본 연구는 D-galactosamine에 의해 간 손상이 유도된 흰쥐에 다슬기 (Semisulcospira libertina) 추출물이 손상된 간세포의 개선 및 회복에 미치는 효과에 관해 조사하였다. 다슬기 추출물은 간 손상에 따른 간 조직 내 국소적 지방 변성과 염증세포 침윤을 크게 감소시켜 대조군과 유사한 수준으로 회복시키는 경향을 나타내었다. 또한 다슬기 추출물은 간손상 지표 효소인 AST와 ALT, LDH 및 ALP의 증가된 효소 활성을 대조군 수준으로 완화시키며, 간 조직 내 지질과 과산화지질의 함량을 감소시켜 간 손상으로 인한 혈중 효소 활성과 조직 내 지질 함량을 개선하는 것으로 조사되었다. 이와 더불어 다슬기 추출물은 염증반응을 촉진시켜 조직 상해 및 괴사를 유도하는 TNF-α의 발현을 억제시키며, 염증 시 세포를 보호하는 HO-1의 발현을 촉진시켜 염증 반응에서 손상된 세포를 대조군 상태의 세포로 회복시키는데 관여하는 것으로 조사되었다. 따라서 다슬기 추출물은 간조직의 괴사 및 섬유화를 회복시키고 혈액 내 효소의 활성과 조직 내 지질 함량을 개선할 뿐만 아니라 염증 반응 인자의 발현을 조절하고 있어 간 손상으로 인한 간세포의 개선 및 회복에 효과가 높은 기능성 소재로서의 가능성을 제시해 주고 있다.

This study was performed to evaluate the biological activity and protective effect of Cassia tora ethanol extracts against D-galactosamine induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped into normal group, D-galactosamine treated group(control), D-galactosamine plus 0.25% Cassia tora extracts treated group and D-galactosamine plus 0.5% Cassia tora extracts treated group. Normal and control group were fed control diet and Cassia tora extracts treated groups were fed experimental diets containing 0.25% or 0.5% Cassia tora ethanol extracts for 5 weeks. Body weight gain and liver weight of rats were not significantly different between groups. Cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in serum and liver were significantly lower in rats treated only with D-galactosamine compared to normal group, and improved in Cassia tora extracts supplemented rats. D-galactosamine treatment significantly increased serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, gamma glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase, however, the activities of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase were significantly decreased in Cassia tora extracts supplemented rats when compared with D-galactosamine treated control group. Cassia tora extracts significantly suppressed the D-galactosamine-induced elevation of liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) contents. Superoxide dismutase activity was decreased by D-galactosamine treatment, however by the supplementation of Cassia tora ethanol extracts, significantly increased in dose-dependent manner. Glutathione peroxidase activity in rats fed diets containing Cassia tora extracts was decreased compared to control. Based on these results, we concluded that Cassia tora ethanol extracts may prevents the D-galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity probably via an antioxidant mechanism.

Although the vegetable Angelica keiskei (AK) has widely been utilized for the purpose of general health improvement among Korean population, its functionalities are not very well defined. In this study, we examined the effects of methanol extract of AK in rats on the biochemical changes induced by two hepatotoxins, D-galactosamine (GalN) and carbon tetrachloride ( CCl₄). AK was orally administered once daily for 7 days to male rats at 200and 500 mg/kg, before hepatotoxins. Effects of AK were assessed 24 hr later. AK pretreatments at 200 and 500 mg/kg significantly blunted GalN-induced elevation in liver lipid peroxidation, plasma aspartate-transaminase (AST) and alanine-transaminase (ALT) activities. AK also prevented, after 500 mg/kg but not after 200 mg/kg, the GalN-induced elevation in triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels. Differently from against GalN-induced toxicity,AK did further elevate the CCl₄-induced rise in AST, ALT and lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that AK, when pre-administered prior to GalN, exerted protective effects against GalN-induced hepatotoxicity, in contrast however,AK exacerbated that induced by CCl₄. To explore possible mechanism for the toxicity-potentiating effects of AK on CCl₄, the activity of hepatic drug metabolism after AK treatment was assessed. It was observed that AK increased the activity of aniline hydroxaylase, a cytochrome P450 isoenzyme responsible for metabolic activation of CCl₄. This finding suggests that hepatoprotective effects of AK are not equally expected depending on hepatotoxins employed.

Here we report the protective activity of cultured Acer tegmentosum cell extract against liver damage in rat intentionally instigated by D-galactosamine. Local fat degeneration and infiltration of inflammatory cells were significantly decreased in cultured A. tegmentosum cell extract administered rat. In addition, acutely increased AST, ALT, LDH, ALP activities and lipid peroxidation and lipid content by liver damage were recovered in experimental rat administrated with A. tegmentosum extract. These results showed that cultured A. tegmentosum cell extract has a role in blood enzyme activation and lipid content restoration within damaged rat liver tissues. Moreover expression rate of TNF-α which accelerates inflammation and induces tissue damage and necrosis was significantly decreased. Also activities of antioxidant enzymes were more effectively upregulated comparing to those of the control group induced hepatotoxicity. All data that cultured A. tegmentosum cell extract has a preventive role against liver damages such as inflammation, tissue necrosis in rats by improving activities of blood enzymes, antioxidant enzymes and modulating expression of inflammation factor, suggest that cultured Acer tegmentosum cell extract is an effective medicinal resource for restoration of hepatotoxicity.