• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.298-300
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• 2007

This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of an ethanol extract of Petasites japonicus S. et. Z. Max. (PJ) on alcohol-induced liver-damaged rats. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $100{\sim}150\;g$ were divided into 5 groups; normal diet group (NOR), alcohol (35%, 10 mL/kg/day) treated group (CON), PJ 200 mg/kg/day treated group (PJ1), PJ 200 mg/kg/day and alcohol treated group (PJ2), and PJ 400 mg/kg/day and alcohol treated group (PJ3). The growth rate of the control group was higher than that of normal group, whereas the group administered PJ concomitantly was significantly increased. Also, feed efficiency ratio decreased by alcohol administration was gradually increased to the adjacent level of the normal group by administering PJ. The AST activity in serum elevated by alcohol was significantly decreased by administering the high dosage of PJ, but exerted no significant change on serum ALT activity. It was also observed that the hepatic activities of catalase and GSH-Px increased by alcohol were markedly decreased in PJ2 and PJ3, but not in the activities of XO and SOD as compared with the control group. The depleted content of GSH by alcohol was increased to the level of normal group by administering PJ in a dose-dependant manner. In conclusion, these results suggest that PJ may have a possible protective effect on liver function in hepatotoxicity-induced rat by alcohol administration.