• Toxicological Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2001

This study was designed to evaluate a repeated oral dose toxicity of a new hepatotherapeutic agent GODEX in Sprague-Dawley rats. Male and female rats were orally administered with dosages of 500, 100, 20, and 0 /kg/day of GODEX daily for 4 weeks, respectively. There were no dose-related changes in clinical signs, body weight changes, food and water consumption, opthalmoscopy, organ weights, urine analysis, biochemical examination, and hematological findings of all animals treated with GODEX. Gross and histopathological findings revealed no evidence of specific toxicity related to GODEX. These indicate that GODEX may have no side effects and its oral maximum tolerated dose value may be over 500 mg/kg in rats.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.140-142
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• 2001

This study was performed to evaluate an single dose oral toxicity of a new hepatotherapeutic agent GODEX (HEPADIF-S) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Male and female rats were administered dosages of 5, 2.5, 1.25 ,0.625, 0.3125, and 0 g/kg B.W. of GODEX, respectively. After single oral administration of GODEX to rats, we observed them daily for 2 weeks. GODEX slid not induce any toxic signs in the mortalities, clinical signs, body weight changes, and gross necropsy findings of rats. Based on these results, it is concluded that GODEX may have no side effect and its LD$_{50}$ value may be over 5 g/kg B.W, in rats.s.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2002

Through a modification of allicin structure a disagreeable odor and chemical instability of allicin can be improved. 3-Alkoxy-6-allylthiopyridazine derivatives exhibit a superior effect for prevention and treatment of hepatic diseases induced by carbon tetrachloride and aflatoxin B1 and for prevention of human tissues from radiation. These compounds inhibit also efficiently SK-Hep-1 cell proliferation through induction of apoptosis. So another 4,5-mono- or di-substituted 3-alkyloxy-6-allylthiopyridazine derivatives were synthesized on purpose to find out SAR of allylthiopyridazine in hepatoprotective and hepatotherapeutic acitivitis and to develop more effective drug candidate.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.124-130
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• 2008

Herbal plants or traditional Oriental medicine have been considered as a potential resource of new drug development worldwide. However, traditional Korean medicine has given little effort to the field of new drug development. This study reports on a plant-derived hepatotherapeutic drug, silymarin, which has been popularly used in many countries. It was discovered as an active compound from Silybum marianum (milk thistle) which has been known as a medicinal plant having hepatoprotective properties in both European and Asian countries. While it has been used as an herbal prescription in Asia, its active compounds or scientific mechanisms were intensively studied in Europe. Currently, silymarin is one of the most powerful herbal extracts in the world, and its usage is being expanded to many other medical purposes. This report would be helpful for providing an informative example of herbal-derived drug development to Oriental doctors or scientists in the Oriental medicinal field.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2003

In this study, we investgated the effect of Red Ginseng (KRG) on liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CTC) and galactosamine (GalN) in rats using indicator enzymes such as serum alanine/aspartate aminotransferases, sorbital dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, and ${\gamma}$-glutamyltransferase. Treatment of KRG restored these enzyme activities to near normal level compared to CTC or GalN treatment alone. Treatment of KRG also enhanced hepatic microsomal enzyme system, malondialdehyde formation, and depletion of reduced glutathione content, which were reduced by CTC or GalN. We also found that the decreased activities of glutathione S-transferase and glutathine reductase but not ${\gamma}$-glutamycysteine synthetase after KRG treatment restored to normal level. These results indicate that KRG has potent therapeutic activity against CTC- and GalN-induced hepatotoxicity in rat.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.351-356
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• 2000

The hepatoprotective effects of bergenin and its derivative, acetylbergenin, were evaluated against D-galactosamine-induced liver damage in rats. Bergenin is a C-glucoside of 4-O-methyl gallic acid that has been isolated from the cortex of Mallotus japonicus (Euphorbiaceae). Acetylbergenin was synthesized from acetylation of bergenin to increase lipophilic and physiological activities. Bergenin (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) and acetylbergenin (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) were administered orally once daily for successive 5 days after the injection of galactosamine (400 mg/kg, i.p.), respectively. The substantially elevated serum enzyme activities of alanine/aspartate aminotransferase, sorbitol dehydrogenase and ${\gamma}-glutamyltransferase$ due to galactosamine treatment were dose-dependently restored towards normalization by post-treatment with bergenin and acetylbergenin. Bergenin and acetylbergenin also significantly prevented the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde formation and depletion of reduced glutathione content induced by galactosamine in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the decreased activities of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase were restored towards normalization. These results suggest that effects of bergenin and acetylbergenin may be related to complex mechanisms that involve prevention of lipid peroxidation and preservation of hepatic glutathione. The results of this study clearly indicate that bergenin and acetylbergenin have potent hepatotherapeutic action against galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, and lipophilic acetylbergenin is more active in the antihepatotoxic effects against galactosamine than much less lipophilic bergenin.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2004

The hepatotherapeutic effect of the extract of Lycii fructus has been studied in rats against $CCl_4$ induced liver toxicity. The rats were orally treated with $CCl_4$ (corn oil/$CCl_4$ 1:1, $1m{\ell}/kg$) and then $CCl_4$ ($0.5m{\ell}/kg$) administered four times for 2 weeks. The extracts of L. fructus have been administered every day for 2 weeks after the last $CCl_4$ injection. The experimental groups consisted of negative control (G1), positive control ($CCl_4$ alone; G2), extract of L. fructus (50 mg/kg; G3, 100 mg/kg; G4, 200 mg/kg; G5), respectively. There was a significant decrement to G2 on the serum level of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase in G5. Also, the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, and phosphatidylcholine hydroperxidase, a marker of lipid peroxidation, in the liver were decreased significantly G5 and G4 compared with G2. Although, catalase or superoxide dismutase, antioxidant enzyme, in the liver were decreased significantly too, it would not be a good sign for the liver. In histopathological findings, such a hepatocellular vacuolar degeneration, lobular restructure, cellular infiltration, necrosis, and so on were shown severely in G2. However, G4 and G5 was shown a mild cytoplasmic vacuolation and inflammatory cell. In conclusion, as a protection against cell damage, lipid peroxidation and serum level, it suggested that the extract of Lycii fructus would have been a therapeutic effect of liver injury directly.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.49-62
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• 2010

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the effect of manual acupuncture, invasive laser acupuncture and laser skin irradiation at LU8, LR4, HT8 and LR2(Liver Seunggyeok) on D-galN-induced liver injury in rats. Method: Liver injury was induced with D-galN. The experimental rats were divided four groups(Control group, EXP-1, EXP-2, EXP-3). In the Control group, liver injury-induced and not treated. EXP-1 group was liver injury-induced and carried out manual acupuncture with Young-Su(against the meridian course and following the course of the meridian) & Won-Bang(by twisting and rotating the needle) acupuncture method at Liver Seunggyeok. EXP-2 group was liver injury-induced and carried out invasive laser acupuncture at Liver Seunggyeok. EXP-3 group was liver injury-induced and carried out laser skin irradiation at Liver Seunggyeok. Result: In the change of body weight(in 1 week), EXP-1, EXP-2 and EXP-3 groups were significantly increased as compared with control group. In the change AST & ALT, EXP-1 and EXP-2 groups were significantly decreased as compared with control group. In the change of SOD, EXP-1, EXP-2 and EXP-3 groups were significantly increased as compared with control group. In the change of WBC, EXP-2 group was significantly increased as compared with control group. Conclusion: Manual acupuncture, invasive laser acupuncture and laser skin irradiation at Liver Seunggyeok had hepatotherapeutic effect on the treatment of hepatocytotoxity. Invasive laser acupuncture was as effective as manual acupuncture on the treatment of hepatocytotocity.