• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.550-564
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• 2011

Objectives : Oxidative stress seems to play a major role in mechanisms by which ethanol causes liver injury. Previous studies have shown that treatment with Yinjinchunggan-tang (Yinchenqinggan-tang, YJCGT) has protective effects on alcoholic liver disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of YJCGT on alcohol-induced oxidative stress. Materials and Methods : In vitro, we evaluated the inhibitory activities of YJCHT on DPPH(1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl), xanthine oxidase, trypsin, and hyaluronidase. In a cell culture model, we measured cell viability and proliferation, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) after YJCGT treatment in C34 and E47 cell lines, and HepG2 cells transfected with/ without cytochrome P450IIE1 (CYP2E1) gene. In vivo, we estimated serum level of hepatic biochemical markers, and alcohol concentration in the blood. Results : YJCGT showed significant free radical scavenging activity against DPPH and xanthine oxidase and decreased hyaluronidase activity effectively in vitro. YJCGT also increased cell viability, and proliferation in C34 and in E47 cell lines, and increased activities of superoxide dismutase, and catalase in C34 and in E47 cell lines. YJCGT reduced serum AST, LDH, and total cholesterol level in some of the results, and reduced blood alcohol concentration in vivo, as well. Conclusions : This study suggests that YJCGT has protective effects on oxidative stress by inhibiting alcohol-induced suppression of antioxidant enzyme activities.