• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.750-756
• /
• 1994

The effect of onion juice on ethanol -induced lipid peroxidation were studied were studied in rats. The contents of thiobarbituric acid (TBA) -reactants increased significantly in liver thanol(4ml/kg/day) administered -rats. The activities of serum alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase increased by ethanol administration compared with control group, but alterations of antioxidant enzymes activities in liver of ethanol administered rats were not significant vs control group. The glutathione contents in liver decreased by ethanol , whereas the glutathione level increased in ethanol and onion juice group compared with ethanol group. The contents of hepatic TBA-reactants and serum aminotrasnferase activity in ethanol group were reduced by onion juice administration. In these results, increased hepatic TBA-reactants of liver in ethanol group might be due to decreased glutathione contents in liver. Reduced glutathione (GSH) plays an important roles in the liver in several detoxification and the reduction of lipid peroxides. So the protective effects of onion juice on ethanol-induced increment of TBA-reactants may be due to the increament of lgutathions content. The glutathione depletion by ethanol was an important factor of ethanol-induced cell damage, and the prevention of onion juice to the glutathione depletion reduced by ethanol may be an important factor on the protection from ethanol-induced lipid perpxidation in rats.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.993-1001
• /
• 2016

Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients are at increased risk of many forms of malignancies, especially of the pancreas, colon and hepatocellular cancer. Unfortunately, little is known of the possible interaction between antidiabetic drugs and anticancer agents. The present study investigates the influence of metformin (MET) and sitagliptin (SITA) on the in vitro anticancer activity of the microtubule depolymerization inhibitor agent epothilone A (EpoA). Hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line (HepG2) viability and apoptosis were determined by the MTT test and by double staining with PO-PRO-1 and 7-aminoactinomycin D, respectively, after treatment with EpoA, metformin or sitagliptin. The levels of nuclear factor NF-${\kappa}B$ and p53 were evaluated in the presence and absence of inhibitors. While EpoA and MET inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation, SITA did not. EpoA and SITA induced higher p53 levels than MET. All tested drugs increased the level of NF-${\kappa}B$. Only MET enhanced the proapoptotic effect of EpoA. The EpoA+MET combination evoked the highest cytotoxic effect on HepG2 cells and led to apoptosis independent of p53, decreasing the level of NF-${\kappa}B$. These findings support the link between NF-${\kappa}B$ and p53 in the modulation of apoptotic effects in HepG2 cells treated by EpoA. Our studies indicate that the combination of EpoA and MET applied in subtoxic doses has a stronger cytotoxic effect on liver cancer cells than each of the compounds alone. The therapeutic advantages of the combination of EpoA with MET may be valuable in the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) and liver cancer.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.163-174
• /
• 2009

Reactive oxygen species(ROS) can induce hepatotoxicity and trigger apoptosis in the liver. In this study, we investigated the sulfated polysaccharide A-1 from Opuntia ficus-indica against alcoholic oxidative stress in human liver Hep G2 cell. An antioxidant substance A-1 obtained from the enzymatic extract of Opuntia ficus-indica fruit was purified by DEAE-cellulose ion exchange and sephadex G-100 gel permeation chromatography. The purification yield and molecular weight were 14.3% and 1.8 KDa, respectively. The A-1 predominately contained arabinose, galactose, rhamnose and also sulfate group. The structure of A-1 was investigated by periodate oxidation, FT-IR spectroscopy, $^1H$-NMR spectroscopy. The A-1 mainly composed of alternating unit of ${\rightarrow}4$)-$\alpha$-L- Rapp-2-$SO_3^-$-$\alpha$-L-Galp-($1{\rightarrow}$ and branched linkage of $\beta$-D-Arbp- ($5{\rightarrow}$. The antioxidative activity was measured using the SOD, CAT activity and GSH assay, respectively. The expression of Nrf2 protein was analyzed by western blotting. The viable cell count analyzed by autofluorescence. Oxidative stress induced by ethanol(1 M) were dramatically reduced by A-1 treatment. A-1 also prevented cell death induced by oxidative stress. It also increased expression Nrf2 protein level. We concluded that sulfated polysaccharide A-1 from Opuntia ficus-indica effectively protect Hep G2 liver cell from alcoholic oxidative stress.

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

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.51-57
• /
• 2007

Present study aimed to investigate the radioprotective effects of propolis feeding on rat tissues damaged by X-ray irradiation. It was shown that the number of white blood cell in X-ray irradiated group supplemented with propolis increased as much to those of the control group and also the GOT activities among the blood components were decreased after propolis feeding. The mineral contents such as Mg, Fe, Ca, Mn, Cu, Mo, Ni, As in liver were increased as compared with those of the control group but maintained lower level than those of only irradiated groups, implying that the propolis feeding elevated the recovery capability of white blood cell effectively and propolis have a potential resistance to cell damage by X-ray. According to histological observations of the testis, intestine and liver tissues which are irradiated after feeding propolis, the numbers of damaged undifferentiated cells were decreased in testis and the shape of the goblet cells and inner and outer muscular layers in intestine were restored to the original state and the hepatocytes and interlobular veins were shown intact in liver, suggesting that propolis has a potential capacity to restore cell shapes or resist deformation of cell.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.405-410
• /
• 2004

The effect of treatment with Citrus junos fractions (citron 3W, citron 3H, citron 4W and citron 4H) upon rat hepatocytes exposed to alcohol was investigated. We compared the serum biochemistry of rats administered both alcohol and Citrus junos fractions to control rats treated with alcohol alone. The effects of Alanine amino transferase (ALT) were significantly lower in the citron 3H extract group compared with the negative control group (p<0.05) and other experimental groups were not significantly low but a little low compared to negative control group. The levels of triglyceride (TG) were significantly low in all experimental groups compared with negative control group. Especially triglyceride level of citron 3H was lowest near to normal control group. The concentration of total cholesterol was significantly high in negative groups compared with normal control group but in all experimental groups, the concentration of total cholesterol was similar to that of negative control group. Total cholesterol of the citron 4W group was somewhat low compared with negative control group. In contrast, activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) were significantly higher in all experimental groups compared with the negative control (p<0.05) group. These data suggest that Citrus junos fractions may represents an excellent candidate for protection of rat hepatocytes from alcohol-mediated damage.

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

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.519-523
• /
• 2004

This study sought to investigate the ameliorating effects of a Korean medicinal herb (KMH) complex on the impacts of alcohol consumption in rat hepatocytes and in reducing the total cholesterol levels and the total lipid levels in the serum. We compared the body weight gain and ratio of the liver, the kidney to body weight, and also the serum biochemistry of the rats administered with both the alcohol and the KMH complex to the control rats treated with alcohol alone. The clinically important enzyme markers (Aspartate Aminotransferase, AST, and Alanine Aminotransferase, ALT) of rats, administered with both the alcohol and the KMH complex treatments, were compared with those in the control group. The treatment regimen (KMH complex) significantly reduced the serum AST and ALT levels, indicating the hepato-protective effects of the KMH complex. Furthermore, total cholesterol and total lipid levels were significantly reduced. These results indicate that the KMH complex may positively mediate the effects of alcohol on hepatocytes and the general liver functions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.199-204
• /
• 1999

This study has attempted to examine the effect of Artemisia iwayomogi extract on antioxidant and liver function related enzymes in rats fed high fat diet along with B( )P administration. The activities of the serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase of the rats fed Artemisia iwayomogi ethanol extract were decreased compared to the control. Similarily, the activities of the enzymes were also decreased when the combination of B( )P and ethanol extracts were administered compared to the group adminstered only B( )P. On the other hand, high fat diet increased the above liver function related enzymes. The activities of antioxidant enzymes including GST, catalase and Cu,Zn SOD were significantly increased by feeding the extracts (p<0.01) in addition to the increase of tocopherol contents in the serum. These results suggest that Artemisia iwayomogi extracts can protect cell membranes from the damages by free radicals or hydroperoxides and further may lead to the protection from cancer risks.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.125-132
• /
• 2017

Bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor, induces toxicity in cells and in experimental animals. Ginseng extracts were evaluated to determine whether they can inhibit BPA-induced toxicity. The antioxidant activity of fresh ginseng extract (WGE), dried white ginseng extract (DGE), and dried red ginseng extract (RGE) was measured using the DPPH assay. WGE and RGE increased DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Cell viability was measured in HepG2 cells following treatment with BPA and ginseng extracts using the MTT assay. DGE and RGE increased HepG2 cell viability following treatment with $200{\mu}M$ BPA. RGE reduced levels of biochemical markers of liver damage, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) that increased in mice following treatment with BPA. In addition, the regeneration and proliferation of damaged liver cells were significantly increased in RGE-treated mice. Moreover, RGE inhibited hepatic fibrosis in the surrounding area and in the central vein of the liver microstructure. RGE also significantly inhibited BPA-induced cytotoxicity. In addition, RGE protected liver damage and regenerated liver tissues in BPA-treated animals. These results show that RGE may represent a potential candidate drug for the treatment and prevention of liver damage caused by environmental toxins.