, irregular meal, skipping breakfast(p<0.05). Significant correlations were observed between stress and subjective symptoms in all kinds of organ system (p<0.01). Correlation coefficients of stress among male were relatively high with neuro-psychiatric symptom$(\gamma=0.476)$ and cardio-vascular symptom$(\gamma=0.361)$ in order, and correlation coefficients of stress among female was highest with neuro-psychiatric symptom$(\gamma=0.371)$. The prevalence of the diagnosis through the battery of laboratory tests was high in upper gastrointestinal disorders and hypercholesterolemia in order in both sex group. Among male the mean score of stress was significantly high in ulcerative peptic disorder of upper gastrointestine and hepatopathy in order (p<0.05) . Among female that was significantly high in diabetes mellitus. In summary, it is likely that there are associations between stress, subjective symptoms and clinical diagnosis. To promote wellness and quality of life it would be of value that periodic stress evaluation program and stress management including apropriate control of smoking and drinking, regular exercise and meal.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.294-304
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• 2020

Objective: The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the absorbent (a mixture of activated carbon and hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate) on growth performance, blood profiles and hepatic genes expression in broilers fed diets naturally contaminated with aflatoxin. Methods: A total of 1,200 one-day-old male chicks were randomly assigned to 6 treatments with 10 replicate cages per treatment. The dietary treatments were as follows: i) control (basal diets); ii) 50% contaminated corn; iii) 100% contaminated corn; iv) control+1% adsorbent; v) 50% contaminated corn+1% absorbent; vi) 100% contaminated corn+1% absorbent. Results: During d 1 to 21, feeding contaminated diets reduced (p<0.05) body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI), but increased (p<0.05) feed-to-gain ratio (F/G). The absorbent supplementation increased (p<0.05) BW, ADG, and ADFI. There were interactions (p<0.05) in BW, ADG, and ADFI between contaminated corn and absorbent. Overall, birds fed 100% contaminated diets had lower (p<0.05) final BW and ADG, but higher (p<0.05) F/G compared to those fed control diets. The absorbent addition increased (p<0.05) serum albumin concentration on d 14 and 28 and total protein (TP) level on d 28, decreased (p<0.05) alanine transaminase activity on d 14 and activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase on d 28. Feeding contaminated diets reduced (p<0.05) hepatic TP content on d 28 and 42. The contaminated diets upregulated (p<0.05) expression of interleukin-6, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), but downregulated (p<0.05) glutathione S-transferase (GST) expression in liver. The absorbent supplementation increased (p<0.05) interleukin-1β, CAT, SOD, cytochrome P450 1A1 and GST expression in liver. There were interactions (p<0.05) in the expression of hepatic CAT, SOD, and GST between contaminated corn and absorbent. Conclusion: The results suggest that the naturally aflatoxin-contaminated corn depressed growth performance, while the adsorbent could partially attenuate the adverse effects of aflatoxin on growth performance, blood profiles and hepatic genes expression in broilers.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1331-1338
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• 2010

This study was designed to investigate the potentially protective effects of Curcuma longa Linn. extract (CLE) on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with 50 or 100mg/kg of CLE or 100mg/kg of butylated hydroxytoluene(BHT) for 14 days before $CCl_4$ administration. In addition, the CLE control group was pretreated with 100mg/kg CLE for only 14 days. Three hours after the final treatment, a single dose of $CCl_4$ (20mg/kg) was administrated intraperitoneally to each group. After the completion of this phase of the experiment, food and water were removed 12 h prior to the next step. The rats were then anesthetized by urethane and their blood and liver were collected. It was observed that the aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities of the serum, and the hepatic malondialdehyde levels had significantly decreased in the CLE group when compared with the $CCl_4$-treated group. The antioxidant activities, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities, in addition to glutathione content, had increased considerably in the CLE group compared with the $CCl_4$-treated group. Phase II detoxifying enzymes, such as glutathione S-transferase, were found to have significantly increased in the CLE group as opposed to the $CCl_4$-treated group. The content of Nrf2 was determined by Western blot analysis. Pretreated CLE increased the level of nuclear translocated Nrf2, and the Nrf2 then increased the activity of the antioxidant and phase II detoxifying enzymes. These results indicate that CLE has protective effects against $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, via activities of antioxidant and phase II detoxifying enzymes, and through the activation of nuclear translocated Nrf2.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.33-43
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• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the protective effects of acupuncture on the liver in the oxidative stress caused by cadmium accumulation. Sprague-Dawley male($150{\pm}30g$) rats were stabilized for a week and divided into 5 groups which is normal, control, $LR_3$ acupuncture, $BL_{23}$ acupuncture and sham acupuncture group. For three days experimental groups were received oral doses of cadmium 2 mg/kg twice a day. Acupuncture was given bilaterally at each point 10 times for two weeks. The depth of stimulation was 1 mm at right angles and torsion of acupuncture was produced 2 times per second for 1 minutes. The liver was shipped off and taken weight at the last day of two weeks, and hepatic functions was confirmed through alanine transaminase(ALT) and aspartate amino-transferase(AST). We measured reactive oxygen species of serum, liver and kidney, and compared expression levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase(Gpx), nuclear factor erythroid derived 2-related factor 2(Nrf-2), heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$), cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), Bax and Cytochrome c. $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group significantly increased liver weight and decreased ALT compared to control group. For the oxidative stress, $LR_3$ acupuncture group significantly reduced reactive oxygen species, and $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group significantly reduced reactive oxygen species and inflammation-related protein compared to control group. But $LR_3$ acupuncture group and $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group didn't significantly reduce apoptosis-related protein. Therefore $LR_3$ and $BL_{23}$ acupuncture showed the effects of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, especially $BL_{23}$ acupuncture was more effective than $LR_3$ acupuncture on the protection of liver in the oxidative stress.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.250-257
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• 2011

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different mycotoxin adsorbents including esterified glucomannan (EGM), hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) and compound mycotoxin adsorbent (CMA) on performance, blood parameters, and liver pathological changes in broilers fed mold-contaminated feed. Two hundred and forty 10-day-old broilers were randomly assigned to one of the five dietary treatments including: i) control diet; ii) mold-contaminated diet; iii) moldcontaminated diet+0.05% EGM; iv) mold-contaminated diet+0.2% HSCAS; v) mold-contaminated diet+0.1% CMA. At 35-days-old, blood and liver tissue samples were collected for analysis. 0.1% CMA improved ADG and ADFI during 10-42 d compared to the moldcontaminated group (p<0.05). The mold-contaminated diet increased total white blood cell (WBC) number, haemoglobin (Hgb) concentration, hematocrit (Hct) level, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities, and decreased red blood cell (RBC) number and serum globulin (GLB) and urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations (p<0.05). The three mycotoxin adsorbents alleviated the alteration of RBC, WBC, Hgb and AST caused by the mold-contaminated diet. Furthermore, 0.1% CMA increased GLB concentration and decreased Hct level and GGT activity (p<0.05). Liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was reduced, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was increased by the mold-contaminated diet (p<0.05). Both EGM and HSCAS prevented the increase of MPO activity (p<0.05). Liver lesion, including severe vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes, was observed in chicks fed the mold-contaminated diet. 0.05% EGM prevented these effects except for biliary hyperplasia and mild vacuolar degeneration. 0.2% HSCAS showed medium vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes. Liver of broilers fed 0.1% CMA revealed a mild vacuolar degeneration. These results indicate that a mold-contaminated diet results in adverse effects on blood parameters and liver morphology. 0.05% EGM and 0.2% HSCAS partially alleviated the adverse effects. However, 0.1% CMA almost completely ameliorated the adverse effects.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.54-58
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• 2014

The liver is vulnerable to alcohol-related injury because it is the primary site of alcohol metabolism. Additionally, a number of potentially dangerous by-products are generated as alcohol is broken down in the liver. However, dietary supplements may prevent or relieve some of alcohol's deleterious effects. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the prophylactic effect of aqueous extract of Sesamum indicum (SI) on ethanol induced toxicity in rats. Male Wistar albino rats were divided into control, ethanol, pre-treatment, simultaneous and post-treatment groups. In the prophylactic experiment, Sesamum indicum, (200 mg/kg body weight) was administered by oral gavage for 28 days; two hours before, simultaneously with or two hours after ethanol exposure. Toxicity was induced by administering 45% ethanol (4.8 g/kg bw) by oral gavage. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and gluthathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were then determined in the liver, serum triglyceride (TG) levels, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were monitored and histological examination was carried out. The results revealed that ethanol administration led to significant elevation of TBARS level while depleting in the level of GSH as well as CAT, GPx, SOD and GST activities. Similarly, TG level and ALT and AST activities were elevated. The SI pre-treated group significantly inhibited TBARS, restored GSH level, enhanced CAT, GPx, SOD and GST activities and significantly decreased the elevated level of serum TG, ALT and AST activities. SI treatment (simultaneously with ethanol) exhibited similar effects to those of the SI pre-treated groups, while the SI post-treated group did not show the same protection as the Pre-treated group. S. indicum possesses antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties, that eliminate the deleterious effects of toxic metabolites of ethanol.