• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.173-178
• /
• 2013

The protective effect of SAPP, an extract from a novel herbal complex, on acute liver injury was investigated using mouse animal model in this study. The content of total phenol in SAPP was increased at dose dependent manner. Consistent with the content of total phenol, SAPP showed the significant anti-oxidative effects on 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Acute liver injury was induced by D-galactosamine (D-GalN) in mouse. Treatment with SAPP significantly reduced the level of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in serum. Histological observation revealed that whereas D-GalN treated mouse showed vacuolization of hepatocytes, sinusoidal dilation and congestion, loss of cell boundaries and ballooning degeneration, loss of architecture and cell necrosis, treatment with SAPP improved D-GalN-induced liver injury. These results suggest that SAPP shows protective effects against D-GalN-induced hepatotoxicity in vivo acute mouse model.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.265-271
• /
• 2007

This study investigated the protective effects of ethylene glycol-bis(${\beta}$-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), an extracellular calcium chelator, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which chelates calcium and most metal ions, against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced acute hepatotoxicity in mice. Mice were treated with EGTA or EDTA at a dose of 20 (low) or 100 mg/kg (high) subcutaneously 1h before $CCl_4$ administration. The mice were fasted and sacrificed 18h after $CCl_4$ treatment. Blood samples were collected from the carotid artery by decapitation under light ether anesthesia. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol levels were measured. Malondialdehyde (MDA) production was determined as an index of lipid peroxidation in the liver. The liver, kidneys, and spleen were weighed. We also evaluated the histopathological changes in the liver in each group. The relative weights of the liver were significantly higher in the $CCl_4$-treatment group than in the normal group, except in the high-EDTA treatment group. EGTA and EDTA treatment caused a significant decrease in serum ALP, ALT, and AST levels. Of all of the doses of EGTA and EDTA tested, the high-EDTA dose resulted in the most remarkable inhibitory action. The protective effect in the high-EDTA-treatment group was confirmed histopathologically. The low-EGTA-treatment group showed a significant decrease in serum TG and cholesterol levels. Liver MDA levels were significantly decreased in the EGTA (20 mg/kg) and EDTA (20, 100 mg/kg) groups. These results suggest that EDTA, which chelates both calcium and metal ions, confers better protection in $CCl_4$-induced acute liver damage than does EGTA, a calcium chelator.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.107-115
• /
• 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotecive effect of silk protein hydrolysates (SDH), which was prepared by acid hydrolysis, in rats. SDH itself did not exhibit any cytotoxic effect on hepatic tissues. SDH showed a protective effect on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced hepatotoxicity and liver damage. SDH effectively reduced AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase), which are biomarkers for liver damage, in a dose-dependent manner. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxidation product, was significantly reduced by SDH. A high dose of SDH (2 g/kg) reduced t-BHP-induced MDA production by 40%. Glutathione (GSH), which is an endogenous antioxidant molecule, was effectively increased by SDH treatment. GSH content was enhanced by around 2.5-fold, compared with t-BHP control, upon SDH (2 g/kg) treatment. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which is an enzyme released by cell cytotoxicity, was greatly increased by t-BHP, but significantly decreased by SDH treatment. Furthermore, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining showed that SDH suppressed t-BHP-induced lesions in liver tissue. Taken together, SDH might be used as a protective agent against liver damage.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.967-974
• /
• 2007

The present work is aimed to evaluate the protective effect of glutathione-enriched Saccharomyces cerevisiae FF-8 strain on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats. The activities of liver markers (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase), lipid peroxidative index (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances), and the antioxidant status (reduced glutathione) were used to monitor those protective roles of FF-8 strain. The liver marker enzymes in plasma and the lipid peroxidation in the liver were increased when $CCl_4$ was treated but these were significantly decreased by FF-8 strain treatment. The hepatic concentration of glutathione in the current glutathione-enriched FF-8 strain fed animal was approximately twice as high as the normal, but this was slightly increased in response to $CCl_4$ plus glutathione-enriched FF-8 strain. The increased liver triglyceride concentration due to the $CCl_4$ treatment was significantly decreased by FF-8 strain and the reduced level reached to that of normal group. Administration of FF-8 strain in normal rat did not show any signs of harmful effects. Therefore, the current findings suggest that FF-8 strain could be an effective antioxidant with no or negligible side-effects and it might be useful for the purpose of protection treatment of hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in $CCl_4$-treatment in rat.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.264-269
• /
• 2013

Silymarin has been introduced fairly recently as a hepatoprotective agent. But its mechanisms of action still have not been well established. The aim of this study was to make alcoholic fatty liver model of rats in a short time and investigate silymarin's protective effects and possible mechanisms on alcoholic fatty liver for rats. The model of rat's alcoholic fatty liver was induced by intragastric infusion of ethanol and high-fat diet for six weeks. Histopathological changes were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE). The activities of alanine transarninase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), the levels of total bilirubin (TBIL), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) in serum were detected with routine laboratory methods using an autoanalyzer. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver homogenates were measured by spectrophotometry. The TG content in liver tissue was determined by spectrophotometry. The expression of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the liver were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Silymarin effectively protected liver from alcohol-induced injury as evidenced by improving histological damage situation, reducing ALT and AST activities and TBIL level in serum, increasing SOD and GPx activities and decreasing MDA content in liver homogenates and reducing TG content in liver tissue. Additionally, silymarin markedly downregulated the expression of NF-${\kappa}B$ p65, ICAM-1 and IL-6 in liver tissue. In conclusion, Silymarin could protect against the liver injury caused by ethanol administration. The effect may be related to alleviating lipid peroxidation and inhibiting the expression of NF-${\kappa}B$.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.327-330
• /
• 1997

Hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer caused by viral infection are among the most prevalent causes of death in Korea. Several medicines have been in use despite their nonsatisfactory effects on these disease. Some herbal medicines put to use recently have not shown beneficial effects, either. This paper evaluates the effects of extracts from 10 traditional Korean herbal medicines on rats with hepatic damage induced by galactosamine. Rubus coreanus showed an anti-inflammatory effect as shown on the data of activities of serum transaminases.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.182-186
• /
• 1993

$\alpha$-Linolenic acid ethylester, $C_{19}$ spiroketalenolether polyyne, herniarin and steroid were isolated from the leaves of Artemisia selengensis (Compositae). The structures of the compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Liver protective effects of these constituents were studied using galactosamine and CCI$_{4}$-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultured rat hepatocytes.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.6-14
• /
• 1984

Pharmacological studies have been carried out with the methanol extract of the whole plant of Pseudostellaria palibiniana Ohwi (Caryophyllaceae). The results showed that it had stimulation effect on heart, hypotensive actions depending on extract contents, stimulation effect on respiration, contraction on excised intestines, enhancement of tension on excised uterus, antineoplastic activity on Ehrlich carcinoma, liver protective activity against $CCl_4$ intoxication, writhing and diuretic activities.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.101-110
• /
• 1989

These studies were attempted to investigate the therapeutic effect earthworm (Lamnodrilus gotai Hatai) extract (LS) on the liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) in rats. Male rats (Sprague-Dawley) were treated with sub-chronic concentration of $CCl_4$, which was 0.2 ml/kg of $CCl_4$ via peroral administration twice a week. LS administration to rats (6 ml/kg,po) prevented the development of fatty liver, necrosis and fibrosis induced by $CCl_4$. Furthermore, as compared with rats suspended after treated with $CCl_4$ only, LS treatment significantly decreased the increment in serum enzyme activities, liver enlargement and improved growth rate. This protective effect was observed when LS was given monthly for 4 months after $CCl_4$ treated for 2 months. These results suggest that earthworm extract has appreciable therapeutic effect on $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.650-658
• /
• 2016

Chronic alcohol consumption causes alcoholic liver disease, which is associated with the initiation of dysregulated lipid metabolism. Recent evidences suggest that dysregulated cholesterol metabolism plays an important role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic fatty liver disease. Ecklonia stolonifera (ES), a perennial brown marine alga that belongs to the family Laminariaceae, is rich in phlorotannins. Many studies have indicated that ES has extensive pharmacological effects, such as antioxidative, hepatoprotective, and antiinflammatory effects. However, only a few studies have investigated the protective effect of ES in alcoholic fatty liver. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal diet (ND) (fed a normal diet for 10 weeks) and ethanol diet (ED) groups. Rats in the ED group were fed a Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet (containing 5% ethanol) for 10 weeks and administered ES extract (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day), silymarin (100 mg/kg/day), or no treatment for 4 weeks. Each treatment group comprised of eight rats. The supplementation with ES resulted in decreased serum levels of triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase. In addition, there were decreases in hepatic lipid and malondialdehyde levels. Changes in liver histology, as analyzed by Oil Red O staining, showed that the ES treatment suppressed adipogenesis. In addition, the ES treatment increased the expression of fatty acid oxidation-related genes (e.g., PPAR-${\alpha}$ and CPT-1) but decreased the expression of SREBP 1, which is a TG synthesis-related gene. These results suggest that ES extract may be useful in preventing fatty acid oxidation and reducing lipogenesis in ethanol-induced fatty liver.