• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.231-235
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• 2013

Activity-guided isolation to search for antifibrotic compounds from natural products using HSC-T6 cells afforded nine flavonoids or phenolics, luteolin (1), 3'-O-methylorobol (2), acactin 7-rutinoside (3), sedelolactone (4), 4-methoxyphenol (5), 4-hydroxyaldehyde (6), 4-hydoxyaldehyde (7), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (8), and ferulic acid (9) from the methanolic extract of aerial parts of Eclipta prostrata L.. Among the isolated compounds, luteolin (1) significantly inhibited the proliferation of HSCs in dose- and time-dependent manners. Antifibrotic activity of E. prostrata and its phenolic compounds might provide potential therapeutical choice in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.176.1-176.1
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• 2003

The protective effects on hepatic fibrosis of an aqueous extract from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC (Campanulaceae), Changkil (CK), in hepatic stellate cell line, CFSC-2G. The increased deposition of extracellular matrix by hepatic stellate cells following liver injury in a process known as activation is considered a key mechanism for increased collagen content of liver during the development of liver fibrosis. (omitted)

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2003

Experiments were carried out to investigate the accumulation and the histopathological changes in liver of juvenile rockfish, S. schlegeli, after sub-chronic dietary Cu (0, 50, 125, 250 and 500mg/kg) exposure for 60 days. Cu accumulation in liver was significantly increased with dietary exposure period and concentration for 60 days, and has a linear relation with dietary exposure days. After 60 days of Cu dietary exposure, the Cu concentration in the liver was $75.9\pm12.05,\;126.29\pm22.11\;and\;360.44\pm45.26\;{\mu}g/g$ dry weight and was approximately 11-fold, 18-fold and 51-fold higher than in the control diet group at 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg Cu diet group. The accumulation factors were increased with the dietary exposure period in liver of rockfish. In the primary exposed stage, the effect of hepatic tissue in the rockfish exposed to dietary Cu observed enlargement of hepatocytes nuclei, activity of hepatic cells and the swelling of hepatic cells. While exposed time and concentration were increased, the distinct granulation, irregular shape and necrosis of hepatic cells were observed. It was observed that granule degeneration and necrosis showed a part of cells in hepatic tissue after 60 days at 500 mg/kg.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2000

Inhibitory effects of the methanol extract, hexane extract, methanol soluble fraction (MSF) and juice from 3 weeks fermented Kimchi on the tumor formation in sarcoma-180 cell transplanted mice were studied. Effects of the solvent extracts and juice of the Kimchi on the levels of lipid peroxide, glutathione, and the enzyme activities of the liver were also investigated in normal and sarcoma-180 cell transplanted mice. At 32 days following trans-plantation, MSF reduced the tumor formation by 54% compared with the control group, resulting in the smallest tumor weight. Lipid peroxided content in liver increased by the transplantation of sarcoma-180 cells. However, it decreased when MSF of Kimchi was treated to the mice. MSF also suppressed xanthine oxidase activity in cytosol of the liver cells in mice transplanted by sarcoma-180 cells. Kimchi extracts had no inhibitory effect on hepatic aminopyrine-N-demethylase activity in sarcoma-180 cell transplanted or normal mice. Methanol extract and hexane extract of Kimchi slightly increased hepatic glutathione contents in sarcoma-180 treated mice. The injection of MSF from Kimchi markedly increased glutathione levels in the liver of sarcoma-180 treated mice. The injection of MSF from Kimchi markedly increased glutathione levels in the liver of sarcoma-180 treated mice compared to the controls. The MSF recovered the activities of hepatic glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase that decreased by the injection of sarcoma-180 cells. These results showed that MSF of Kimchi could suppress the growth of tumors, inhibiting lipid peroxide production and xanthine oxidase activity, in mice. We also suggested that Kimchi extract might play an important role in the prevention of cancer by enhancement of the glutathione level itself as well as via glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.74-84
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the anti-fibrogenic effect of Injinchunggan-tang on cultured rat hepatic stellate cells. Materials and Methods : Hepatic stellate cells(HSC-T6) were treated with various concentrations of Injinchunggan-tang extract for 24, 48, and 72 hours. The extraction was done with distilled water. After the treatment, cell viability, proliferation, procollagen levels and the mRNA of the TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and ASMA were measured by using MTT assay. BrdU assay, procollagen type I C-peptide EIA kit and RT-PCR. Results : The proliferation, mRNA expression and synthesis of collagen of the hepatic stellate cells were inhibited by Injinchunggan-tang treatment in a dose-dependent manner. This indicates the prescription has inhibitory effect on fibrogenesis of the liver by regulating the fibrogenesis associated genes in transcription. Cell viability was inhibited in time- and dose-dependent manners. It seemed that the drug should be used with sufficient dose to acquire treatment effect. Conclusion : These results suggest that Injinchunggan-tang is beneficial in the treatment of cirrhotic patients as well as for the patients with chronic hepatitis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.194-196
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• 2006

A leiomyosarcoma that occurred in the right kidney with hepatic metastasis of a 15-year-old intact female Asian water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in a zoo, Republic of Korea. The animal showed no clinical signs. Grossly, a firm and white mass (6.0 x- 5.0- x 4.0 cm) was observed in the renal capsule and multiple firm white nodules, measuring 1.0-2.5 cm, were present on the surface of the liver. Microscopically, tumor cells were spindle-shaped, the cell density was high, and complex fasciculated tumor cells showing longitudinal and transverse cross-sections were observed. Tumor cell nuclei was ordinarily cigar shaped and had rounded blunt ends. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells reacted intensely with anti-smooth muscle actin antibody. This is the first case report of a renal leiomyosarcoma with hepatic metastasis in a Asian water buffalo.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.135-149
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• 1999

This study was concerned with assessment of dietynitrosamine (DEN) induced liver cell carcinogenesis by measurement of changes preceding the development of neoplasms. The changes of hepatic morphology in rats(Sprague-Dawley) were detected by hematoxylin-eosin stain and immunohistochemistry(PCNA). The results were as follows ; 1. Minor behavioral change, brittleness of hair and decreased amount of water and diet intake. were observed in rats 7 weeks after DEN administration. 2. Variable size of liver tumor and hepatomegaly were observed in rats treated with DEN after 10 weeks. 3. Numerous vacuoles were showed on the midzonal and or peripheral areas of hepatic lobules. The large and polymorphological hepatocytes with eosinophilic cytoplasm or densely basophilic mitotic nucleoli were showed. 4. Several proliferative small round cells were shown on vacuolated and necrotic areas in peripheral hepatic lobules or portal areas. 5. PCNA-positive cells were showed on the vacuolated portal areas and peripheral areas of hepatic lobules. Maximal positivity was 23.6% in the areas of small round cells. In conclusion, this result confirmed that the DEN was one of the potent hepatocarcinogens. In histopathological analysis, the altered foci, hyperplastic nodules, neoplastic nodules, adenomas and carcinomas were observed in liver tumors induced by administration of DEN in rats.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.154-167
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• 2023

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) associated with liver failure is accompanied by hyperammonemia, severe inflammation, depression, anxiety, and memory deficits as well as liver injury. Recent studies have focused on the liver-brain-inflammation axis to identify a therapeutic solution for patients with HE. Lipocalin-2 is an inflammation-related glycoprotein that is secreted by various organs and is involved in cellular mechanisms including iron homeostasis, glucose metabolism, cell death, neurite outgrowth, and neurogenesis. In this study, we investigated that the roles of lipocalin-2 both in the brain cortex of mice with HE and in Neuro-2a (N2A) cells. We detected elevated levels of lipocalin-2 both in the plasma and liver in a bile duct ligation mouse model of HE. We confirmed changes in cytokine expression, such as interleukin-1β, cyclooxygenase 2 expression, and iron metabolism related to gene expression through AKT-mediated signaling both in the brain cortex of mice with HE and N2A cells. Our data showed negative effects of hepatic lipocalin-2 on cell survival, iron homeostasis, and neurite outgrowth in N2A cells. Thus, we suggest that regulation of lipocalin-2 in the brain in HE may be a critical therapeutic approach to alleviate neuropathological problems focused on the liver-brain axis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.296-301
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• 2004

Previously, a flavonoid fraction, which consisted mainly of protocatechuic acid, fustin, fisetin, sulfuretin, and butein, here named RCMF $({\underline{R}}VS\;{\underline{c}}hloroform-{\underline{m}}ethanol\;{\underline{f}}raction)$, was prepared from a crude acetone extract of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) which is traditionally used as a food additive and as an herbal medicine. In this study, we evaluated the effects of RCMF on the antioxidant defense system using embryonic normal hepatic cell line (BNL CL.2) and its SV40-mediated transformed cell line (BNL SV A.8). This study demonstrates that RCMF selectively stimulated the antioxidant defense system of normal cells, as BNL CL.2 cells proved to be more sensitive to RCMF-mediated increases of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and glutathione reductase than BNL SV A.8 cells. In particular, RCMF caused a significant increase in the malonaldehyde content of BNL SV A.8 cells, which is believed to be closely associated with cytotoxicity of RCMF and RCMF-mediated growth inhibition. Collectively, our findings suggest that the flavonoid fraction, RCMF, selectively stimulates the antioxidant defense system in normal rather than hepatic tumor cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.306-311
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• 2008

Although hepatic microcirculatory dysfunction occurs during endotoxemia, the mechanism responsible for this remains unclear. Since Kupffer cells provide signals that regulate hepatic response in inflammation, this study was designed to investigate the role of Kupffer cells in the imbalance in the expression of vasoactive mediators. Endotoxemia was induced by intraperitoneal E. coli endotoxin (LPS, 1 mg/kg body weight). Kupffer cells were inactivated with gadolinium chloride ($GdCl_3$, 7.5 mg/kg body weight, intravenously) 2 days prior to LPS exposure. Liver samples were taken 6 h following LPS exposure for RT-PCR analysis of mRNA for genes of interest: endothelin (ET-1), its receptors $ET_A$ and $ET_B$, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), heme oxygenase (HO-1), and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$). mRNA levels for iNOS and TNF-$\alpha$ were significantly increased 31.8-fold and 26.7-fold in LPS-treated animals, respectively. This increase was markedly attenuated by $GdCl_3$, HO-1 expression significantly increased in LPS-treated animals, with no significant difference between saline and $GdCl_3$ groups. ET-1 was increased by LPS. mRNA levels for $ET_A$ receptor showed no change, whereas $ET_B$ transcripts increased in LPS-treated animals. The increase in $ET_B$ transcripts was potentiated by $GdCl_3$. We conclude that activation of Kupffer cells plays an important role in the imbalanced hepatic vasoregulatory gene expression induced by endotoxin.