• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1207-1213
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• 2008

The possible protective effects of highly zinc-containing yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, FF-10 strain, isolated from tropical fruit rambutan on acute alcoholic liver injury in rats were evaluated. Zinc concentration in this strain was 30.6mg%. The activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and $\gamma$-glutamyl transpeptidase ($\gamma$-GTP) were highly increased when alcohol was treated, relative to the normal rats. Also, a highly significant increase in the blood alcohol and acetaldehyde levels by alcohol treatment was observed. Administration of FF-10 strain markedly prevented alcohol-induced elevation of the activities of serum ALT, AST, and $\gamma$-GTP, and the levels of blood alcohol and acetaldehyde, and these reduced levels reached to that of normal rats. As compared with alcohol treated control rats, the FF-10 strain supplementation showed highly decreased the triglyceride concentration in serum. Alcohol treatment induced the marked accumulation of small lipid droplets, hepatocytes necrosis, and inflammation, but FF-10 strain administration attenuated to alcohol-induced accumulation of small lipid droplets and hepatocyte necrosis in the liver. Therefore, the current finding suggests that zinc-enriched yeast FF-10 strain isolated from tropical fruit rambutan may have protective effect against alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.263-270
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• 2019

Hydrogen sulfide is well-known to exhibit anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective activities, and also has protective effects in the liver. This study aimed to examine the protective effect of hydrogen sulfide in rats with hepatic encephalopathy, which was induced by mild bile duct ligation. In this rat model, bile ducts were mildly ligated for 26 days. Rats were treated for the final 5 days with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS). NaHS ($25{\mu}mol/kg$), 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, or silymarin (100 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally once per day for 5 consecutive days. Mild bile duct ligation caused hepatotoxicity and inflammation in rats. Intraperitoneal NaHS administration reduced levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, which are indicators of liver disease, compared to levels in the control mild bile duct ligation group. Levels of ammonia, a major causative factor of hepatic encephalopathy, were also significantly decreased. Malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, catalase, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ levels were measured to confirm antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors with neurotoxic activity were assessed for subunit NMDA receptor subtype 2B. Based on these data, NaHS is suggested to exhibit hepatoprotective effects and guard against neurotoxicity through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.97-103
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• 2005

The genotoxic effect of antimalarial drugs amodiaquine (AQ), mefloquine (MQ) and halofantrine (HF) was investigated in.at liver cells using the alkaline comet assay. AQ, MQ and HF at concentrations between $0-1000{\mu}mol/L$ significantly increased DNA strand breaks of rat liver cells dose-dependently. The order of induction of strand breaks was AQ>MQ>HF. The rat liver cells exposed to AQ and HF (200 and 400 ${\mu}mol/L$) and treated with (Fpg) the bacterial DNA repair enzyme that recognizes oxidized purine showed greater DNA damage than those not treated with the enzyme, providing evidence that AQ and HF induced oxidation of purines. Such an effect was not observed when MQ was treated with the enzyme. Treatment of cells with catalase, an enzyme inactivating hydrogen peroxide, decreased significantly the extent of DNA damage induced by AQ, and HF but not the one induced by MQ. Similarly quercetin, an antioxidant flavonoid at $50{\mu}mol/L$ attenuated the extent of the formation of DNA strand breaks by both AQ and HE. Quercetin, however, did not modify the effects of MQ. These results indicate the genotoxicity of AQ, MQ and HF in rat liver cells. In addition, the results suggest that reactive oxygen species may be involved in the formation of DNA lesions induced by AQ and HF and that, free radical scavengers may elicit protective effects against genotoxicity of these antimalarial drugs.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.163-174
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• 2016

Objectives : Rheum undulatum Linne and Glycyrriza uralensis Fischer are widely used herbal medicine. In this study, anti-oxidant and liver protective effects of R. undunlatum extract (RUE) and G. uralensis extract (GUE) were investigated in HepG2 cells, respectively. Oxidative stress and liver fibrosis were induced by arachidonic acid (AA) and iron, and CCl₄.Methods : MTT assay was assessed for cell viability, and immunoblotting analysis was performed to detect expression of apoptosis related proteins. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial dysfunction were measured. In vivo, BALB/c mouse were orally administrated with the aqueous extract of 10 mg/kg RUE and 100 mg/kg GUE for 3 days and then, injected with CCl₄ 0.5 ml/kg body weight to induce acute liver damage. Serum ALT level was measured, and histological change was observed in Harris's hematoxylin and eosin stainResults : RUE and GUE pre-treatment increased relative cell viability in concentration dependent manner and altered the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins such as procaspase 3, PARP and Bcl-xL. RUE and GUE also inhibited the mitochondrial dysfunction and excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by AA and iron. In addition, RUE and GUE activated liver kinase B1 (LKB1), by increasing phosphorylation. Moreover, RUE and GUE treatment decreased liver injuries induced by CCl₄, as evidenced by decreases in histological liver damage as well as serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) level.Conclusions : These data suggest that RUE and GUE has anti-oxidant and liver protective effects against AA and iron-induced oxidative stress and CCl₄-induced liver injury.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.272-277
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• 1994

Meliae toosendan Fructus, the seed of Pagoda tree, Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc. (Meliaceae), has been used as a liver protective herbal drug in the Orient. Administration of seed oil to hyperlipedemic rats revealed the lipid lowering effects in serum and liver tissue without any toxicity in body weight increase and liver function.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.189-193
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• 2009

To investigate the antioxidant effect of lutein on N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDEA)-induced oxidative stress in mice, we measured lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase of various tissues. Body weight was almost similar in lutein and control groups during 3 weeks. NDEA increased significantly the activities of typical marker enzymes of liver function (AST, ALT and ALP) in both groups. However, the increase of plasma aminotransferase activity significantly decreased in lutein group. Lipid peroxidation and SOD in various tissues, such as heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen and plasma were significantly increased by NDEA, which were significantly reduced by lutein at a dose of 50 mg/kg. Catalase activity decreased significantly in control and lutein groups treated with NDEA, the effect being less in lutein group. Lesser effect on SOD and catalase in NDEA-treated lutein group indicates the improvement of protective mechanisms by lutein. Thus, it can be concluded from the present study that lutein can offer a useful protection against NDEA-induced oxidative stress.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2001

This study done to investigate the hypocholesterolemic effect of ow dietary fiber in a high cholesterol diet in aspect of cholesterol absorption and excretion using Sprague Dawley rats. After feeding diets containing 0.5% cholesterol and 5% tangerine pulp, sea tangle or prickly pear cactus for four weeks, we measured the levels of plasma and liver cholesterol and triglyceride, fecal neutral sterols and fecal radioactivity after ingestion 14(sup)C-cholesterol. We also examined platelet aggregation and histological change in liver tissues in association of hypercholesterolemia. The liver to body weight ratio was significantly(p<0.01) lower in rats fed prickly pear cactus than in other groups. The levels of plasma total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were decreased significantly(p<0.01) in the prickly pear cactus group compared with the control, while there was no difference in the liver levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride among groups. Fecal corprostanol and cholesterol were significantly(p<0.01) higher groups of control and prickly pear cactus compared to the other two groups. Radioisotope excretion after ingestion of 14(sup)C-cholesterol was higher in the control group than in tangerine pulp group or sea tangle group, with the highest in prickly pear group. Radioisotope excretion was the highest during the 2nd and 3rd days in all groups. Hematocrit and platelet aggregation were decreased in all fiber groups compared to the control, but not statistically different. Microscopic examination showed that cholesterol diet cause a fat accumulation in the liver and prickly pear cactus decreased the fat accumulation. Result indicates that prickly pear cactus has hypocholesterolemic effect by decreasing absorption and increasing excretion of cholesterol, thereby protective effect on fatty liver. Control group fed diet containing high cholesterol and low fiber seems to have a self control system in cholesterol absorption and excretion preventing hypercholesterolemia. (Korean J Nutrition 34(2) : 141-149, 2001)

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.699-707
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• 1996

This study was designed to examine the involvement of lead in function of target organ, and the protective effect of selenium in lead-treated guinea pigs for 8 weeks. The effects of exposure to 0.5% lead acetate(lead) and/or 4ppm sodium selenite(selenium) in feed on serveral aspects were evaluated by measuring thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH), triiodothyronine($T_3$), thyroxine($T_4$), serum biochemical activities, organ weights, and serum and organ lead concentrations in growing animals. The many indicators of endocrine function(TSH, $T_3$, and $T_4$ in serum), enzyme and biochemical activities(${\alpha}$-glutamyltranspeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, triglyceride, creatinine, $Ca^{2+}$ in serum), and organ weights(kidney, spleen and testis) were correlated with lead exposure or showed significantly different mean values between the exposed and controls. These changes on some aspects were reversed by combination-fed of selenium, but did not statistically significant. The organ(kidney, liver, spleen, testis and brain) and serum lead concentrations of lead-fed group were clearly higher than that of controls. Selenium supplementation resulted in a significant protection against lead accumulation in liver and testis. These results suggest that lead can cause a toxic effect on several organ and that selenium seems to has a protective effect on specific reaction by lead-induced organic function toxicity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and protective effect of extracts from the stems and leaves of Chrysanthemum boreale (CBSL) on t-BHP induced oxidative stress in human liver cells (Chang cells). Antioxidant activities in the extracts were determined for various radical scavenging activities including ferric reducing antioxidant power, 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). CBSL showed a very good scavenging effect of DPPH radical ($IC_{50}$ $0.009{\pm}0.002$ mg/mL), alkyl radical ($IC_{50}$ $0.004{\pm}0.001$ mg/mL), and hydroxyl radical ($IC_{50}$ $6.742{\pm}0.152$ mg/mL). CBSL also showed a strong antioxidant effect in the ORAC assay. In the MTT assay on human liver cells (Chang cells), the extracts showed protective effects by increasing cell viability, decreasing ROS, and restoring mitochondria membrane potential upon t-BHP induced oxidative stress. Our findings suggest that CBSL extracts are a potential therapeutic with protective antioxidant effects upon oxidative stress.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1081-1086
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the medicinal effects of the herbal combination extracts-2 (HCE-2), consisting of Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Lonicera japonica Thunb., Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, and Hovenia dulcis Thunb. on the alcohol-induced liver injury in rats. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group (n =6), non-treated control group (n =6), saline-treated group (n =6) and the herbal combination extract (HCE-2)-treated group (n =6). The rats in the alcohol-loaded groups were orally administered with ethanol at a daily dose of 4 g/kg-body weight for 5 weeks. Thirty minutes before the ethanol injection, saline or herbal combination extracts was administered by using a gastrogavage. Blood and liver tissue samples were taken out from the hearts and livers of the rats, respectively, on 15th and 38th days. The activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We also investigated the protective effect of the herbal combination extracts by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining on histological sections of rat liver. In this study, the oral administration of the herbal combination extracts significantly reduced the serum levels of AST and ALT, which had been raised by alcohol-induced liver injury. Histological analysis and apparent observation of liver also showed the preventive effect of the herbal combination extracts in a chronic alcohol-induced rat model. Theses results revealed that the herbal combination extracts effectively prevented hepatic damage consequent to the chronic exposure to repetitive administration of ethanol and could be used as a primary resource of a health beverage or herbal medicine, alleviating the alcohol-induced hepatic injury and hangover symptoms.