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.

간장해에 미치는 녹각의 효과를 밝힐 목적으로 녹각을 성분별로 추출 분리하여 급여하고 galactosamine으로 간장해를 유도한 후 녹각추축물이 간기능 유지에 관여하는 효소활성 및 지질 대사에 미치는 영향을 생화학적 측면에서 고찰하였다. Cytochrome P-450은 녹각추출물이 급여로 증가하였으며 갈락토사민 투여로 감소하였으나 neutal-ext.군에서 높은 증가를 보였다. Glutathione peroxidase 활성은 갈락토사민 투여로 감소하였으나, 논각 추출물 급여로 활성이 증가하였다. 간조직의 글루타티올 함량은 녹각추출물 급여로 유의적 변동이 없었으며 갈락토사민 투여로 감소하였다. 과산화지질 함량은 대조군에 비해 각각의 녹각 추출물 급여군에서 감소하고 특히 water-ext.군에서 감소정도가 가장 현저하였다. 간조직중의 총 지방질, 총 콜레스테롤 및 트리글리세리드의 함량은 대조군에 비해 각각의 녹각추출물 급여군에서 감소하였으며, water-ext.군에서 가장 많이 하게 감소하였다. 이상의 결과로 미루어 볼 때 녹각의 water-ext.과 neutral-ext.에 함유되어 있는 성분이 간기능 유지에 관여하는 효소합성 증가를 통해 활성증가를 유도하고, 이로써 독성의 대사를 촉진시키므로 간독성을 예방할 수 있을 것으로 생각되며, 이와 같은 녹각추출물의 작용이 생체에 흡수되어진 xenobiotics의 해독작용과 연관될 것으로 생각된다.

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.