• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2010

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of safety on liver functions when Korean herbal medicine was taken internally. Method: 101 inpatients who took Korean herbal medicine were enrolled and liver function test (aspartic aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, gamma glutamyltranspeptidase, albumin, lactate dehydrogenase) was performed on admission and 1 month later. Results: In 101 patients, alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyltranspeptidase decreased significantly compared with the value taken on admission (p<0.05) but aspartic aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, albumin, and lactate dehydrogenase were not significantly changed (p>0.05). In the patients who took Scutellaria baicalensis (n=34), alkaline phosphatase decreased and albumin increased significantly (p<0.05). Among the patients who took Atractylodes macrocephala (n=29), alkaline phosphatase decreased significantly (p<0.05). In the patients who took Glycyrrhiza uralensis or Paeonia lactiflora, liver function parameters were not significantly changed (p>0.05). On admission 11 patients had abnormal liver function and 2 patients had liver injury while 7 patients had abnormal liver function and 2 patients showed liver injury 1 month later. Conclusions: This study suggests that prescribed Korean herbal medicine does not injure liver function.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1390-1396
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• 2008

The aim of this study is to analyze literatures researching changes of liver function parameters after administration of herbal medicine and the safety of herbal medicine on hepato-biliary system. Eight Korean databases were searched for researches on the safety of oriental herbal medicine. According to inclusion criteria, nineteen studies were selected and analyzed. As a result, seventy outcomes in five parameters(aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, gamma(${\gamma}$)-glutamyl transferase, alkaline Phosphatase, total bilirubin) were obtained. After administration, parameters decreased or sustained in fifty seven outcomes. In thirteen outcomes, parameters slightly increased. In two outcomes, parameters increased but not severely. The change of liver function parameters after administration of herbal medicine is expected to be harmless. But it requires additional large scale studies and modification in method to corroborate the safety of herbal medicine.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 2003

The possibility that liver and kidney function is adversely affected by current levels of environmental exposure to cadmium (Cd) as investigated in adult men and women in the general population in Seoul. From February to August in 2001, blood and morning spot urine samples were collected from 136 not occupationally exposed group (age range 20∼75 years) at 4 survey sites throughout seoul. Liver and kidney function parameters in serum and urine were examined by conventional methods. The questionnaire included factors, i.e. sex, age, smoking, alcohol, diet habit etc. The geometric mean values for Cd in blood (Cd-B) were 1.43 $\mu\textrm{g}$/1, It seemed prudent to conclude that liver and kidney function as not disturbed by the current environmental exposure to Cd in study.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.385.2-385.2
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• 2002

Cornus officinalis has been used as protective drug for liver and kidney function. In order to evaluate the effect on renal function of Corni Fructus. We measured urine volume, chemical parameters(urea nitrogen. creatinine, uric acid). electrolytes($Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$, $Cl^{-}$) in serum and urine. Furosemide showed significant urine volume. serum and urine parameters, but Corni Fructus showed normal level parameters by dose increasing in rats.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.74-78
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• 2007

The plants, Trianthema decandra and Glinus oppositifolius are commonly used by tribal people in India for the treatment of liver diseases. Hepatoprotective activity of methanol extracts of Glinus oppositifolius and Trianthema decandra at the dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight administered orally was evaluated against paracetamol induced liver damage in rats. Biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, total serum protein, lipid peroxide and glutathione content of the liver were estimated to determine liver function and metabolism. From the biochemical observations, it was concluded that methanol extracts of Glinus oppositifolius and Trianthema decandra significantly restored the altered biochemical parameters towards normal condition in paracetamol induced liver damage.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.215-223
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• 2024

Purpose: Patients who receive frequent blood transfusions are at an elevated risk of developing hepatic fibrosis due to iron overload in the liver. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of transient elastography (TE) (FibroScan^®) for assessing liver fibrosis in patients with pediatric cancer. Methods: We enrolled 106 consecutive cases of acute leukemia in individuals under 21 years of age. The participants were followed for 2 years. Based on their serum ferritin (SF) levels, the patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (SF≥300 ng/mL) and group 2 (SF<300 ng/mL). A liver FibroScan^® was performed, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the various parameters in the liver function test (LFT), alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in a subgroup of patients aged 5-8 years in group 2 compared to those in group 1. The indices of liver fibrosis determined by TE, including the FibroScan score, controlled attenuation parameter score, steatosis percentage, and meta-analysis of histological data in viral hepatitis score, as well as indirect serum markers of liver fibrosis such as the aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, Fibrosis 4 score, and AST to platelet ratio index, did not differ significantly between the two groups. The association between the TE results and LFT parameters was only significant for ALT. Conclusion: Transfusion-associated iron overload does not have a significant correlation with severe liver fibrosis. FibroScan^® is not a sensitive tool for detecting early stages of fibrosis in survivors of pediatric leukemia.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.100-103
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• 2004

The plant Indigofera aspalathoides are used by a large number of tribes in India for the treatment of various hepatic disorder. The methanol extract of Indigofera aspalathoides (MEIA) was evaluated for its effect on carbontetrachloride $(CCl_{4})$ induced liver damage. Biochemical parameters such as serum glutamine oxaloacetate trasaminase (SGOT), serum glutamine pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total serum protein (TP), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBRS) and glutathione content of the liver were estimated to assess liver function and metabolism. Biochemical observations suggest that methanol extract of Indigofera aspalathoides (MEIA) significantly restored the liver function and metabolism towards normal condition in $CCl_{4}$-induced hepatic damage.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 1998

This study was done to investigate the relationship between ultrasonograph fat density (ULFD) using objective measurement and serum enzymes for testing liver function in 101 healthy adults(43 males and 58 females). Average serum enzyme activities in males and females were GOT27.111U/L and 22.46IU/L, GPT 34.06IU/L and 18.501U/L, and ${\gamma}$-GTP 37.67IU/L and 17.201U/L, respectively. Males showed significantly higher activities of GPT and ${\gamma}$-GTP than females. ULFD of the obese group (BMI$\geq$25) was significantly higher than that of the nonobese group. GOT, GPT, and ${\gamma}$-GTP tended to be high in the obese group. GPT and ${\gamma}$-GTP of the high TG group (TG$\geq$170) tended to be markedly high for males, but not for females. GPT was positively correlated with ULFD, body weight , and weight-to-height, ratio, and ${\gamma}$-GTP was positively correlated with body weight, weight-to-height ratio. BNI, and KI. ULFD and ${\gamma}$-GTP were positively correlated with serum TG. These results suggests that , among serum enzymes for testing liver function, GPT has a close relationship with ULFD using objective measurement, while GOT does not. Also , ${\gamma}$-GTP has a close relationship with parameters for obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.713-719
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• 1995

These studies were carried out to investigate the effects of Puerariae radix catechins(PRC) administration on the biochemical parameters of liver function in liver of carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-treated rats. Thirty six healthy Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 120g were used for this experiment and divided intot he following 3 groups : normal control group(NCON), $CCl_4$ control group(CCON), PRC treated group(PRC). Fifty percent $CCl_4$ in oil was administered(I.P.) by 2ml per kg body weight two times a week for 3 weeks. PRC treated groups were administered orally at the leaves of 1% per day in distilled water for 8 weeks. Lipid hydroperoxides were analyzed by using chemiluminescence-high performance liquid chromatography(CL-HPLC) method as a phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide value(PCOOH) in liver tissues. $CCl_4$ treatment significantly(p<0.05) resulted in an increase in GPT & GOT activities and liver hydroperoxide values comparing with those of the untreated control, while administration of PRC to the $CCl_4-treated$ rats significantly(p<0.001) decreased GPT & GOT activities and liver hydroperoxide value. Their ultrastructual changes of hepatocellular organelles were shown to clarify the morphologic nature of protective effects of PRC on hepatocytic injuries. $CCl_4$ treatment observed to change the ultrastructual nature of outer membrane of hepatocytes. However, the hepatic changes on PRC treatment to $CCl_4$ group was not found. PRC administration may inhibit the formatiion of liver lipid hydroperoxides in vivo and were very effective in recovering the liver function in $CCl_4-treated$ rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.132-137
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• 1993

These studies were carried out to investigate the effects of ascorbate and $\alpha$-tocopherol administration on the biochemical parameters of liver function and hydroperoxidation in liver of chronically ethanol-treated rats. Forty healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats weighing about 120g were used for this experiment and divided into the following 5 groups: control group (CON), ethanol control group (ECON), ascorbate treated group (EASC), $\alpha$-tocopherol treated group (ETOC) and ascorbate.$\alpha$-tocopherol mixture treated group(EASC + ETOC). Ethanol was administered orally by 5ml per kg, body weight per day for 8weeks. Antioxidants treated groups were administered orally by 5mg per kg body weight per day in saline solution for 3 weeks. Lipid hydroperoxides were analyzed by using chemiluminescense-high performance liquid chromatography (CL-HPLC) method phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide value (PCOOH) in liver tissues. Ethanol treatment significantly (p<0.05) resulted in an increase in GPT and GOT activities and liver hydroperoxide values comparing with the untreated control, while administration of $\alpha$-tocopherol and ascorbate+$\alpha$-tocopherol to the chronically ethanol-treated rats significantly (p<0.001) decreased GPT and GOT activities and liver hydroperoxide value. These results indicate that dietary $\alpha$-tocopherol and $\alpha$-tocopherol combined with ascorbate administration may inhibit the formation of liver lipid hydroperoxidation in vivo and were very effective in recovering the liver function in chronically ethanol-treated rats.