• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2014

As well-being foods pursuing healthy life are becoming popular, interest in Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM) fruit, a type of Korean blackberry, is increasing due to its medicinal actions including protecting the liver, brightening the eyes, and alleviating diabetes. This study was carried out to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of RCM concentrates on liver injuries induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) in rats. RCM, produced in June ~ July 2008 at Chunbook, Gochang (South Korea), was finely mashed. The seeds were removed and the juices were condensed. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups according to treatment: normal (eight rats), $CCl_4$, 1% RCM, and 2% RCM. Experimental diets were provided to the experimental animals for 4 weeks. We measure total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. Part of the livers was isolated for histopathological evaluation, and analyzed for lipid peroxide (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and liver proteins. The activities of serum AST, ALT, and ALP were elevated following $CCl_4$ administration. Levels of hepatic TBARS were also significantly increased in the $CCl_4$ groups. However, hepatic TBARS levels and the activities of serum enzymes were markedly reduced by supplementation with the RCM concentrates (P < 0.05). Hepatic SOD activity increased in the RCM concentrates group versus $CCl_4$ groups. Histopathological examination revealed massive necrosis in the centrilobular area and degenerative changes caused by $CCl_4$ were ameliorated by dietary supplementation with RCM concentrates. These results suggest that RCM concentrates have hepatoprotective effects and may improve the symptoms of liver injuries.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.1 s.140
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• pp.44-49
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• 2005

The protective effects of the DWP-04 [DDB : selenium yeast: glutathione {31.1 : 6.8 : 62.1 (%, w/w)} against hepatotoxicity by carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_4)$ were studied in rats. The rats were intraperitoneally injected with $CCl_4$ (50% in com oil) at initial dose of 1 ml/kg followed by 0.5 ml/kg 3 times during 1 week. The DWP-04 (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg) or its vehicle was administered everyday before the start of $CCl_4$ injection for two weeks. $CCl_4$ induced hepatocelluar degeneration and necrosis, which led to a great increase in serum aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase activity and serum lipid levels. It was found by biochemical analysis that $CCl_4$ treatment remarkably increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and physphatidylcholine hydroperoxide in hepatic tissues and induced antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Liver and serum lipids were significantly lower in rats fed on DWP-04 than in rats induced by $CCl_4$ only-treatment. These results suggested that the DWP-04 could be a promising candidate for the protection of liver injury based on the preventive effects against lipid peroxidation and serum biochemical parameters.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 1985

The Polygoni Radix and Cynanchi Radix have been used to potentiate the liver functions in clinic of Oriental Medicine. The water extracts of Polygoni Radix and Cynanchi Radix were administered orally to rats intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride and then this experiment have been performed by observing liver fatty degeneration and activities of enzymes such as cytochrome oxidase (CYO), adenosine triphosphatase (ATP), acid phosphatase (ACP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). By oral administration of water extracts of the radices between 1 and 10 days, the following results were obtained. 1. The group given Cynanchi Radix extract showed recovery of the fat liver in 4 days, whereas that given Polygoni Radix extract did the recovery in 8 days. 2. In cytochrome oxidase activity, the group given Cynanchi extract showed normal activity in 6 days, whereas that given Polygoni Radix extract did the activity in 8 days. 3. In adenosine triphosphatase activity, the groups given Cynanchi Radix and Polygoni Radix extracts showed normal activities in 2 and 8 days, respectively. 4. In acid phosphatase activity, the groups given Cynanchi Radix and Polygoni Radix extracts showed recovery of the activities in 2 and 4 days, respectively. 5. In lactate dehydrogenase activity, the group given Cynanchi Radix and Polygoni Radix extracts showed recovery of the activities in 6 and 10 days, respectively. 6. In alkaline phosphatase activity, the group given Cynanchi Radix extract showed normal activity in 2 days, whereas that given Polygoni Radix extract showed slight recovery between 4 and 6 days followed by decrease of the activity in 8 and 10 days. From the above-mentioned results, it was found that both of the water extracts of Polygoni and Cynanchi Radix possessed the recovery action of liver function as intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride in rats. It is also noted that the extract of Cynanchi Radix showed more potent activity than that of Polygoni Radix.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.114-121
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• 2004

We investigated the effects of healthful decoction utilizing Phellinus linteus(HDPL) for suppression in the process of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄4)-induced inflammation(50% CCl₄ : olive oil=1:1, 1 ㎖/KgㆍB.W.) of rat using biochemical, Western, histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Biochemical analysis of serum showed that the level of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate Dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and triglyceride were significantly decreased by pretreatment of HDPL, but albumin and nitric oxide were increased. Immunoblot analysis of the liver showed that CCl₄-induced expression of interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) was inhibited by pretreatment of HDPL. More severe histopathological changes of the liver such as Kupffer cell reaction, inflammatory cell infiltration and focal necrosis were demonstrated in the rats challenged with CCl₄ compared with normal. Fewer scores of these changes were observed in the HDPL pretreated rats. Immunohistochemical analysis of the liver showed that while the expression of IL-1β, iNOS, tumor necrosis factor-α, COX(cyclooxygenase)-1 and COX-2 tended to increase, a decline of these immunoreaction of HDPL pre-treated groups were observed in the hepatocytes, especially in the focal necrotic sites. These results suggest that HDPL may act as a therapeutic agent for liver disease through a regulation of inflammation-related proteins.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1337-1343
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• 2005

The hepato-protective effects of the extract from Protaetia brevitarsis against hepatotoxicity by carbon tetrachloride ($CCI_4$) were studied in rats. The rats were orally treated with $CCI_4$ (50% in corn oil) at initial dose of $1\;m{\ell}/kg$ followed by $0.5m{\ell}/kg$ four times during 2-week period. The extract of P. brevitarsis (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg) or its vehicle was administered day after day from 1 week before $CCI_4$ Injection during five weeks. $CCI_4$ induced hepato-celluar degeneration and necrosis induced to increase in serum aspartate amintransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. In biochemical analyses, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in hepatic tissues were remarkably increased by $CCI_4$ treatment. Not only increases in serum AST and ALT, but also induction of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in hepatic tissues caused by $CCI_4$ were significantly attenuated by the P. brevitarsis extract in a dose-dependent manner. Such hepato-protective effects of P. brevitarsis extract were confirmed by histopathological examinations, wherein only mild hepatocytic vacuolations were observed in the liver of rats treated with a high dose (100 mg/kg) of P. brevitarsis extract in comparison with severe hepatocytic degenerations administered with $CCI_4$ alone. From these results, it is suggested that the extract of Protaetia brevitarsis could be a promising candidate for the protection of liver injury, based on the preventive effects against morphological cellular injuries, lipid peroxidation and serum biochemical parameters.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.620-627
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• 2011

We evaluated the hepatoprotective activity of crude hot-water extracts of the traditional Korean medicinal herb, Phellodendri Cortex (PC; Bark of Phellodendron amurense RUPR.), in an experimental model of hepatic damage induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$). The serum marker of liver damage, sGOT, sGPT and sALP, were significantly decreased in the liver of the PC treated rats, compared with that of $CCl_4$ treated group. The histological observation of liver section of rats, showed the same protective effect of PC treatment. And the protective activity of PC was more significant in the post-treated group than pre-treated group. The significant decrease of malodialdehyde and increase of glutathion, catalase activity were observed in the liver homogenate of PC treated rats. Based on these findings, it is suggested that PC has potent hepatoprotective effects and the mechanism of the protection may be related to antioxidation pathways.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.265-272
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• 1992

Effects of repeated physical exercise on the carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) hepatotoxicity were examined in adult female rats. Rats were introduced into a cylindrical rotating cage and forced to exercise for 1 hr each day, 6days/week, for 5 consecutive weeks at a speed starting from 10m/min, increased by 1m/min per day until the speed reached 27m/min. Significantly less body weight gain was observed in the exercise group suggesting that physical fitness had been induced in these animals. Eighteen hours following termination of the last exercise bout rats were treated with $CCl_4$(2 mmol/kg.ip). The $CCl_4$-induced heptotoxicity was significantly potentiated in the repeated exercise group compared to the resting sedentary animals as determined by changes in serum sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and glucose-6-phosphatase(G-6-Pase) activities when measured 24hrs following the $CCl_4$ treatment. Hepatic drug metabolizing activity was determined in order to elucidate the underlying mechanism of potentiating action of the $CCl_4$ hepatotoxicity induced by repeated physical exercise. Repeated exercise increased the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 contents and aminopyrine N-demethylase activity. The results suggest that the potentiation of $CCl_4$ hepatotoxicity by repeated exercise is associated with induction of the mixed function oxidase (MFO) enzyme system mediating the metabolism of $CCl_4$ to its active metabolite(s).

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2014

In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effects of aged black garlic (ABG) in rodent models of liver injury. ABG inhibited carbon tetrachloride-induced elevation of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), which are markers of hepatocellular damage, in SD rats. D-galactosamine-induced hepatocellular damage was also suppressed by ABG treatment. However, ABG does not affect the elevation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), a marker of hepatobilliary damage, in rats treated with carbon tetrachloride or D-galactosamine. We also examined the effect of ABG on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced fatty liver and subsequent liver damage. ABG had no significant effect on body weight increase and plasma lipid profile in HFD-fed mice. However, HFD-induced increase in AST and ALT, but not ALP, was significantly suppressed by ABG treatment. These results demonstrate that ABG has hepatoprotective effects and suggest that ABG supplementation might be a good adjuvant therapy for the management of liver injury.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.275-280
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• 2005

Carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) is well known hepatotoxicant. Its overdose cause severe centrilobular hepatic necrosis in human and experimental animals. We administered $CCl_{4}$ at low (0.2 mL/kg p.o.) and high (2 mL/kg p.o.) doses to mice. Mice were sacrificed at 24 h after administration. We evaluated liver toxicity by serum AST and ALT level and by microscopic observation. Using cDNA chip, we conducted gene expression analysis in liver. Mean serum activities of the hepatocellular leakage enzymes, ALT and AST, were significantly increased compare to control, respectively, in the low and high dose groups. H&E evaluation of stained liver sections revealed $CCl_{4}-related$ histopathological findings in mice. Moderate centrilobular hepatocellular necrosis was present in all $CCl_{4}$ treated mice. We found that gene expression pattern was very similar between low and high dose group. However, some stress related genes were differently expressed. These results could be a molecular signature for the degree of liver injury. Our data suggest that the degree of severity could be figure out by gene expression profiling.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.347-353
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• 1992

Hepatoprotective effects of polysaccharides extracted from liquid cultured mycelia were screened by measuring the glutamic pyruvate transaminase activity of the primary cultured rat hepatocytes intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride. Sixty among 75 isolates of higher fungi showed to be hepatoprotective effect, and these were 13 of Ganoderma lucidum, 5 of Lentinus edodes, 1 of Pleurotus ostereatus, 4 of Coriolus versicolor, 2 of Lyophyllum spp., 7 of Grifora frondosa, 3 of Agaricus spp., 14 of Schizophyllum commune and 11 of Cordyceps spp.. Especially, 10 isolates, Ganoderma lucidum IY003 and IY009, Lentinus edodes IY103, Lyophyllum sp. IY402, Agaricus sp. IY701 and IY703, Schizophyllum commune IY804, IY810 and IY818, Cordyceps sp. IY902, were indicated below 80% of glutamic pyruvate transaminase activity.