• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.197-207
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• 2006

Cajanus indicus is a herb with medicinal properties and is traditionally used to treat various forms of liver disorders. Present study aimed to evaluate the effect of a 43 kD protein isolated from the leaves of this herb against chloroform induced hepatotoxicity. Male albino mice were intraperitoneally treated with 2mg/kg body weight of the protein for 5 days followed by oral application of chloroform (0.75ml/kg body weight) for 2 days. Different biochemical parameters related to physiology and pathophysiology of liver, such as, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase were determined in the murine sera under various experimental conditions. Direct antioxidant role of the protein was also determined from its reaction with Diphenyl picryl hydraxyl radical, superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide. To find out the mode of action of this protein against chloroform induced liver damage, levels of antioxidant enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase were measured from liver homogenates. Peroxidation of membrane lipids both in vivo and in vitro were also measured as malonaldialdehyde. Finally, histopathological analyses were done from liver sections of control, toxin treated and protein pre- and post-treated (along with the toxin) mice. Levels of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase, which showed an elevation in chloroform induced hepatic damage, were brought down near to the normal levels with the protein pretreatment. On the contrary, the levels of anti-oxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase that had gone down in mice orally fed with chloroform were significantly elevated in protein pretreated ones. Besides, chloroform induced lipid peroxidation was effectively reduced by protein treatment both in vivo and in vitro. In cell free system the protein effectively quenched diphenyl picryl hydrazyl radical and superoxide radical, though it could not catalyse the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide. Post treatment with the protein for 3 days after 2 days of chloroform administration showed similar results. Histopathological studies indicated that chloroform induced extensive tissue damage was less severe in the mice livers treated with the 43 kD protein prior and post to the toxin administration. Results from all these data suggest that the protein possesses both preventive and curative role against chloroform induced hepatotoxicity and probably acts by an anti-oxidative defense mechanism.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.1244-1250
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• 2008

This study was carried out investigate the effects of chungkukjang added with onion (OC) and chungkukjang (C) on the lipid and antioxidant metabolisms of hypercholesterolemic rats. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups after 1-week adaptation period and were fed a normal diet, high fat-cholesterol diet (HC), HC-OC or HC-C for 8 weeks, respectively. The supplementation of HC-OC and HC-C groups significantly reduced hepatic total cholesterol and AST activity. HC-C group increased high density lipoprotein, while decreasing low density lipoprotein and AI compared with HC-OC group. Conjugated dienes of HC-C group was significantly lower than those of HC-OC group. $H_2O_2$ induced DNA damage reduced significantly in HC-OC and HC-C groups compared with high fat-cholesterol diet group. $H_2O_2$ induced DNA damage exhibited significant positive correlations with hepatic total cholesterol, AST and CD. These results suggested that supplementation of chungkukjang or chungkukjang added with onion might be helpful in preventing lipid oxidation and leukocytic DNA damage. However, the health beneficial effect has not improved by the addtion of onion in chungkukjang.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.275-285
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• 2010

This study was designed to evaluated the nitrite scavenging activity and protective effect of the Puerariae Radix and green tea extract on lead acetate and cadmium-induced liver damage in mice. The quantitative analytical method for major antioxidants, isoflavones, puerarin, catechine and caffeine in galgun (Puerariae Radix) and green tera extract were established by HPLC. Contents of isoflavones, such as daidzin, genistin, daidzein and genistein were 4.23g/100g, 0.13g/100g, 0.07g/100g, and 0.03g/100g, and puerarin contents was 8.99g/100g, respectively. The total catechins and caffeine contents of green tea extract were 49.24g/100g and 6.53g/100g. The nitrite scavenging ability of galgun extract (pH 1.2, 100mg/ml) was 98.07% and it was higher than those of other extracts. It was the highest at the pH 1.2 and more than 64% in 25~100mg green tea extract, and was dependents on pH and concentration of the samples. The hepatoprotective effects of an aqueous extract from the root of gal gun and standard puerarin were evaluated against lead acetate and cadmium-induced liver damage in mice. Galgun extract and standard at a dose of 100mg/kg and 10mg/kg, 50mg/kg were administered orally once daily for successive 5 days and then a lead acetate and cadmium were orally at 3 hrs after the every day administration of galgun. The substantially elevated serum enzymatic activities of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase were due to lead acetate and cadmium treatment was dose dependently restored to the near normal level. In addition, galgun extract also significantly prevented the elevation of hepatic malon-dialdehyde formation in the liver of lead acetate and cadmium intoxicated mice in a dose-dependent manner. The results of this study clearly indicated that green tea and galgun extracts had nitrite scavenging ability and galgun extract had potent hepato-protective effects against lead acetate and cadmium-induced hepatic damage in mice and standard puerarin was also showed similar to the results of the galgun extracts.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 2002

Jaboyangyeong-hwan (IAE) has been known as a traditional medicine for the treatment of debility, fatigue, and liver diseases. The hepatoprotective effect of the water extract of Jaboyangyeong-hwan was investigated against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatic damage. A single intraperitoneal injection of $CCl_4$produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the significant rise of aspartate aminotransferase (AST, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum as compared to those of untreated normal group. Pretreatments of rats with the JAE extract (300, 600, and 1200 mg/kg for 7 days) were significantly reduced AST, ALT, and ALP levels compared with $CCl_4$-treated control group. Treatment of rats with $CCl_4$led to significantly increase in lipid peroxidation and significantly decrease in cytochrome P450 and P450 reductase. The oral administration of the JAE extract significantly inhibited the accumulation of microsomal thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and increased the cytochrome P450 and P450 reductase activity. All these biochemical alterations resulting from $CCl_4$administration were inhibited by the pretreatment with JAE extract. These results suggest that JAE water extract can be useful as a hepatoprotective agent.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.965-972
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• 2004

In the present study, it is observed that Monascus diet may have a hepatoprotective effect on the liver damage induced by bromobenzene in rats. By treatment with bromobenzene (400 mg/kg, i.p.) once a day for 3 consecutive days, the liver damage was reduced in rats fed 2% Monascus diet, based on the liver functional and histopathological findings. Furthermore, retreatment of bromobenzene to the animals with damaged liver showed higher decreasing rate of hepatic glutathione content and increasing rate of cytochrome P450 dependent aniline hydroxylase activity at 4 h in rats fed 2% Monascus diet than those fed STD diet, and V$_{max}$ in glutathione S-transferase was higher in liver of rats fed 2% Monascus diet than those fed STD diet. On the other hand, activities of antioxidant enzymes such as hepatic glutathione S-transferase, catalase and superoxide dismutase were generally higher both in bromobenzene and 2% Monascus diet treated group than those fed STD diet. In conclusion, the rats fed 2% Monascus diet showed lower liver damage than those fed STD diet, which may be due to the acceleration of bromobenzene metabolism and detoxication of oxygen free radicals.s.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2010

The present study was aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of ethanol extract from Monochoria vaginalis (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg B/W) on acetaminophen (APAP) induced rat hepatic injury. Monochoria vaginalis is a traditional medicinal plant that is commonly used to treat and improve liver conditions in India and other Asian countries. The development of hepatotoxicity induced by APAP is promoted by oxidative stress. APAP treated group significantly (P < 0.01) elevated the serum enzymatic levels like glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase (SALP), total bilirubin and malondialdehyde (MDA), which were restored towards normalization significantly (P < 0.01) thanol extract of yonochoria vagin is (EEMV). In addition, the EEMV significantly (P < 0.01) elevated the decreased level of total protein and antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-s-transferase and reduced glutathione. Apart from these, histopathological changes also showed the protective nature of the EEMV against APAP induced hepatic damage in liver tissues. The activity of EEMV at 500 mg/kg B/W was comparable to the standard drug silymarin (25 mg/kg B/W). In conclusion, these data suggest that the EEMV possess hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2004

Liver and serum $\beta$-D-mannosidase activities were determined in ethanol intoxicated rats with extrahepatic cholestasis induced by common bile duct ligation (CBD) to manifest the biochemical background of alcohol drinking hazard under the hepatobiliary disease. Liver $\beta$-D-mannosidase activity and its Vmax value in CBD ligated rats with chronic ethanol intoxication were found to be significantly decreased than that in CBD ligation alone. However, the difference of Km value on above hepatic enzyme was not found between the experimental groups. On the other hand, serum $\beta$-D-mannosidase activity in CBD ligated rats with chronic ethanol intoxication was increased more than that in CBD ligation alone. These results indicate that the biosynthesis of the hepatic $\beta$-D-mannosidase decreases and the serum $\beta$-D-mannosidase activity increases in cholestasis combined with chronic ehtanol intoxication, reflecting damage of aggravated hapatocytic membrane. Accordingly, the resulting data supported the fact that alcoholic drinks were enzymologically harmful to the hepatobiliary disease.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.81-91
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• 2004

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effect of Chungganhaeju-Tang on alcohol induced human hepatic cell apoptosis by synthesis of glutathione. Methods : The amount of glutathione in HepG2 cell was measured with colorimetric glutathione assay kit and glutathione-conjugated CDNB(1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene) at $37^{\circ}C$ and then measured by spectrometry to assess the activity of glutathione S-transferase. Results : The synthesis of glutathione and the activity of glutathione S-transferase in HepG2 cell were promoted by Chungganhaeju-Tang and increased in dose/time-dependent manner. Chungganhaeju-Tang inhibited apoptosis induced by ethanol and acetaldehyde dependent to treatment dosage. In Buthione sulfoximine, a glutathione synthesis inhibitor, treated case, the synthesis of glutathione was inhibited and in Chungganhaeju-Tang treated case, the synthesis of glutathione is promoted with or without Buthione sulfoximine. The present findings suggest that Chungganhaeju-Tang inhibits alcohol induced apoptosis by synthesis of glutathione in HepG2 cell. Conclusions : The result indicates that Chungganhaeju-Tang protects human hepatic cell by glutathione synthesis and made the liver recover from alcohol induced damage.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.279-285
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary grape skin on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system in rats fed high fat diet. The Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either control (5% fat) diet or high fat (25% fat) diet which was based on AIN-93 diet for 2 weeks, and then they were grouped as control group (C), control + 5% grape skin group (CS), high-fat group (HF), high fat + 5% grape skin group (HFS) with 10 rats each and fed corresponding diets for 4 weeks. The hepatic thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) were increased in high fat group as compared with control group, but reduced by grape skin. The serum total antioxidant status, and activities of hepatic catalase and superoxide dismutase, xanthine oxidase and glucose-6-phosphatase were increased by supplementation of grape skin. Glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly higher in CS group than in C group. Grape skin feeding tended to increase the concentration of total glutathione, especially in control group. The ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione was lower in high fat groups than in control groups. The ratio was increased by dietary supplementation of grape skin in control group. These results suggest that dietary supplementation of grape skin would be effective on protection of oxidative damage by lipid peroxidation through improvement of antioxidant defense system in rats fed high fat diet as well as rats with low fat diet.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.135-146
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• 2003

Objectives : Wolguk-whan has been used as a prescription of natural drug for the treatment of stress digestive system disease. Recently, we reported that Wolguk-whan methnol extract (WGWM) exerted a significant protective effect against oxidative damage to the liver of ICR mice. This study was purposed to investigate the effects of Wolguk-whan water extract (WGWW) on liver injury induced by oxidative stress. Methods : In order to investigate the effects of WGWW on acute liver injury, ICR mice were pretreated with WGWW for 6days, starved for 24hrs, and administerated acetamirtophen(500mg/kg, i.p.). In the liver homogenates, lipid peroxide and glutathione(GSH) levels were measured. In addition, activities of hepatic enzyme, such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), glutathione S-transferase(GST) were measured in the hepatic mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions. Results : In vivo administeration of WGWW showed effective inhibition of acetaminophen induced lipid peroxidation, and showed elevations of GSH level, catalase, GSH-Px, GST activities. Conclusions : These results suggested that WGWW might suppress the formation of oxidative metabolites, and prevent acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity.