• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.432-438
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• 2009

In this paper, we evaluated the performance of the automatic classifier applied for the discrimination of acute alcoholic liver injury and chronic liver fibrosis. The classifier uses the discriminant peaks of the preprocessed Raman spectrum as a feature set. In preprocessing step, we subtract baseline and apply Savitzky-Golay smoothing filter which is known to be useful at preserving peaks. After identifying discriminant peaks from the spectra, we carried out the classification experiments using MAP and neural networks. According to the experimental results, the classifier shows the promising results to diagnosis alcoholic liver injury and chronic liver fibrosis. Classification results over 80% means that the peaks used as a feature set is useful for diagnosing liver disease.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2002

Silymarin and curcumin have been used for supportive treatment of liver disease of difffrent etiology due to their hepatoprotective activities. The present study was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective efffcts of silymarin and/or curcuma extract against hepatotoxins induced liver injury. To investigate hepatoprotective effects, the silymarin and/or curcuma extract were pre-treated orally to experimental animals. And thereafter a single dose of hepatotoxin, carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) and acetaminophen were administered through oral or intraperitoneal route, respectively. Chronic liver damage was induced by subcutaneous injection of $CCl_4$ for 3 weeks (2 times/week). Hepatoprotective and therapeutic effects were monitored by estimating serurn ALT and AST levels and by measuring hepatic glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA)levels. Collagen type 1 was detected with irnrnunostaining to assess fibrosis. The results showed that the mix-ture of silymarin and curcuma extract significantly reduced serum biochemistry levels and MDA levels com-pared with those of control group in both acute and chronic animal models. In antifibrotic effect, the relative hepatic collagen content was significantly decreased by silymarin and/or curcuma extract treatment. It was concluded that the complex of silymarin and curcuma extract have a both hepatoprotective and therapeutic effect synergically in rat liver injury induced by heptotoxins.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.116-122
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• 2004

Purpose: Several risk factors related with chronic complications and mortality related with liver injury of mushroom poisoning were reported. But, there were few reports about the long term outcomes. The aim was to evaluate the long term clinical outcomes in mushroom poisoning regarding the risk factors. Methods: Clinical data were reviewed and outcomes were evaluated with medical records and/or telephone interviews. The patients who had one or more risk factors such as markedly elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT), prolonged prothrombin time (PT) were classified into high risk group. Patients had no risk factor classified into low risk group. Results: From June 1989 to December 2003, nineteen mushroom poisoning patients admitted to Asan Medical Center, seven were male, and mean age was $58\pm9$ years old. All the patients accidentally ingested and the interval from ingestion to symptom onset was $9\pm4$ hours. There were four patients in high risk group, and fifteen in low risk group. In high risk group, peak AST was $2,263.3\pm1,303.0IU/L$most prolonged PT was $38.0\pm27.4\%$, and stuporous mental status was shown in one patient. In low risk group, laboratory values returned to the normal values but histological evaluation revealed specific features of toxic hepatitis on sixth hospital day. Chronic complications such as persistent or chronic hepatitis, mortality was not occurred during follow up period (from 10 months to 16 years) in both groups. Conclusion: Although the number of patients were small, there were no chronic complications or mortality related with liver injury after mushroom poisoning regardless risk factors of chronic complications and mortality.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2021

We have previously reported that Acer tegmentosum extract, which is traditionally used in Korea to reduce alcohol-related liver injury, suppresses liver inflammation caused by excessive alcohol consumption and might improve metabolism. The active ingredient, 6-O-galloylsalidroside (GAL), was isolated from A. tegmentosum, and we hypothesized that GAL could provide desirable pharmacological benefits by ameliorating physiological conditions caused by alcohol abuse. Therefore, this study focused on whether GAL could ameliorate alcoholic fat accumulation and repair liver injury in mice. During chronic alcohol consumption plus binge feeding in mice, GAL was administered orally once per day for 11 days. Intrahepatic lipid accumulation was measured in vivo using a noninvasive method, ¹H magnetic resonance imaging, and confirmed by staining with hematoxylin and eosin and Oil Red O. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured using a Konelab system, and the triglyceride content was measured in liver homogenates using an enzymatic peroxide assay. The results suggested that GAL alleviated alcohol-induced steatosis,e as indicated by decreased hepatic and serum triglyceride levels in ethanol-fed mice. GAL treatment also correlated with a decrease in the Cd36 mRNA expression, thus potentially inhibiting the development of alcoholic steatosis via the hepatic de novo lipogenesis pathway. Furthermore, treatment with GAL inhibited the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 and attenuated hepatocellular damage, as reflected by a reduction in ALT and AST levels. These findings suggest that GAL extracted from A. tegmentosum has the potential to serve as a bioactive agent for the treatment of alcoholic fatty liver and liver damage.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.147-158
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• 2024

Hepatic fibrosis refers to the scarring of liver tissue, often resulting from chronic liver injury or inflammation. It is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, impairing liver function and potentially progressing to cirrhosis if left untreated. To improve the liver functions, Cordyceps militaris, a species of parasitic fungus known for its medicinal properties, is used in the form of extract. It has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine to boost energy, improve stamina, and support overall health. In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effects of Cordyceps militaris extract powder in a liver injury model induced by hepatic fibrosis. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were administered Dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) to induce liver injury, and the hepatoprotective effects of Cordyceps militaris extract powder intake were assessed by comparing changes in liver enzyme levels and histological observations. Rats injected with DMN were orally administered Cordyceps militaris extract powder at doses of 0, 125, 250, and 500 mg·kg^-1·day^-1 for three weeks. After three weeks of treatment, no significant differences were observed in hematological, clinical chemical, organ weight, gross examination, or microscopic examination between the DMN-alone group and the Cordyceps militaris extract powder-treated group. In conclusion, hepatoprotective effects against DMN-induced liver injury in SD rats treated with Cordyceps militaris extract powder were not observed under this study condition.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.311-320
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• 2007

The present study was designed to estimate the protective effect of (-) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on ethanol-induced liver injury in rats. Chronic ethanol administration (6 g/kg/day ${\times}$ 60 days) caused liver damage that was manifested by the elevation of markers of liver dysfunction - aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubin and ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transferase in plasma and reduction in liver glycogen. The activities of alcohol metabolizing enzymes such as alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase were found to be altered in alcohol-treated group. Ethanol administration resulted in the induction of cytochrome p450 and cytochrome-$b_{5}$ activities and reduction of cytochrome-c reductase and glutathione-S-transferase, a phase II drug metabolizing enzyme. Further, ethanol reduced the viability of isolated hepatocytes (ex vivo) as assessed by trypan blue exclusion test and induced hepatocyte apoptosis as assessed by propidium iodide staining. Treatment of alcoholic rats with EGCG restored the levels of markers of liver injury and mitigated the alterations in alcohol metabolizing and drug metabolizing enzymes and cyt-c-reductase. Increased hepatocyte viability and reduced apoptotic nuclei were observed in alcohol + EGCG-treated rats. These findings suggest that EGCG acts as a hepatoprotective agent against alcoholic liver injury.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.411-429
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• 1997

Recent survey shows that chronic liver disease such as chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatoma is the third leading causes for death in Korea. In oriental medicine, viral hepatitis is related to Hwangdal(黃疸) and alcoholic liver disease is related to Joosang(酒傷). ARTEMISIAE HERBA and PUERARIAE RADIX have long been used in treating those symptoms. This study was done to evaluate the effect of AR1EMISIAE HERBA and PUERARIAE RADIX on viral and alcoholic hepatitis. ARTEMISIAE HERBA and PUERARIAE RADIX were decocted respectively with water and followed by vaccum evaporation. The solution was diluted to adequate concentration. Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this experiment. Each group was given PUERARIAE RADIX or ARTEMISIAE HERBA solution orally and CCl4, d-galactosamine or alcohol was given orally 30 minutes later. After 24 hours of starvation, blood samples were taken to check serum GOT, GPT, LDH and ALP activities, TC, TG, glucose and BUN levels. These results show that ARTEMISIAE HERBA has better effect on liver injury induced by d-Galactosamine than PUERARIAE RADIX and that both ARTEMISIAE HERBA and PUERARlAE RADIX have good effect on acute alcoholic liver disease while in the liver injury induced by $CCl_{4}$, PUERARIAE RADIX has better inhibitory effect on serum AST, ALT and ALP levels and ARTEMISIAE HERBA has better inhibitory effect on serum total cholesterol and triglyceride. And the result that high concentration group has better effect shows these effects are concentration-dependent. Further study on the mechanism of these herbs is still required.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.87-95
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• 1995

The concentrations of cadmium, metallothionein(MT), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) were investigated in liver and kidney of rats which were fed the water containing 100 ppm cadmium chloride with basal diet and 5% Agaricus bisporus diet during 16 weeks. Cadmium concentrations in liver and kidney increased during 16 weeks, and there were significantly higher accumulation of cadmium in the kidney than in the liver. The concentrations of MTs in liver and kidney decreased linearly during 16 weeks, but there was no significant difference between control and experimental group. MT concentrations of liver were significantly higher than those of kidney. The superoxide dismutase activities and lactate dehydrogenase activities were not affected by the diet, but there was a significant difference by the duration of administration. These data indicate that the kidney is a major target organ of chronic cadmium poisoning, and suggest that Cd-induced hepatic injury, via release of Cd-MT, may play an important role in the nephrotoxicity. In conclusion, induction of MT occurs in both the liver and the kidney after administration of $CdCl_2$. However, the kidney is less responsive than the liver to the induction of MT by cadmium, which may contribute to making the kidney the target organ of toxicity during chronic Cd exposure.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1081-1086
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the medicinal effects of the herbal combination extracts-2 (HCE-2), consisting of Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Lonicera japonica Thunb., Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, and Hovenia dulcis Thunb. on the alcohol-induced liver injury in rats. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group (n =6), non-treated control group (n =6), saline-treated group (n =6) and the herbal combination extract (HCE-2)-treated group (n =6). The rats in the alcohol-loaded groups were orally administered with ethanol at a daily dose of 4 g/kg-body weight for 5 weeks. Thirty minutes before the ethanol injection, saline or herbal combination extracts was administered by using a gastrogavage. Blood and liver tissue samples were taken out from the hearts and livers of the rats, respectively, on 15th and 38th days. The activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We also investigated the protective effect of the herbal combination extracts by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining on histological sections of rat liver. In this study, the oral administration of the herbal combination extracts significantly reduced the serum levels of AST and ALT, which had been raised by alcohol-induced liver injury. Histological analysis and apparent observation of liver also showed the preventive effect of the herbal combination extracts in a chronic alcohol-induced rat model. Theses results revealed that the herbal combination extracts effectively prevented hepatic damage consequent to the chronic exposure to repetitive administration of ethanol and could be used as a primary resource of a health beverage or herbal medicine, alleviating the alcohol-induced hepatic injury and hangover symptoms.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 1998

Methylmercury (MeHg), which is widely distributed in the environment, is well known for both its acute and chronic poisoning effects on the human health; however, the precise biochemical mechanisms by which this compound elicits its toxicity in a cellular level are still poorly understood. To examine whether MeHg-induced liver injury involves activation of Phospholipase $A_2$ ($PLA_2$), the $PLA_2$ activity of control and MeHg-administrated livers was measured. MeHg stably enhanced a liver form of cytosolic $PLA_2$ activity, which exhibited several biochemical properties similar to those of the 100 kDa $cPLA_2$, except in its elution profile of a DEAE-5PW HPLC, and it migrated as a molecular weight of 80 kDa in Western blot analysis. This blotting analysis also indicated that the MeHg-induced enhancement of the activity could be due to the increase in the amount of the enzyme protein rather than a stable modification of the enzyme such as phosphorylation. Our data also showed the higher myeloperoxidase activity in MeHg-administrated liver than in the control, suggesting that this increase in the amounts of the 80 kDa $PLA_2$ and its activity may be resulted from infiltration of neutrophils into the liver during a hepatic injury process such as MeHg-induced inflammation. Taken together, these data suggest that MeHg-induced liver injury may be mediated by activation of the 80 kDa form of liver cytosolic $PLA_2$.