• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.600-603
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• 2004

(＋）-Dehydrovomifoliol (1）. 3-hydroxy-5$\alpha$,6$\alpha$-epoxy-$\beta$-ionone (2）, vitexin 7 -O-$\beta$-D-glucopyrano-side (3）, and vitexin 2'-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (4） were isolated as new constituents from the aerial parts of Beta vulgaris var. cicla. Compounds 3 and 4 demonstrated hepatoprotective activity with values of 65.8 and 56.1％, respectively, in primary cultured rat hepatocytes with $CCl_4$-induced cell toxicity, compared to controls. This was comparable to that of silibinin (69.8％） which was used as a positive control.trol.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.353-361
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• 2008

We aimed to investigate whether the extracts of Lycii fructus, Lycii folium, and estradiol can attenuate on the level of cholesterol on serum and ultrastructure alteration of hepatocytes isolated from ovariectomized rats. Experimental groups are divided into five: Sham (sham-operated), OVX (ovariectomized animal), LCF (OVX, Lycii fructus), LCL (OVX, Lycii folium), and $E_2$ (OVX, estradiol). The body weights of OVX group showed increase compared with Sham, LCF, and LCL groups. The levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were significantly decreased in the LCF and LCL groups compared with those of OVX group. Moreover, the High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level was increased in the LCL group. As the results of electron microscopical observation, lipid droplets in the OVX group showed increase compared with Sham group. But in the LCF group not showed lipid droplets. In conclusion, administration of Lycii fructus or Lycii folium lowers the serum cholesterol content of the ovariectomized rats and also the damage of the hepatocytes and formation of lipid droplets.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.358-366
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of glycynhizin, active glycosides of Glycyrrhizae Radix, and baicalin, bioactive flavonoid isolated from Scutellariae Radix, on hepatocyte injury induced by carbon tetrachloride(CCl$_4$, 10 mM), tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBH, 0.5 mM), and D-galactosamine (GaIN, 30 mM). Primary cultures of rat hepatocyte (18 hr cultured) were treated with CCl$_4$, TBH, or GaIN and various concentrations (0.1, 1, 10, and 100 ${\mu}$M) of glycyrrhizin or baicalin. Activity was accessed by determining the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aminotransferses. CCl$_4$ significantly increased the levels of LDH, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and these increases were prevented by baicalin concentrations of 0.1,1, and 100 ${\mu}$M. The increases in ALT and AST levels were reduced by glycyrrhizin concentration of 100 ${\mu}$M. The level of LDH was markedly increased by TBH, and this increase was reduced by both glycyrrhizin and baicalin. ALT and AST levels were increased by TBH, which were prevented by glycynhizin and bacalin, respectively: GaIN markedly increased the levels of LDH, ALT and AST These increases was significantly reduced by both glycyrrhizin and baicalin. These results suggest that glycynhizin and baicalin possess the hepatoprotective activity.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.263-270
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• 2010

Scoparia dulcis L. is widely used in the traditional system of medicine for treating liver ailments. In the present study the terpenoids and terpenoid fractions isolated from 1:1:1 petroleum ether, diethyl ether and methanol (PDM) extract of Scoparia dulcis L. were tested for their in vitro 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Selected samples from the assay were further tested for their in vitro hepatoprotective activity against $CCl_4$ induced hepatotoxicity in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. In the in vitro antioxidant study, fractions 7, 11, 13, 14, and 15 and PDM extract show the DPPH radical scavenging activity. The phytochemical screening of all these fractions show the presence of terpenoids. In the in vitro hepatoprotective study all these fractions and the PDM extract significantly prevent the $CCl_4$ induced changes in the aspartate aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase levels (p < 0.05). The above results are comparable with the standard, silymarin. The results of the study indicate that, the PDM extract of Scoparia dulcis L. possesses potential hepatoprotective activity and this may be attributed to its free radical scavenging potential, which in turn may be attributed to the presence of terpenoids.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.539-549
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• 2019

Background: 20(S)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD), the aglycone part of 20(S)-protopanaxadiol ginsenosides, possesses antidepressant activity among many other pharmacological activities. It is currently undergoing clinical trial in China as an antidepressant. Methods: In this study, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole time-of-flight mass tandem mass spectrometry method was established to identify the metabolites of PPD in human plasma and urine following oral administration in phase IIa clinical trial. Results: A total of 40 metabolites in human plasma and urine were identified using this method. Four metabolites identified were isolated from rat feces, and two of them were analyzed by NMR to elucidate the exact structures. The structures of isolated compounds were confirmed as (20S,24S)-epoxydammarane-12,23,25-triol-3-one and (20S,24S)-epoxydammarane-3,12,23,25-tetrol. Both compounds were found as metabolites in human for the first time. Upon comparing our findings with the findings of the in vitro study of PPD metabolism in human liver microsomes and human hepatocytes, metabolites with m/z 475.3783 and phase II metabolites were not found in our study whereas metabolites with m/z 505.3530, 523.3641, and 525.3788 were exclusively detected in our experiments. Conclusion: The metabolites identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in our study were mostly hydroxylated metabolites. This indicated that PPD was metabolized in human body mainly through phase I hepatic metabolism. The main metabolites are in 20,24-oxide form with multiple hydroxylation sites. Finally, the metabolic pathways of PPD in vivo (human) were proposed based on structural analysis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1772-1777
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• 2011

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene and sodium-independent $Cl^-/HCO_3^-$ anion exchanger (AE) genes are expressed in a wide variety of mammalian tissues including cholangiocytes. They play an important role in the regulation of intracellular pH (pHi) as well as in transepithelial acid/base transport necessary for biliary bicarbonate secretion. The aim of this study was to examine the expression level of CFTR gene and AE genes (AE1, AE2 and AE3) in the cholangiocytes and the hepatocytes, and also measure AE2 gene expression level after bile duct ligation (BDL). As we previously described, isolated hepatocytes and cholangiocytes from the liver of normal and BDL rats were prepared and gene expression levels were measured by using RT-PCR. We found that AE1, AE2, and AE3 genes were expressed in both hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, but CFTR was only in cholangiocytes. AE2 gene expression level was higher in the BDL hepatocytes than normal hepatocytes, which was significantly different between two groups. AE2 gene expression level was lower in the BDL cholangiocytes than normal cholangiocytes. However, AE2 gene expression level in both hepatocytes and cholangiocytes were not changed with a longer duration of BDL. These results suggest that CFTR and AE2 may play an important role in the pathogenetic mechanism of biliary cholestatic liver disease.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 1998

In the present study, the vacuolar apparatus were investigated in the hepatocytes of rats treated with DA by transmission electron microscopy of conventional and cytochemical thin sections. In the rats after 20 min of dehydrocholic acid treatment, the cis Golgj cisterns were sacculated in line. The saccule occasionally occured by elongation and attenuated neck. The lysosomes also showed protrudent saccule. The vesicles were observed near the cis Golgi cisterns, lysosome and bile canaliculi. Some of the vesicles appeared to be fused to bile canaliculi. The cis Golgi cisterns usually faced toward the bile canaliculi both in normal and experimental groups. The cis Golgi cisterns, protrudent saccule and vesicles were almost devoid of visible contents. The osmium deposits were heavy on the protrudent saccule as well as on the cis Golgi cisterns or on the vesicles isolated near by, but they were light or not observed on the vesicles in the immediate vicinity of bile canaliculi. The acid phosphatase activities appeared on the lysosome and vesicles located near by, but did not appear on the vesicles as approaching closer to the bile canaliculi. The evidence suggests that the vesicles are derived from the cis Gogi cistern and lysosomes and fuse to bile canaliculi for exocytosis, and that the activity in the vesicles is diminished as approaching closer to the bile canaliculi.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.189-194
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• 2003

Most of the ethyl alcohol consumed by humans is oxidized to acetaldehyde in the liver by the cytoplasmic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) system. For this ADH-catalyzed oxidation of alcohol, $NAD^+$ is required as the coenzyme and $NAD^+$becomes reduced to NADH. As the $NAD^+$becomes depleted and NADH accumulates, alcohol oxidation is reduced. For continued alcohol oxidation, the accumulated NADH must be quickly reoxidized to $NAD^+$, and it is this reoxidation of NADH to $NAD^+$that is known to be the rate-limiting step in the overall oxidation rate of alcohol The reoxidation of NADH to $NAD^+$is catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, with pyruvate being utilized as the substrate. The pyruvate may be supplied from alanine as a result of amino acid metabolism via the urea cycle. Also, glutamine is thought to help with the supply of pyruvate indirectly, and to activate the urea cycle by producing $NH_3$. Thus, in the present study, we have examined the effects of alanine and glutamine on the alcohol oxidation rate. We utilized isolated perfused liver tissue in a system where media containing alanine and glutamine was circulated. Our results showed that when alanine (5.0mM) was added to the glucose-free infusion media, the alcohol oxidation rate was increased by 130%. Furthermore, when both glutamine and alanine were added together to the infusion media, the alcohol oxidation rate increased by as much as 190%, and the rate of urea nitrogen production increased by up to 200%. The addition of glutamine (5.0mM) alone to the infusion media did not accelerate the alcohol oxidation rate. The increases in the rates of alcohol oxidation and urea nitrogen production through the addition of alanine and glutamine indicate that these amino acids have contributed to the enhanced supply of pyruvate through the urea cycle. Based on these results, it is concluded that the dietary supplementation of alanine and glutamine could contribute to increased alcohol detoxification through the urea cycle, by enhancing the supply of pyruvate and $NAD^+$to ensure accelerated rates of alcohol oxidation.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.101-105
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• 2009

We previously reported that a novel cerebroside, LCC, isolated from the fruits of Lycium chinense (Solanaceae), significantly exerted hepatoprotective activity against both the carbon tetrachloride-induced and galactosamine-induced toxicities in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. In the present study, we further attempted to determine the effect of LCC on hepatic fibrosis in animal model. Hepatic fibrosis was induced in rats by bile duct ligation/scission (BDL) for a period of 5 weeks. Treatment of BDL rats with LCC significantly reduced collagen deposition and the activities of serum alkaline phosphatase and ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase. In addition, the LCC treatment of BDL rats significantly preserved the decreased hepatic glutathione as well as the activities of glutathione reductase and catalase in BDL rats. From the results, it can be speculated that LCC might exert antifibrotic activity in rats with BDL, in part, through the preservation of antioxidant enzymes and hepatic glutathione.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.85-96
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• 1993

To investigate the alteration of transferrin receptor (TfR) in the proliferating or transformed liver cells, $^{125}I-transferrin$ binding experiment was carried out in the isolated parenchymal cells (PC) or nonparenchymal cells (NPC) from normal regenerated rat liver after partial hepatectomy and from the liver of 3-methyl-4-dimethyl-aminoazobenzene (3-Me-DAB) treated rat. With the administration of 3-Me-DAB for 8 weeks, the liver tissue showed marked morphologic changes of oval cell proliferation, regenerations of hepatocytes, and atypical proliferations of bile ducts, but these changes were little affected by partial hepatectomy. Transferrin binding values in PC or NPC homogenate from the regenerated liver of normal rat, were increased by 3rd day and diminished to control level at 7th day after partial hepatectomy. With the treatement of 3-Me-DAB for 8 weeks, transferrin binding sites in homogenates were higher than those of normal rat liver and increased by 7th day after partial hepatectomy. Transferrin binding sites (Bmax) in the cell membrane of NPC were higher than those of PC of normal rat liver, but there was no significant difference in Kd values between both groups (5.05, 6.3 nM). In the normal resenerated rat liver, transferrin binding sites in the PC or NPC plasma membrane, were increased by 3rd day and diminished to control level at 7th day after partial hepatectomy. With 3-Me-DAB tratment, transferrin binding sites in both liver NPC and PC plasma membrane were increased about 3 folds, compared to those in each plasma membrane of normal rat liver. And after partial hepatectomy of 3-Me-DAB trated rat, transferrin binding sites were increased by the 3rd day in the NPC plasma membrane but increased by the 7th day in the PC plasma membrane. In the transferrin binding sites of the PC or NPC plasma membrane of 3-Me-DAB treated liver, two kinds of Kd values $(3.1{\sim}4.7\;nM,\;25.4{\sim}54.1\;nM)$ were detected. The present results suggest that 1) TfRs are distributed in the liver PC as well as NPC; 2) Increased TfRs in PC or NPC plasma membrane of normal regenerated liver after partial hepatectomy and 3-Me-DAB treated rat liver, may be due to increased intracellular synthesis; 3) Increased TfRs in normal regenerated liver after partial hepatectomy might be related to the expression of a single type of high affinity site $(Kd,\;3.1{\sim}7.5\;nM)$, but in 3-Me-DAB treated rat liver might be related to the expression of high and low affinity types of receptors $(Kd,\;25.4{\sim}54.1\;nm)$.