• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.194-200
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• 2013

Korean red ginseng (KRG) is prepared by the process of steaming the roots of Panax ginseng. In this study, the feeding effects of KRG-water extract (KRGE) on ethanol-induced liver damage were elucidated by measuring serum biomarkers in rats. Serum ${\gamma}$-glutamyltranspeptidase (g-GT) activity and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly increased by short-term and long-term ethanol treatment in rats, whereas the activities of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) did not respond. Pretreatment with KRGE maintained the activity of serum GPT, and the MDA concentration induced by short-term ethanol ingestion remained within the normal range. However, co-feeding of KRGE to rats decreased the concentration of MDA but failed to modulate the serum ${\gamma}$-GT activity induced by long-term ethanol treatment. Our studies suggest that in rats, it appears that KRGE does not sufficiently reverse the physiological response evoked by long-term ethanol ingestion to maintain normal conditions, in view of the serum biomarker ${\gamma}$-GT, regardless of KRGE's favorable antioxidant activity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.177-182
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• 2002

It is considered that herbal medicine may also have hepatotoxicity and Aconiti Radix Lateralis Preparata is thought to be the most poisonous. We investigated the changes of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and ${\gamma}-glutamyltranspeptidase{\;}({\gamma}-GT$)$ in 6 cases administrated herbal medicine containing Aconiti Radix Lateralis Preparata and tried to evaluate its influence on liver enzymes. Before administration, the mean values of AST and ALT were $30.5{\pm}12.4${\;}U/L{\;}and{\;}30.7{\pm}22.5{\;}U/L$. After administration, those of AST, ALT and ${\gamma}-GT{\;}were{\;}25.7{\pm}8.7 {\;}U/L,{\;}28{\pm}14.8{\;}U/L{\;}and{\;}34.3{\pm}19.4{\;}U/L$ respectively. Therefore, it is indirectly assured that herbal medicine containing Aconiti Radix Lateralis Preparata didn't influence liver enzymes such as AST, ALT, ${\gamma}-GT$.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 1991

Clinical signs, serum chemical values and histological findings of hepatic tissue after partial and complete obstruction of common bile duct in Korean goats were investigated. Abnormal clinical signs were not observed in partial obstruction of common bile duct, but in complete obstruction clinical signs such as jaundice, urine color change, were observed. Serum total bilirubin, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, gamma glutamyltranspeptidase, and total protein values increased on the 1-4th day and then gradually decreased to normal level in partial obstruction. However, they tend to increase persistently by the 24th day in complete obstruction of common bileduct. Histologic features of hepatic tissue in partial obstruction were not changed as compared with normal hepatic tissue. On the other hand, in complete obstruction of common bite duct there were moderate bile duct proliferation in a portal area, rupture of bile canaliculi, phagocytosis of bile pigment by Kupffer cells, periportal fibrosis, intrahepatic bile stasis and hepatic cell necrosis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.178-181
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• 2004

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) is used extensively in the plastic industry and has been known as an environmental hormone (endocrine disruptor). Present study was undertaken to examine whether DBP can induce oxidative stress in mice. In this study, oxidative stress was measured in terms of the modification of lipid peroxidation and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (${\gamma}-GT$) activity. The activity of ${\gamma}-GT$, the level of lipid peroxidation and serum toxicity index were measured in male ICR mice after treatment with DBP (5 g/kg, po). Administration of DBP was found to significantly increase the level of lipid peroxidation approximately 2 fold in liver. The activity of ${\gamma}-GT$ in the liver of DBP-exposed animals was also increased approximately 2.5 fold. However, DBP did not alter the parameters for hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatinine. These results indicate that DBP can induce oxidative stress in mice. The ${\gamma}-GT$ activity is considered to be increased as one of the adaptive defense mechanisms to oxidative stress induced by DBP.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.516-525
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• 1999

Hedera rhombea (HR) has been used for treatments of hemorrage, chronic catarrh, jaundice, lithisis and convulsion. This study was done to isolate active compounds that have protective effect on liver damage. BuOH and EtOAc fractions of HR recovered serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and ${\gamma}-glutamyltranspeptidase$ (${\gamma}-GTP$) activities in CCl4 treated rats. We isolated 7 phenolic compounds from BuOH and EtOAc fractions, which were identified as 3-caffeoyl quinic acid, 3,4-di-O-caffeoyl quinic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoyl quinic acid, 4,5-di-O-caffeoyl quinic acid, caffeic acid, methyl 3,4-di-O-caffeoyl quinic acid and methyl 3,5-di-O-caffeoyl quinic acid by chemical and spectral analysis. These compounds reduced significantly serum GOT and GPT elevated by CCl4 treatment in rats, and 3-caffeoyl quinic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoyl quinic acid and caffeic acid also showed mild inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.313-325
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• 1996

Experiments were undertaken to examine the ability of selenium to protect against alcohol and/or paraquat-induced hepatotoxicity and to examine the additive effect between alcohol and paraquat. Protective effect against hepatotoxic functions was measured in serum from alcohol(15% v/v), paraquat(200ppm), alcohol and paraquat, and combination of sodium selenite(4ppm) in drinking water-fed guinea pigs ad libitum for 4 weeks. A total of 68 healthy 7-weeks-old male animals were assigned at random to 8 treatment groups(9~13 animals/group). Body and liver weight losses, and high serum concentrations in aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT, in only paraquat group), $\gamma$-glutamyltranspeptidase($\gamma$-GTP), cholesterol(Cho), creatinine, blood urea nitrogen(BUN), total bilirubin(TB), direct bilirubin(DB), total protein(TP), albumin and globulin as well as low values in alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and glucose were produced in a groups of alcohol or paraquat-fed. These values were not potentiated in a group given the combination of alcohol plus paraquat. Morphological changes in the liver were also observed in the alcohol or paraquat-fed group. Lipid droplet and cell swelling in the hepatocytes were observed in alcohol-fed guinea pig, especially Mallory's hyaline arounded hepatic vein. In the paraquat-fed guinea pig, lipid droplet, pyknosis and karyolysis were observed. When alcohol or paraquat was combined with selenium-fed, hyperplasia of Kupffer cell in liver were observed. However, the mean ALT, $\gamma$-GTP, Cho, BUN, TB, TP, albumin and globulin values were lower in groups given the combination of alcohol and/or paraquat plus selenium, compared with groups given alcohol and/or paraquat. Also, the ratio of liver weight to body weight and ALP values(exception of paraquat plus selenium group) were increased by selenium. These results suggest that an adequate selenium confers marked protection against alcohol and paraquat-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.276-282
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• 2012

High-intensive endurance exercises induce cell changes in body, changes in structures and functions of the heart, the muscles, the cartilages, and the liver, as well as increase of inflammatory cytokine. The purpose of this study was to estimate the biochemical changes in the liver and muscles during ultra-marathon race (100 km) by sections. The blood of the subjects was collected before the marathon as a control in order to analyze serum creatine kinase (CK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), asprtate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total(T)-bilirubin, direct(D)-bilirubin, total protein, albumin, uric acid, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (${\gamma}$-GTP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentrations. The CK, LDH, D-bilirubin, AST and ALT concentrations at 50 km and 100 km were significantly increased compared to the control (P<0.05). The markers at 100 km were higher than those at 50 km (P<0.05). The T-bilirubin and hs-CRP concentrations showed no difference among the groups, whereas the markers at 100 km were higher than those of the control and at 50 km (P<0.05). In conclusion, this study shows that the ultra-marathon race (100 km) may induce the damage of the skeletal muscle, liver and kidney, intravascular hemolysis and inflammatory responses.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the effects of liquid culture of Agaricus blazei Murill on the weight gains, food efficiency ratios, serum protein and mineral levels, and serum enzyme activities in growing male rats. Sprague-Dawley rats (7 weeks old) were given four different types of diets for a succeeding period of 6 weeks, respectively: a normal diet group, a control diet group (normal diet + 15％ lard + 0.5％ cholesterol), a 30％ or 40％ A. blazei diet groups (control diet + 30％ or 40％ A. blazei in water) according to the levels of A. blazei supplementation. The body weight gains, food efficiency ratios, and the liver of the rats fed control diet, 30％ or 40％ A. blazei diets were significantly increased compared to rats fed the normal diet, but those of rats fed the 30％ and 40％ A. blazei diets were similar to those of rats fed the control diet. The concentrations of total protein, albumin, glucose, and hematocrit value in serum of rats fed the control diet, 30％ or 40％ A. blazei diets were similar to those of rats fed the normal diet. The concentrations of urea and creatinine in serum of rats fed the 30％ or 40％ A. blazei diets were similar to those of rats fed the control diet. but the urea of rats fed the 30％ and 40％ A. blazei diets were significantly decreased compared to rats fed the normal diet. The concentrations of Ca, P, Fe and Mg, and $Ca^{++}$, $K^+$, $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ of rats fed the control diet, 30％ or 40％ A. blazei diets were similar to those of rats fed the normal diet. There were no differences in the activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, $\gamma$-glutamyltranspeptidase and alkaline phosphatase in the serum among the experimental groups. In conclusion, the rats fed the A. blazei maintained normal protein and mineral levels, and enzyme activities of serum. But the A. blazei feeding could not decrease the body and liver weights in the rats fed high cholesterol diets.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2009

Although alcohol drinking may cause fatty liver to induce hepatocytic injury, other factors lead to it. We designed this study to investigate the differences in serum iron, cardiac, and biochemical indices in men with fatty liver and the difference between alcohol drinkers (Alcohol group) and non-drinkers (Non-alcohol group). The alcohol group had higher body indices than the non-alcohol group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and right and left intraocular pressure in the alcohol group were higher than those in the non-alcohol group. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and monocyte counts were higher in the alcohol group than in the non-alcohol group. Alanine aminotransferase, ${\gamma}$-glutamyltranspeptidase, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, creatinine, uric acid, iron, total iron binding capacity, and ferritin levels in the alcohol group were greater than those in the non-alcohol group. The present data reveals that alcohol-induced fatty liver has more elevated level of iron indices than in non-alcohol fatty liver as well as biochemical and cardiac indices, indicating that alcohol- induced fatty liver may cause possibility of adult diseases including cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.295-305
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• 2021

Purpose: Hepcidin levels have previously been reported to be correlated with liver damage. However, the association between hepcidin levels and liver fibrosis in children with fatty liver disease remains unclear. This study therefore aimed to investigate the pathophysiology of fibrosis in children with fatty liver disease and its association with hepcidin levels. Methods: This retrospective case series included 12 boys aged 6-17 years who were diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) at the Tokyo Medical University Hospital. Sixteen liver biopsy samples from 12 subjects were analyzed. Serum hepcidin levels were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunostaining for hepcidin was performed, and the samples were stratified by staining intensity. Results: Serum hepcidin levels were higher in pediatric NAFLD/NASH patients than in controls. Conversely, a significant inverse correlation was observed between hepcidin immunostaining and Brunt grade scores and between hepcidin scores and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, hyaluronic acid, and leukocyte levels. We observed inverse correlations with a high correlation coefficient of >0.4 between hepcidin immunostaining and aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bile acid, and platelet count. Conclusion: There was a significant inverse correlation between hepcidin immunoreactivity and fibrosis in pediatric NAFLD patients; however, serum hepcidin levels were significantly higher, suggesting that these patients experienced a reduction in the hepcidin-producing ability of the liver in response to iron levels, leading to subsequent fibrosis. Therefore, hepcidin levels can be used as markers to identify the progression of fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.