• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 1984

Rice, the staple food in Korea, is deficient to some extent in protein, lipid and vitamins. This study was carried out in order to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation to the rice diet of cellulose, ginseng, and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol on lead toxicity in rats. Using male rats fed the rice diet with the distilled drinking water containing 750mg of lead as nitrate per liter, for 11 weeks, organ weights, hemoglobin levels, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity and accumulation of lead in liver, blood and kidney were observed. Supplementation of cellulose, ginseng and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol to the lead groups showed the protective effect significantly in the weight of liver but no influence in hemoglobin levels. Ginseng especially decreased the serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity to normal level. The three supplemented diets reduced the lead accumulation in kidney and blood, but not in liver.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.102-107
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• 2005

In this study, the ameliorating effect of soybean embryos on the impact of alcohol consumption was investigated on rat hepatocytes and in reducing total serum cholesterol levels and total serum lipid levels. Liver histology and two clinically important enzyme markers, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), of rats administered with both alcohol and soybean embryo were compared with a control group. The treatment regimen of soybean embryo significantly reduced the serum ALT and AST levels of the subjects, demonstrating the hepato-protective effects of soybean embryo. Electron microscopy indicated that the administration of soybean embryo preserved the important hepatocyte structures and prevented the presence of lipid droplets and secondary lysosomes. Furthermore, total cholesterol and total lipid levels were significantly reduced. These results indicate that treatment with soybean embryo can positively mediate the effects of alcohol on hepatocytes and general liver functions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.712-717
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• 1998

This study was undertaken to investigate the inhibition effects of Auricularia auricula-judae methanol extract in edible mushroom on lipid peroxidation and liver damage in benzo(a)pyrene(B(a)P)-treated mice. The activities of serum aminotransferase, cytochrome P-450, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and the hepatic content of lipid peroxide after B(a)P-treatment was markedly increased than control but those levels were significantly decreased by the treatment of Auricularia auricula-judae methanol extract. Glutathione S-transferase activity and the hepatic glutathione content were decreased by B(a)P-treatment than control, but those were also inhibited by the treament of Auricularia auricula-judae methanol extract. These results suggest that Auricularia auricula-judae methanol extract have a protective effect on liver damage by B(a)P.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 1991

This study designs to investigate effects of onion diet on carbon tetrachloride toxicity of rats. Experiments were performed with week's feeding, body weight, food intake, ratio of orgen weight/dody weight, serum lipid levels, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity and malondialdehyde(MDA) content in liver and kidney were determined. The content of serum total cholesterol in each group were lower than those of control group(p<0.05), especially at onion juice treated group. Serum HDL-cholesterol level of CBB and CBJ groups was significantly lower than that of control group (p<0.05). Superoxide dismutase activities of liver and kidney were significantly increased by carbon tetrachloride treatment and decreased by onion feeding. MDA contents in liver and kidney of CCl4 treated rats were significantly decreased by boiled and fresh onion fed group, compared with CCl4 treated control group. This result suggested that onion diet has a protective effect of CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity of rat.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2007

The ethanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri Linn. aerial parts were studied far its hepatoprotective effect on $CCl_4-induced$ hepatotoxic rats. The extract was found to decrease significantly $CCl_4-induced$ elevation of SGOT, SGPT, ALP, bilirubin and total cholesterol. But, it increased HDL-cholesterol level and liver weight with respect to $CCl_4$ toxic rats. The extract was also found to decrease significantly the $CCl_4-induced$ elevation of lipid peroxidation and increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) and GSH level in the liver of extract treated rats when compared with $CCl_4$ induced rats. Histopatholosical profiles showed that the extract had significant protective effect against $CCl_4-induced$ liver injury, which corroborates the above findings. Hence it may be possible that the mechanism of hepatoprotection of the extract is due to its antioxidant effect.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1337-1343
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• 2005

The hepato-protective effects of the extract from Protaetia brevitarsis against hepatotoxicity by carbon tetrachloride ($CCI_4$) were studied in rats. The rats were orally treated with $CCI_4$ (50% in corn oil) at initial dose of $1\;m{\ell}/kg$ followed by $0.5m{\ell}/kg$ four times during 2-week period. The extract of P. brevitarsis (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg) or its vehicle was administered day after day from 1 week before $CCI_4$ Injection during five weeks. $CCI_4$ induced hepato-celluar degeneration and necrosis induced to increase in serum aspartate amintransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. In biochemical analyses, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in hepatic tissues were remarkably increased by $CCI_4$ treatment. Not only increases in serum AST and ALT, but also induction of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in hepatic tissues caused by $CCI_4$ were significantly attenuated by the P. brevitarsis extract in a dose-dependent manner. Such hepato-protective effects of P. brevitarsis extract were confirmed by histopathological examinations, wherein only mild hepatocytic vacuolations were observed in the liver of rats treated with a high dose (100 mg/kg) of P. brevitarsis extract in comparison with severe hepatocytic degenerations administered with $CCI_4$ alone. From these results, it is suggested that the extract of Protaetia brevitarsis could be a promising candidate for the protection of liver injury, based on the preventive effects against morphological cellular injuries, lipid peroxidation and serum biochemical parameters.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.1269-1284
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• 2021

Objectives: Phragmitis Rhizoma is the fresh or dried rhizome of Phragmites communis Trin., which has been prescribed in traditional Korean medicine to relieve fever and vomiting and to nourish the body fluids. Recently, the protective effect of Phragmitis Rhizoma extract or its components on myelotoxicity and inflammatory responses have been reported, but no study has yet been conducted on oxidative stress. Methods: The present study investigated whether an ethanol extract of Phragmitis Rhizoma (PR) could protect against cellular damage induced by oxidative stress in Chang liver cells. Results: Pretreatment with PR significantly suppressed the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced reduction of Chang cell viability and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby deferring apoptosis. PR also markedly inhibited H₂O₂-induced comet tail formation and phospho-γH2AX expression, suggesting that PR protected against oxidative stress-mediated DNA damage. PR also effectively prevented the inhibition of ATP synthesis in H₂O₂-treated Chang cells by inhibiting the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, indicating that PR maintains energy metabolism through preservation of mitochondrial function while eliminating ROS generated by H₂O₂. Immunoblotting results indicated that PR attenuated the H₂O₂-induced downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax expression. Conclusions: PR protects against oxidative injury in Chang liver cells by regulating energy homeostasis via ROS generation blockade, which is at least partly mediated through inactivation of the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.203-207
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• 2008

The present study aimed at assessing the protective effect of water extract from fruit body of the Grifola frondosa (GFW) on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity. Rats orally administered with GFW 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 g/kg for 14 days were treated with $CCl_4$ to induce hepatotoxicity. Pretreatment with GFW remarkably prevented the elevation of serum AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, $\gamma$-GTP, and liver lipid peroxides in $CCl_4$-treated rat and GFW administration in liver injured rats by $CCl_4$ showed significant (p<0.05) protection of liver as evidenced from normal serum enzymes and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. In the ultrastructural changes, administration of $CCl_4$-induced damage of hepatocytes with vacuolation, a highly damaged endoplasmic reticulum, and degenerating nuclei. However, pre-administration with GFW preserved normal ultrastructure of hepatocytes. These results suggest that GFW had an effect to inhibit $CCl_4$-induced liver injury in rat, and that it could be used as an effective hepatoprotective agent against chemical-induced liver damage.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.540-548
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• 2018

Background: Acute hepatic failure is a life-threatening critical condition associated with rapid deterioration of liver function and liver transplantation. Several studies have shown that Panax ginseng Mayer has antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects. However, the hepatoprotective effect of ginseng berry is still unveiled. In this study, we evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of ultrasonication-processed ginseng berry extract (UGBE) on acute hepatic failure model in rats. Methods: Ginseng berry extract (GBE) was ultrasonically processed. The GBE, silymarin, and UGBE were orally administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats for 4 wk. Twenty-four h after the last administration, rats were challenged with D-galactosamine (D-GalN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results: After ultrasonication, the component ratio of ginsenosides Rg2, Rg3, Rh1, Rh4, Rk1, Rk3, and F4 in GBE had been elevated. Administration of UGBE significantly increased the survival rate of D-GalN/LPS-challenged rats. Pretreatment with UGBE significantly decreased serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin levels in D-GalN/LPS-challenged rats in a dose-dependent manner. The levels of enzymatic markers for oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione) were increased by UGBE treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Tumor necrosis factor alphalevel, inducible nitric oxide synthase activities, and nitric oxide productions were reduced by UGBE treatment. In addition, hemeoxygenase-1 levels in liver were also significantly increased in the UGBE-treated group. The protein expression of toll-like receptor 4 was decreased by UGBE administration. Hematoxylin and eosin staining results also supported the results of this study showing normal appearance of liver histopathology in the UGBE-treated group. Conclusion: UGBE showed a great hepatoprotective effect on D-GalN/LPS-challenged rats via the toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathway.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.31-42
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• 2021

Objectives : This study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Spatholobi Caulis water extract (SC) to thioacetamide (TAA)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in rats. Methods : The rats were injected intraperitoneally with TAA (200 mg/kg body weight) and orally administered SC (100 or 200 mg/kg b.w.) daily for 3 days. Liver biomarkers were assessed by serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and ammonia levels. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured both serum and liver tissue. In addition, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, anti-oxidant, and inflammation-related proteins were investigated by western blot analysis. Histological examination further confirmed though hematoxylin and eosin stain. Results : The SC treatment reduced liver function markers like GOT and GPT and also remarkably decreased ammonia level. Moreover, the elevated MDA level in TAA-induced group was significantly reduced by SC treatment. NADPH oxidase expression associated with oxidative stress including NOX2, NOX4, and p47phox markedly inhibited by SC administration. SC treatment exerted anti-oxidant effect through the increase of anti-oxidant enzyme including superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). The protein expressions of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-�� (TNF-��), IL-6, and IL-1�� induced by nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-��B) activation were modulated through blocking the phosphorylation of inhibitor of nuclear factor ��B�� (I��B)��. SC treatment also improved histological alterations. Conclusion : These findings suggested that SC administration may be a potential candidate for the prevention or treatment of ALI.