• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.300-306
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• 2005

Tamoxifen citrate is an anti-estrogenic drug used for the treatment of breast cancer. It showed a degree of hepatic carcinogenesis, when it used for long term as it can decrease the hexose monophosphate shunt and thereby increasing the incidence of oxidative stress in liver rat cells leading to liver injury. In this study, a model of liver injury in female rats was done by intraperitoneal injection of tamoxifen in a dose of 45 mg/kg body weight for 7 successive days. This model produced a state of oxidative stress accompanied with liver injury as noticed by significant declines in the antioxidant enzymes (glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase) and reduced glutathione concomitant with significant elevations in TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance) and liver transaminases; sGPT (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase) and sGOT (serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase) levels. The oral administration of dimethyl dimethoxy biphenyl dicarboxylate (DDB) in a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight daily for 10 successive days, resulted in alleviation of the oxidative stress status of tamoxifen-intoxicated liver injury in rats as observed by significant increments in the antioxidant enzymes (glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase) and reduced glutathione concomitant with significant decrements in TBARS and liver transaminases; sGPT and sGOT levels. The administration of DDB before tamoxifen intoxication (as protection) is more little effective than its curative effect against tamoxifen-induced liver injury. The data obtained from this study speculated that DDB can mediate its biochemical effects through the enhancement of the antioxidant enzyme activities and reduced glutathione level as well as decreasing lipid peroxides.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.643-655
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• 2022

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of Haeganjeon on a thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis mouse model and to determine the Haegan-jeon signaling pathway. Methods: Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: Normal group (Nor), TAA-induced liver fibrosis group (Con), TAA-induced liver fibrosis group administered 50 mg/kg silymarin (S50), TAA-induced liver fibrosis group administered 200 mg/kg Haegan-jeon (H200). The liver fibrosis mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection with TAA three times a week for 8 weeks. During the 8 weeks, mice were orally administered silymarin and Haegan-jeon every day. At the end of the study, serum was collected to measure the levels of AST, ALT, ammonia, and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Liver tissue was harvested and analyzed by western blotting and Masson's trichrome staining. Results: Administration of Haegan-jeon suppressed the increase in serum levels of AST, ALT, ammonia, and MPO due to TAA-induced liver fibrosis. Compared to the Con group, the H200 group showed increases in antioxidant-related factors (Nrf2, HO-1, catalase, and GPx-1/2) and decreases in inflammatory-related factors (NF-κB p65, p-IκB-α, Cox-2, iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-1β) in western blots. The H200 treatment inhibited the expression of α-SMA and Collagen I. Conclusions: Haegan-jeon showed a hepatoprotective effect induced by activation of antioxidant-related factors, such as Nrf2, and it regulated the inflammation response by suppression of NF-κB.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8271-8279
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• 2016

Background: Hepato-carcinogenesis is multifaceted in its molecular aspects. Among the interplaying agents are altered gap junctions, the proteasome/autophagy system, and mitochondria. The present experimental study was designed to outline the roles of these players and to investigate the tumor suppressive effects of curcumin with or without mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: Adult female albino rats were divided into normal controls and animals with HCC induced by diethyl-nitrosamine (DENA) and $CCl_4$. Additional groups treated after HCC induction were: Cur/HCC which received curcumin; MSCs/HCC which received MSCs; and Cur+MSCs/HCC which received both curcumin and MSCs. For all groups there were histopathological examination and assessment of gene expression of connexin43 (Cx43), ubiquitin ligase-E3 (UCP-3), the autophagy marker LC3 and coenzyme-Q10 (Mito.Q10) mRNA by real time, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, along with measurement of LC3II/LC3I ratio for estimation of autophagosome formation in the rat liver tissue. In addition, the serum levels of ALT, AST and alpha fetoprotein (AFP), together with the proinflammatory cytokines $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-6, were determined in all groups. Results: Histopathological examination of liver tissue from animals which received DENA-$CCl_4$ only revealed the presence of anaplastic carcinoma cells and macro-regenerative nodules. Administration of curcumin, MSCs; each alone or combined into rats after induction of HCC improved the histopathological picture. This was accompanied by significant reduction in ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein together with proinflammatory cytokines and significant decrease of various liver enzymes, in addition to upregulation of Cx43, UCP-3, LC3 and Mito.Q10 mRNA. Conclusions: Improvement of Cx43 expression, nonapoptotic cell death and mitochondrial function can repress tumor growth in HCC. Administration of curcumin and/or MSCs have tumor suppressive effects as they can target these mechanisms. However, further research is still needed to verify their effectiveness.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.176-187
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• 2000

Objectives : This study was purposed to investigate the antioxidative effects of Paeoniae radix aqua-acupuncture solution(PR) on culture liver cell system, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzyme activities in tert-butyl hydroperoxide(t-BHP) treatmented conditions. Methods : Cultured normal rat liver cell(Ac2F) were prepared and incubated with or without PR(at 2% volume in culture medium). After 16~18hr, cells placed in DMEM medium without serum, and then incubated with 1mM t-BHP for 2hr. Viable cells were detected by MTT assay, and the levels of lipid peroxide(LPO) were measured by TBA method. And catalase activity was measured as the decrease in hydrogen peroxide absorbance at 240nm on spectrophotometer using 30mM hydrogen peroxide. Superoxide dismutase(SOD) were assayed by recording the inhibition of nitro blue tetrazolium reduction with xanthine and xanthine oxidase. Glutathione peroxidase(GPX) activity was determined by the modified coupled assay developed by Paglia and Lawrence. The reaction was started by addition of 2.2mM hydrogen peroxide as substrate. The change in absorbance at 340nm was measured for 1min on spectrophotometer. Glutathione-S-transferase(GST) activity was assayed with CDNB as substrate and enzyme activity of GST towards the glutathione conjugation of CDNB. Results : Cell killing was significantly enhanced by addition of t-BHP compared to those of untreated group. PR pretreated cell resisted the toxic effects of t-BHP. LPO levels of t-BHP treatment group were significantly higher than other groups. This increased level was significandy reduced by PR pretreatment. The t-BHP treatment resulted in a decrease of catalase, GPX and GST activities. By contrast, PR pretreatment markedly increased compare to those of untreated groups. Conclusions : T-BHP which can produce intracellular free radical was used for inducer of the peroxidation of cellular lipids. PR protected the cell death induced by t-BHP and significantly increased cell viabiliry in the normal rat liver cell, and showed effective inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and elevations of catalase, GPX and GST activities. These results suggested that PR might play a protective role in lipid peroxidation by free radicals.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cadmium is a toxic metal that is an occupational and environmental concern especially because of its human carcinogenicity; it induces serious adverse effects in various organs and tissues. Even low levels of exposure to cadmium could be harmful owing to its extremely long half-life in the body. Cadmium intoxication may be prevented by the consumption of dietary components that potentially reduce its accumulation in the body. Dietary chitosan is a polysaccharide derived from animal sources; it has been known for its ability to bind to divalent cations including cadmium, in addition to other beneficial effects including hypocholesterolemic and anticancer effects. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of dietary chitosan in reducing cadmium accumulation using an in vivo system. MATERIALS/METHODS: Cadmium was administered orally at 2 mg (three times per week) to three groups of Sprague-Dawley rats: control, low-dose, and high-dose (0, 3, and 5%, respectively) chitosan diet groups for eight weeks. Cadmium accumulation, as well as tissue functional and histological changes, was determined. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, rats fed the chitosan diet showed significantly lower levels of cadmium in blood and tissues including the kidneys, liver, and femur. Biochemical analysis of liver function including the determination of aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin levels showed that dietary chitosan reduced hepatic tissue damage caused by cadmium intoxication and prevented the associated bone disorder. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that dietary chitosan has the potential to reduce cadmium accumulation in the body as well as protect liver function and bone health against cadmium intoxication.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.2072-2081
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• 2015

Aloe vera has been used in traditional medicine for the therapy of a variety of disorders, such as wounds and burns. However, few studies have examined the antioxidant capacities of A. vera plants during different growth periods. In order to investigate the effects of growth on antioxidant activity, A. vera was prepared from 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, and 12-month-old aloe. The extracts from 6-month-old A. vera showed the highest contents of flavonoids (9.750 mg catechin equivalent/g extract) and polyphenols (23.375 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract) and the highest ferric reducing antioxidant power (0.047 mM ferrous sulfate equivalent/mg extract). The extract from 6-month-old A. vera exhibited the highest free radical scavenging potential, and the lowest IC₅₀ values were found for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (0.26 mg/ml) and alkyl radicals (0.50 mg/ml). In addition, the extract from 6-month-old A. vera showed the greatest effects on cell viability in normal liver cells. Based on these findings, the extract from 6-month-old A. vera was examined further in order to determine its protective potential against tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative stress. The extract from 6-month-old A. vera at a concentration of 0.25 mg/ml showed the highest protective activity against t-BHP-induced reactive oxygen species production. These findings suggested that harvesting regimens were critical in the regulation of effects of the bioactive potential of A. vera on antioxidant activity.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.73-77
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• 2007

The effects of Fucoidan extracted from Ulva lactuca on carbon tetrachloride ($CCI_4$)-induced dysfunction in $CCI_4$-posttreated rats were investigated. Ulva lactuca fucoidan (ULF) of 100 mg/kg concentration was intraperitoneally administered into rats at dose of 1 ml/kg for 14 days. On the day 15, 3.3 ml/kg of $CCI_4$ dissolved in olive oil (1 : 1) was injected 12 hours before anesthetization. We examined the levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) in serum of rats, superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mitochondrial fraction and catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver of rats. SOD, CAT, GPx decreased, and GOT, GPT, MDA increased in the $CCI_4$-treated group. But SOD, CAT, GPx increased, and GOP, GPT, MDA decreased in the ULF and $CCI_4$-treated group. These results showed that ULF had the protective effects on the liver dysfunction of $CCI_4$-treated rats.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.273-279
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• 2009

GATA-binding protein-3 (GATA-3) and T-box expressed in T-cells (T-bet) are now considered as master transcription factors involving Th cell differentiation, but the roles of these factors are still uncertain in vivo. This study was conducted to investigate the expression of these transcription factors in the liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) in rats. In this study, liver damage were induced with Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi water extracts (SBW) and followed for 4 weeks. The expression of GATA-3 and T-bet protein in liver damage induced by $CCl_4$ and the serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgE were studied after 4 weeks of treatment. We found that effect of SBW on IFN-$\gamma$, STAT1, pSTAT1 and T-bet was decreased in vivo. Several genes were demonstrated to be IL-4 inducible prior to the discovery of STAT6. $CCl_4$+SBW group was significantly lower than $CCl_4$ group in IL-4, STAT6, pSTAT6 and GATA-3. Our data indicate that cytokine protein production were increased in $CCl_4$ group and $CCl_4$+SBW group. From these results, water extracts obtained from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi may have an immunoregulatory effect in the liver induced by $CCl_4$ of rats.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.231-235
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• 2004

This study was investigated the effects of the lower power He-Ne IR laser treatment on the changes of blood biochemical components in the rat liver damaged by the carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). The twenty one Sprague-Dawley adult male rats weights (260±18.6 g) were designed to the three groups: one control group and two experimental groups, the experimental groups were divided into the CCl₄-treated groups and the laser therapy group (CCl₄+ Laser). The experimental groups were injected twice with CCl₄(1.0 ml/kg body weight) intraperitoneal for two days. Each group was sacrificed after two weeks irradiated with the lower power He-Ne IR laser for ten minutes per every day. The activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the concentration of serum glucose treated with He-Ne IR laser groups was significantly decreased to the conrtol (treated with carbon CCl₄) group. The activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was decreased in the laser group but not significantly, the concentration of the serum cholesterol in the laser group was significantly increased comparing with the control and case control groups. In conclusion, the effect of the lower power He-Ne IR laser treatment is believed to be a possible protective effects for CCl₄ induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.137-143
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• 1999

Aucubin, the natural product, which is isolated from Aucuba japonica, has a variety of pharmacological effects such as liver-protective function, inhibition of liver RNA and protein biosynthesis, hypotensive activity and antimicrobial effect, etc. This study was performed to investigate the effects of iridoid compounds on wound healing. The author prepared 0.1% aucubin solution and 0.1% aucubin ointment as an active form, aucubigenin to which aucubin was converted by ${\beta}$-glucosidase. Artificial surgical wound was made on either 1cm lateral side of the dorsal midline along the axis of spine of Sprague-Dawley rats under sterile technique. Application of 0.1% aucubin solution or 0.1% aucubin ointment to surgical wound was done daily. Light microscopic examination was performed on the postsurgical 3 days, 5 days, and 9 days. The 0.1% aucubin solution group epithelialized earlier than the control group and the fibrosis of granulation tissue of both aucubin groups were more prominent than the control group. Collectively, this study suggests the possibility of aucubin as a topical agent. Further research should be performed on the mechanism of aucubin on wound healing and proper formulation for effective topical agents.