• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.325-335
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• 2008

The protective effects of the Naringin, on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity and the possible mechanisms involved in this protection were investigated in mice. Pretreatment with Naringin prior to the administration of $CCl_4$ significantly prevented an increase in serum alanine, aspartate aminotransferase activity and hepatic lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, pretreatment with Naringin also significantly prevented the depletion of glutathione (GSH) content in the livers of $CCl_4$-induced mice. However, reduced hepatic glutathione levels was unaffected by treatment with Naringin alone. In addition, Naringin prevented $CCl_4$-induced apoptosis and necrosis, as indicated by a liver DNA laddering. To determine whether caspase-8,-3 pathway involved in $CCl_4$-induced acute liver injury, caspase-8, -3 activities were tested by ELISA. Naringin attenuated $CCl_4$induced caspase-8, -3 activities in mouse livers. $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity was also prevented, as indicated by a liver histopathologic study. The effects of Naringin on the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2E1, the major isozyme involved in $CCl_4$ were also investigated. Treatment of mice with Naringin resulted in a significant decrease of the CYP2E1-dependent hydroxyl at ion and aniline in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that protective effects of Naringin against the $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity may be due to its ability to block CYP2E1-mediated $CCl_4$ bioactivation and that is also protects against caspase-8, -3 pathway mediated apoptosis.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2007

The root of Rosa rugosa has been used in folkloric medicine as a treatment agent for diabetes. In the present study, we investigated whether (+)-catechin isolated from this plant can change the activities of hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes in rats treated with bromobenzene. Pretreatment with (+)-catechin gave no effects on the activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase, enzymes forming toxic bromobenzene epoxide intermediates and glutathione Stransferase, an enzyme removing toxic epoxides. However, the activity of epoxide hydrolase, an enzyme detoxifying the bromobenzene toxic intermediates was mildly recovered by (+)-catechin treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1381-1387
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• 2013

The leaves and roots of Ligularia stenocephala, which are widely used as a food in Korea, were investigated for their antioxidant activities and cytotoxicity in vitro, and their hepatoprotective effect, alcohol detoxicant efficacy, and memory-enhancing property were investigated in vivo. The unique odor of the leaves was analyzed by GC-MS. Lipid peroxidation, superoxide anion formation, and DPPH radicals were inhibited remarkably by the extracts of the leaves and roots. The leaves of this edible plant significantly protected the hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride and further diminished the blood alcohol content in mice. While the roots of this plant exhibited adequate cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines, especially against melanoma, the leaves revealed relatively weak activity. Both the leaves and the roots exerted an excellent ameliorating property on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in the passive avoidance task using an animal model. The hexane fraction of the leaves was analyzed by GC-MS, suggesting that a series of terpenoids may be odorous compounds in this plant.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.106-110
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• 2004

The antioxidant activities of Acanthopanax senticosus stems were evaluated in $CCl_4$-intoxicated rats. The n-butanol fraction from the water extract of the stems, when pretreated orally at 200 mg/kg/day for 7 consecutive days in rats, was demonstrated to exhibit significant increases in antioxidant enzyme activities such as hepatic cytosolic superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase by 30.31, 19.82 and 155%, respectively. The n-butanol fraction whereas showed a significant inhibition of serum GPT activity (65.79% inhibition) elevated with hepatic damage induced by $CCl_4$-intoxication. Eleutheroside B, a lignan component, isolated from the n-butanol fraction was found to cause a moderate free radical scavenging effection DPPH, its scavenging potency as indicated in $IC_{50}$ value, being 58.5$\mu$ M. These results suggested that the stems of A. senticosus possess not only antioxidant but also hepatoprotective activities.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.16-27
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• 2019

Generative and vegetative parts of the cactuses have had a long-lasting position in folk medicine and their effects could partly be confirmed in scientific experiments. Nowadays, the cactus, fruits, and cladodes are the focus of many studies because of their desirable properties. Therefore, the summarized reports of valuable properties of medicinal plants may be a good way to familiarize researches with a new source of drugs with lower side effects and higher efficacy. Opuntia dillenii, a well-known member of the Cactaceae family, is used as a medicinal plant in various countries and grows in the desert, semi-desert, tropical and sub-tropical areas. It shows diverse pharmacological activities such as: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, hypotensive etc. OD fruit also possesses valuable constitutes for instance: betalains, ascorbic acid, total phenol, protein as well as essential elements which suggest the significant potential of this plant as a complementary therapy against several pathological conditions. This review describes experimental evidence about pharmacological and therapeutic potential of OD in order to give the basis of its application in the prevention and treatment of some chronic diseases. More studies on OD can help better understanding of its pharmacological mechanism of action to explain its traditional uses and to identify its potential new therapeutic applications.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of the bark extract (Ethanol: Water) in the ratio of (3:1) of Rhizophora mucronata (BERM) by intoxicating the $HepG_2$ cell lines with different toxicants viz, $CCL_4$, Ethanol and Paracetamol with different concentrations of the extract were used. The $HepG_2$ cell lines were subjected to MTT Assay for studying the cytotoxicity. Methods: $HepG_2$ cells were plated using 96 well plate in 10% bovine serum, exposed to different toxicants viz, 2% $CCl_4$, 60% Ethanol and 14 mM Paracetamol respectively. The various test concentrations (18.85, 37.5, 75, 150 and $300{\mu}g/ml$) of bark extract of Rhizophora mucronata was added and incubated for 24 hours. Medium was removed after incubation period and 0.5 mg/ml MTT(3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) was added and again incubated for 4 hours at 37oC. Then MTT was removed the crystals was dissolved in DMSO and absorbance was measured at 570 nm. Results: The result showed that dose dependent increase in percentage of viability at the doses of 18.85, 37.5, 75, 150, $300{\mu}g/ml$. Te results for the $CCl_4$ intoxicated, at $300{\mu}g/ml$ of the concentration of the extract, the % of viable cells was found out to be 99.6%, for Ethanol intoxicated, 97.67%, and Paracetamol induced, 75.37%, IC50 was $21.53{\mu}g/ml$, $12.61{\mu}g/ml$ and $21.42{\mu}g/ml$ respectively. Conclusion: Thus, we conclude that, the extract possesses defensive effect against different toxicants and can be used as an alternate drug for hepatotoxicity.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.122-122
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• 2019

Protaetia brevitarsis (PB) extracts has been traditionally used as medicinal stuff to treat blood stasis, occlusion of menstruation, tetanus and liver cancer in Asian countries (Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, India and Myanmar). Especially, Donguibogam, which is traditional korean medicinal book, described the PB extracts as traditional medicine to treat hepatic diseases and vascular disorders. The PB extracts has been considered as highly nutritional food. The major constituents of PB extracts are rich in protein, healthy fats, iron, calcium. Recent studies announced that PB extracts has hepatoprotective effect and anti-microbacterial effect. However, the effect of PB on ulcerative colitis has not been uncovered yet. The aim of this study was to examine the anti-inflammatory effect of PB extracts in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice model. Cytotoxicity of PB was determined by MTT assay and the antiinflammatory effect of PB extract was investigated by measuring nitric oxide (NO) production. PB extracts did not show any cytotoxicity. AIso, PB extracts supressed NO production in LPS-stimulated mice peritoneal macrophages. To determine whether PB could be an effective treatment on ulcerative colitis, DSS was administered in BALB/c mice for 10 days. PB extract significantly improved the clinical signs of DSS-induced UC, including body weight loss, colon length shortening, and disease activity index increase, with histological markers of colon injury. These findings indicated the possibility of PB as a therapeutic agent on ulcerative colitis.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.389-395
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• 2019

This study investigated the pharmaceutical extraction and the functional health food extraction, which have a beneficial effect on the human body and which can be used safely for a long period of time without adverse side effects and also have excellent effects of protecting liver and improving liver function. As the results, the cabbage extract does not show cytotoxicity, and thus can be used safely. In an experiment performed on an animal model with liver injury induced by a drug (APAP), it could be seen that the cabbage extract exhibited the effects of protecting liver and improving liver function by effectively reducing AST and ALT which are liver injury markers, indicating that the cabbage extract is effective as a pharmaceutical extraction for preventing or treating liver disease. In particular, the cabbage extract was effective in treating inflammation of the liver by reducing the expression of the inflammatory mediators iNOS and COX-2 and the proinflammatory cytokine $IL-1{\beta}$, which are involved in acute inflammatory reactions accompanying liver injury. In the results, an extract of cabbage heat-treated at a temperature of 100 to $150^{\circ}C$ had a better liver function-improving effect or anti-inflammatory effect than an extract of raw cabbage.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.538-551
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• 2023

Exposure to environmental pollutants such as carbon tetrachloride (CCL₄) causes liver damage. This study aimed to compare the ameliorative activity of the dates flesh extract (DFE) and selenium-nanoparticles (SeNPs) on CCL₄-induced hepatotoxicity and if DFE could be a useful alternative supplement. Twenty-four male albino rats were enrolled and randomly divided into four equal groups (6 rats in each group): control group received only basal diet with no medications. Group II received CCL₄ in a dose of 0.5 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection twice weekly for four weeks. Group III rats were pretreated with SeNPs in a dose of 2.5 mg/kg once a day orally three times/wk for four weeks alone then combined with the previously described dose of CCL₄ for another four weeks. Group IV rats were pretreated with DFE in a dose of 8 ml of the aqueous extract/kg/d orally for four weeks alone then combined with the previously described dose of CCL₄ for another four weeks. The liver damage was assessed by estimation of plasma concentration of albumin and enzymes activities of alanine aminotransferase and tissue genes expression. Liver oxidation levels were assessed by measuring the tissue concentration of the malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and the total glutathione. Additionally, inflammatory mediators tumour necrosis factor--α and interleukin-6 were estimated. Detecting the liver's cellular structural damage was done by histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. This study suggests that CCL₄-induced liver damage in rats can be protected by administration whether the costly SeNPs or the economical DFE.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.838-845
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• 2024

Excessive alcohol consumption can have serious negative consequences on health, including addiction, liver damage, and other long-term effects. The causes of hangovers include dehydration, alcohol and alcohol metabolite toxicity, and nutrient deficiency due to absorption disorders. Additionally, alcohol consumption can slow reaction times, making it more difficult to rapidly respond to situations that require quick thinking. Exposure to a large amount of ethanol can also negatively affect a person's righting reflex and balance. In this study, we evaluated the potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to alleviate alcohol-induced effects and behavioral responses. Two LAB strains isolated from kimchi, Levilactobacillus brevis WiKim0168 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides WiKim0172, were selected for their ethanol tolerance and potential to alleviate hangover symptoms. Enzyme activity assays for alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) were then conducted to evaluate the role of these bacteria in alcohol metabolism. Through in vitro and in vivo studies, these strains were assessed for their ability to reduce blood alcohol concentrations and protect against alcohol-induced liver damage. The results indicated that these LAB strains possess significant ethanol tolerance and elevate ADH and ALDH activities. LAB administration remarkably reduced blood alcohol levels in rats after excessive alcohol consumption. Moreover, the LAB strains showed hepatoprotective effects and enhanced behavioral outcomes, highlighting their potential as probiotics for counteracting the adverse effects of alcohol consumption. These findings support the development of functional foods incorporating LAB strains that can mediate behavioral improvements following alcohol intake.