• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.198-207
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• 1999

The aim of the present investigation was to examine whether YH439, a hepatoprotective agent, exerts protective effect against hepatotoxicity and reduces the production of cytokines and NO in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-primed rats with carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$). Administration of LPS following a single dose of CCl4 injection resulted in remarkable elevations of the serum $TNF{\alpha},{\;}IL-l{\beta$ and IL-6 level. The serum NO level was moderately elevated and severe liver damage was evidenced by increases in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) activities. YH439 decreased the levels of TNF, $IL-l{\beta}$, IL-6, ALT, SDH as well as NO in the serum elevated by CCl4+LPS in a dose-dependent manner. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) level was decreased in the liver of rats treated with YH439. The increased iNOS activity induced by LPS and $interferon-{\gamma}$ was significantly decreased in RAW 264.7 cells by YH439 treatment. YH439 increased the GSH level decreased by $CCl_4+LPS$ and suppressed the ratio of GSSG/GSH. The reduction of hepatotoxicity by YH439 may associated with the decrease in the production of cytokines as well as suppression of iNOS protein in conjunction with an increase in the GSH level.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2010

Culinary herbs and spices have received much attention since they contain high concentrations of bioactive ingredients for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Protection effect of the herb and spice against acute alcohol consumption has been investigated using zebrafish as a vertebrate model. During 30 days bathed in water containing 1% Et-OH and the designated herb or spice, the survival rate of the Et-OH group was decreased sharply (up to 20% at 10 days). The cinnamon-fed group showed the highest and longer survival rate up to 80% up to for 30 days under the presence of Et-OH, while clove-fed group showed 40% survival rate for 25 days. Et-OH group serum exhibited the weakest antioxidant ability from ferric ion removal ability (FRA) assay; FRA ability was increased in the cinnamon-fed group up to 414%, while the clove and laurel group increased 256% and 309%, respectively. Histologic observation and Oil-red O staining showed hepatic tissue damage was severe in the Et-OH group. The cinnamon- or clove-fed group showed much ameliorated hepatic tissue morphology with minimized steatosis. The cinnamon- or clove-fed group showed lower serum GOT and GPT levels than the Et-OH group. Among hepatic tissue extract, the clove-fed group exhibited the lowest level of GOT and GPT. These results suggest that consumption of cinnamon and clove might be beneficial to attenuate progress of acute fatty liver change by alcohol consumption.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.338-344
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• 1994

This study was carried out to investigate the antifibrotic effects of polysaccharides extracted from Garnoderma lucidum. The biliary cirrhosis was induced by bile duct ligation/scission (BDL/S) in rats. BDL/S rats were dosed 5 mg/rat/day orally for 4 weeks after the operation. Antifibrotic effects were evaluated by serum biochemical values, serum procollagen type III peptide (PIIINP) levels, liver hydroxyproline contents, and light microscopical histology. The results obtained were as follows; 1) PIIINP levels in sera of treated BDL/S group were lowered to 50% of those of untreated BDL/S group. 2) Hydroxyproline contents in the liver of treated BDL/S group were also reduced to 83% of those of untreated BDL/S rats. 3) The hepatic damage such as hepatocellular necrosis, inflammation, bile duct proliferation and fibrosis was less severe in the livers of treated rats. These results suggest polysaccharides extracted from Garnoderma lucidum to be a promising agent for the inhibition of hepatic cirrhosis(fibrosis).

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.220-224
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• 1997

This study was carried out to investigate the dose dependent antifibrotic effects of polysaccharide from mycelium of Ganoderma lucidum. The experimental hepatic cirrhosis was induced by bile duct ligation/scission (BDL/S) in rats. BDL/S rats in each group were dosed 0.5 mg, 2.0 mg, 5.0 mg or 10.O mg/rat/day orally for 4 weeks after the operation. Antifibrotic effects were evaluated by serum biochemical values, hydroxyproline contents, and light microscopical histology. The results obtained were as follows: 1) Hydroxyproline contents in liver of 5.0 and 10.0mg polysaccharide-treated BDL/S rats were significantly reduced 2) In serum test, ALT, AST, ALP values in polysaccharide from Ganoderma lucidum-treated group were lower than BDL/S control group 3) The hepatic damage such as hepatocellular necrosis, inflammation, bile duct proliferation and fibrosis was less severe in the livers of 2.0 mg and 5.0 mg polysaccharide-treated rats. These results suggest that polysaccharide from mycelium of Ganoderma lucidum to be a promising agent for the inhibition of hepatic cirrhosis.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.577-585
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• 1998

Cadmium is an important industrial and environmental pollutant and has adverse effects on cell growth and metabolism, although the mechanisms of its cellular toxicity are still unclear. This study was performed to elucidate the cytotoxic mechanism of cadmium in the viewpoint of oxidative stress and cytoskeleton alterations in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells. 200 $\mu\textrm{M}$ $CdCl_2$ caused a severe disassembling of microtubule and micro filament and an apparent cell retraction under an observation with fluorescence micoscope. (equation omitted)-tubulin and F-actin protein were highly thiolated at 20 min and then disappeared from 1 hour after the treatment of 200 $\mu$M CdCl$_2$in the immunoblot analysis. Intracellular GSH was decreased from 1hr to 24 hrs by 66.6 or 200 $\mu\textrm{M}$ of $CdCl_2$. Intracellular protein thiol was also decreased by 22.2, 66.6 and 200 $\mu\textrm{M}$ of $CdCl_2$ at 1 hour after its treatment. The product of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) was increased from 4 hrs by 66.6 and 200$\mu\textrm{M}$ of $CdCl_2$. These data indicate that cadmium induces oxidative stress involving disassembling of microtubule and micro filament, thiolation of (equation omitted)-tubulin and actin protein, depletion of GSH and protein thiol, and increase of lipid peroxidation.

• CELLMED
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7.1-7.8
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• 2014

Metabolic effects of ten daily doses of standardized extract of Andrographis paniculata leaves (AP) rich in andrographolide were evaluated in a rat model of type-2 diabetes and in diet induced obese rats. AP was administered per-orally as suspension in 0.3% carboxymethylcellulose at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day for 10 consecutive days. Blood glucose, insulin and lipid profile of rats were measured by using enzyme kits. In addition, effects of such treatments on anti-oxidant enzymes activity and histopathological changes in various organs of diabetic rats were assessed. AP treatments reversed body weight losses and increased plasma insulin level in diabetic rats. The anti-oxidant enzymes activity became normal and histopathological changes observed in pancreas, liver, kidney and spleen of diabetic animals were less severe in extract treated groups. On the other hand, hyperinsulinemia and increased body weight gains observed in high fat or fructose fed rats were less severe in the extract treated groups. These observations revealed therapeutic potentials of the extract for treatments of diabesity associated metabolic disorders, and suggest that the effects of the extract on insulin homeostasis depend on the metabolic status of animals. Activation of cytoprotective mechanisms could be involved in its mode of action.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.253-257
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• 2004

The mechanisms by which leptospires caused disease are not well understood. A number of putative virulence factors have been suggested, but with few exceptions their role in pathogenesis remains unclear. In these days, many cases of leptospirosis are diagnosed by serological immunoassay. Leptospirosis is characterized by the histopathology of liver, kidney, heart, and lung, but the electrophoresis fractions of serum protein are not compared. We analyzed total protein, albumin, aspartic aminotranferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine and urea nitrogen (UN) in sera of patients diagnosed leptospirosis. Total protein and albumin were decreased in 18.5％ and 31.2％ of patients, respectively. AST, ALT, ALP, UN and creatinine were increased in 90.4％, 66.9％, 28.0％, 15.9％ and 10.8％ of patients, respectively. We performed cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis (EP) on sera of patients increased both of AST and ALT, and of patients increased both of creatinine and UN. In patients increased both of AST and ALT, and in patients increased both of AST and ALT, the relative percentage of albumin to total protein in patient serum was dcreased in 89.1 ％ of patients. α₁-globulin, α₂-globulin, β-globulin and γ-globulin were increased in 85.1 ％, 75.2％, 33.6％ and 98.0％ of patients, respectively. In patients increased both of creatinine and UN, the relative percentage of albumin to total protein in patient serum was dcreased in 93.8％ of patients. α₁-globulin, α₂-globulin, β-globulin and γ-globulin were increased in 87.5％, 100％, 31.2％ and 93.8％ of patients, respectively. These data indicate that infection of Leptospira causes severe liver damage to most of leptospirosis patients, but doesn't cause renal damage to most of them. The relative rate of serum protein electrophoresis fractions to total protein are not identical with them of typical hepatitis patient.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.222-230
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• 2019

Intestinal barrier dysfunction always accompanies cirrhosis in patients with advanced liver disease and is an important contributor facilitating bacterial translocation (BT), which has been involved in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis and its complications. Several studies have demonstrated the protective effect of Vitamin D on intestinal barrier function. However, severe cholestasis leads to vitamin D depletion. This study was designed to test whether vitamin D therapy improves intestinal dysfunction in cirrhosis. Rats were subcutaneously injected with 50% sterile $CCl_4$ (a mixture of pure $CCl_4$ and olive oil, 0.3 mL/100 g) twice a week for 6 weeks. Next, $1,25(OH)_2D_3$ ($0.5{\mu}g/100g$) and the vehicle were administered simultaneously with $CCl_4$ to compare the extent of intestinal histologic damage, tight junction protein expression, intestinal barrier function, BT, intestinal proliferation, apoptosis, and enterocyte turnover. Intestinal heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression and oxidative stress were also assessed. We found that vitamin D could maintain intestinal epithelial proliferation and turnover, inhibit intestinal epithelial apoptosis, alleviate structural damage, and prevent BT and intestinal barrier dysfunction. These were achieved partly through restoration of HO-1 and inhibition of oxidative stress. Taken together, our results suggest that vitamin D ameliorated intestinal epithelial turnover and improved the integrity and function of intestinal barrier in $CCl_4$-induced liver cirrhotic rats. HO-1 signaling activation was involved in these above beneficial effects.

• CELLMED
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.5.1-5.3
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• 2011

Molecular events that cause tumor formation enhance a number of HOX genes, called switch genes, coding for RNApolymeraseII transcription factors. Thus, in tumor cells, RNApolymeraseII is more active than in other somatic cells. Amanita phalloides contains amanitin which inhibits RNApolymeraseII. Partial inhibition with amanitin influences tumor cell - but not normal cell - activity. To widen the treatment spectrum, dilutions of Amanita phalloides, containing amanitin, are applied to a patient with mammary duct cancer. For monitoring tumormarkers, different doses of amanitin are applied. The former duplication time of tumor growth represented three months; however within a period of 18 months the patient can be stabilized without further growth of the tumor. There are also no severe symptoms, no liver damage and no continuous erythrocyte deprivation. This new principle of tumor therapy shows high potential to provide a medical treatment.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2022

While the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is gradually turning into an endemic disease, concerns about post COVID-19 conditions (Long COVID) are emerging. Obesity is a major risk factor for severe complications of COVID-19, and COVID-19 has a wide range of effects on obesity and metabolic function. This paper aims to examine the interaction between COVID-19 and obesity, the effects and mechanisms of long COVID on obesity, and the role of Korean medicine on long COVID-related obesity. Obesity may worsen with cardiometabolic damage and psychosocial insecurity during COVID-19 and long COVID-induced neuroinflammation, systemic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and hypoxia also may aggravate obesity. Korean Medicine treatments, which have been widely used to treat obesity, have the potential to improve obesity in the era of long COVID by intervening in these mechanisms.