• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.32 no.2 s.125
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• pp.121-127
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• 2001

The effect of bear bile on 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced hepatotoxicity was investigated in 6-week-old C57BL/6 male mice. Bear bile (100 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg) was administered orally daily for 4 weeks, respectively. From the second week, $10\;{\mu}g/kg$ of TCDD was administered to the bear bile-treated animals orally once a week for 3 weeks (a total of $30\;{\mu}g/kg$). There were no specific clinical findings and significant body weight changes in all groups. Although the livers in TCDD-treated mice appeared a severe hypertrophy and many necrotic foci, and changed to yellow-brown color in gross findings, these lesions were remarkably reduced by bear bile administration. The elevated serum activities of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase due to TCDD were significantly decreased by bear bile treatment (P<0.05). The lipid peroxidation induced by TCDD was significantly prevented by bear bile administration (P<0.05). In histological examinations, there were a moderate necrosis of hepatic cells around central veins, severe cytoplasmic vacuolizations, inflammatory cell infiltrations, and remarkable fatty changes in the liver of TCDD-treated animals. However, the lesions were dose-dependently inhibited by the bear bile treatments. These findings indicate that bear bile may have a protective effect against TCDD-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.31-38
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was aimed at investigating liver protection mechanism of bear bile juice (Fel Ursi)by inducing liver toxicity through $CCl_4$ in mice and evaluated histological and serological findings. Methods : Experiment groups was categorized into untreated normal group, $CCl_4$ treated control group, and orally administered bear bile juice experiment group. At the termination of experiment, gross examination of the liver as well as histological findings, and Total protein, Albumin, Total bilirubin, Direct bilirubin SGOT, SGPT, and ALP contents in the serum were evaluated. Results : 1. For gross examination and histological findings, $CCI_4$ treated control group showed destroyed lobular structure, increased fibrosis, as well as hepatic cirrhosis. For the group treated with bear bile juice, the lobular structure suffered less damage, and showed lower level of fibrosis and liver cirrhosis compared to the control group. 2. For serum analysis, Total protein and Albumin were significantly increased in the bear bile juice experiment group than the control group. Total bilirubin and Direct bilirubin didn't show significant differences between the two groups. SOOT, SGPT, and ALP were significantly decreased in the normal and bear bile juice experiment groups compared to the control group. Conclusion : Taken together, bear bile juice can be effectively used for recovering the liver functions and further researches must be conducted to verify the efficacies of bear bile juice.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2 s.32
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• pp.245-250
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigation into production of bile juice and bile powder by Chinese moon bear. The color of bile juice and bile powder were appeared to bronze and bronze or yellowlish brown. Average production of bile juice(ml) and bile powder(g) per head and the powdered rate(%) of bile juice were 98.4ml, 20.8g and 20.4% during a surgical operation. Production of bile juice(ml) and bile powder(g) per head were appeared to 120.7ml-139.5m1 and 8.5g-10.2g during experimental period(31 days), respectively. Average daily production of bile powder(g) per head and the collectting days of bile juice was decreased; to 6.7g and 52.5 day in summer compared with another season(10.3g and 60 days) The production of bile juice and bile powder was not difference between seven times collection in 7 days and once collection in 7 days.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2009

Objective : This study developed species-specific PCR and PCR-RFLP to detect the adulteration of Fel ursi products with cattle and pig bile juices. Methods : All the primers for PCR and PCR-RFLP in this study were designed based on nucleotide sequences of cytochrome b genes in the mitochondria. Results : The species-specific PCR amplified a DNA fragment of 214, 214, 295, and 167 bp from Fel ursi product, bear fur, cattle bile juice, and pig bile juice, respectively. The survey using the speciesspecific PCR indicated that some of commercial Fel ursi products were adulterated with cattle and pig bile juices. PCR-RFLP using the restriction endonucleases, HaeIII and HinfI enabled differentiation among Fel ursi product, cattle bile juice, and pig bile juice. Bear furs from two animals showed variations in PCR-RFLP patterns with HaeIII. Discussion : The detection methods of the species-specific PCR and PCR-RFLP could be useful in eliminating adulterated Fel ursi products from the market.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2010

Bear bile has been used as a therapeutic for cerebral and coronary thrombosis, convulsion, hepatitis, jaundice, and abscess in traditional oriental medicine. In recent decades, the effects of bile acids on cancer, cholestasis, and liver injury have been investigated in many studies. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of whole bear bile (WBB) and its two major components, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), on rectal inflammation in rats. Bile acids in WBB were quantitatively analyzed by HPLC. Rectal inflammation was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by insertion of croton oil-saturated cotton tips. WBB, UDCA or CDCA solution was orally administered to rats one hour after induction of rectal inflammation. Rats were sacrificed 4 or 24 hours after induction of rectal inflammation. The evaluation included measurement of weight and thickness of rectum and histopathologic examination of rectal tissue. Furthermore, we examined the inhibitory effect of WBB, UDCA or CDCA against NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The contents of UDCA and CDCA in WBB were $39.26{\mu}g/mg$ and $47.11{\mu}g/mg$, respectively. WBB treatment significantly reduced the weight and thickness of rectum compared with UDCA or CDCA treatment. The inhibition of NO production by WBB, UDCA and CDCA in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells was much higher than that by the control. And, WBB treatment suppressed the induction of NO synthase in rectum homogenates. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of WBB is related to the suppression of NO synthase induction and the inhibition of NO production by UDCA, CDCA and other bile acids of WBB.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 1987

A high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of free and glycine conjugated bile acids. Free and glycine conjugated bile acids were extracted from bear gall bladder by methanol and from serum using a Sep-pak $C_{18}$ catridge. The extracted bile acids were labeled with 2-bromoacetyltriphenylene in acetonitrite using 18-crown-6-ether as a catalyst. Derivatized bile acids were separated from the individual bile acids on a reversedphase column (Chemcosorb 5-ODS-H) using acetonitrile-methanol-water(10:50:30) as a mobile phase and monitored by an UV-detector at 254nm. Linearities of calibration curve were obtained between 4 ng and 24 ng, and recoveries from bear gall bladder sample were higher than 94%.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.139-146
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• 1984

High performance liquid chromatographic separation is described for the analysis of bile acids after hydrolysis in seven commercial crude bile drugs and ox and pig galls. They are simultaneously separated with HPLC mobile phase of acetonitrile/0.5% ammonium carbonate (pH 6.7) (25.5 : 74.5) at a flow rate $(1.0{\rightarrow}1.5ml/min.)$ and differential refractometer. The linearity of calibration curve and recovery test are good by using the method. The analysis of major bile acids in seven commercial crude bile drugs using the described method is presented. Sample no. 1 of them is similar to separation pattern of ox gall. Sample no. 6 of them is supposed to be genuine bear gall on the basis of identification of ursodeoxycholic acid. Sample $no.\;2{\sim}5$ and 7 of them are supposed to be pig gall on the basis of identification of hyodeoxycholic acid which is a characteristic component of pig gall.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.231-250
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• 2001

In order to determine the effects of annexing bile extracts of bears on the anti-fibrotic effect of Injinhotang. Mix compound of Injinhotang and bile extracts of bears were administered to the carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced cirrhotic rats during 20 days and the changes of serum levels of GOT (glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase), GPT (glutamic pyruvic transaminase), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), ALP (alanine phosphatase), GGT (gamma glutamyl transpeptidase) and T-BIL (total bilirubin) were monitored with comparison to the results of Injinhotang administered group. The results were summarized as follows. 1. A significant (p<0.01) increase of serum GOT levels were observed in control group compared to those of normal group but these increased levels were dramatically decreased in Injinhotang and Injinhotang with Fel Ursi-administered group. In addition, a significant (p<0.05) increase were also detected In Injinhotang with Fel Ursi-administered group compared to that of Injinhotang-administered group. 2. A significant (p<0.01) increase of serum GPT levels were observed in control group compared to those of normal group but these increased levels were dramatically decreased in Injinhotang and Injinhotang with Fel Ursi-administered group. Although significances were not recorded, increase of serum GPT levels were also detected in Injinhotang with Fel Ursi-administered group compared to that of Injinhotang-administered group. 3. A significant (p<0.01) increase of serum LDH levels were observed in control group compared to those of normal group but these increased levels were dramatically decreased in Injinhotang and Injinhotang with Fel Ursi-administered group. Although significances were not recorded, increase of serum LDH levels were also detected in Injinhotang with Fel Ursi-administered group compared to that of Injinhotang-administered group. 4. A significant (p<0.01 or p<0.05) increase of serum ALP levels were observed in control group compared to those of normal group but these increased levels were dramatically decreased in Injinhotang and Injinhotang with Fel Ursi-administered group. In addition, a significant (p<0.05) increase were also detected in Injinhotang with Fel Ursi-administered group compared to that of Injinhotang-administered group. 5. A significant (p<0.01) increase of serum GGT levels were observed in control and Injinhotang-administered group compared to those of normal group but these increased levels were dramatically decreased in Injinhotang with Fel Ursi-administered group. 6. A significant (p<0.01) increase of serum T-BIL levels were observed in control group compared to those of normal group but these increased levels were dramatically decreased in Injinhotang and Injinhotang with Fel Ursi-administered group. Although significances were not recorded, increase of serum T-BIL levels were also detected in Injinhotang with Fel Ursi-administered group compared to that of Injinhotang-administered group. In conclusion, it is considered that bile extract of bears has some additional effect to the anti-fibrotic effect of Injinhotang but to know the exact mechanism of suitable dose and duration of administration, further studies such as pharmacokinetics and dose-dependent pharmacological studies were needed