Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is recognized one of the leading metabolic diseases globally, and the younger age population with the disease is rapidly growing, especially in developed countries. Since there has been no approved medicine, losing weight is known to be the only best remedy to control or reverse the disease. Recently, the field of microbiome has attracted much attention to offer more practical choices for patients. Here, we provide experimental evidence that Streptococcus thermophilus LM1012 (LM1012), a safe probiotic strain, is effective for improving NAFLD indexes. In the methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet induced C57BL/6 mouse model, administration of LM1012 promoted marked reductions of aspartate transaminase (23.8%), total bilirubin (27.8%), hydroxycholesterol (64.2%), triglyceride (29.7%) and IL-1β (68.3%) compared to the MCD diet alone group. Also, the histopathological data imply that LM1012 inhibited fat accumulation and inflammation in the liver, which are the key biomarkers for progression of the disease. Together, these findings suggest that human consumption of LM1012 as a healthy nutritional supplement, may be helpful in reducing the risk of liver damages in NAFLD patients.

Barley’s nutritional value as a health food is increasing due to its excellent nutritional functionality. In this study, the levels of β-glucan, total polyphenols, and total flavonoids were analyzed in the ethanol extracts of different barley cultivars (Hinchalssal, Heuksoojeongchal, Betaone, Ganghochung, and Saechalssal). Also, the free radical scavenging abilities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzo-thiaxoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) were measured to determine their antioxidant activity. The results confirmed that Betaone extract contained highly activefunctional components and exhibitedantioxidant activity. Next, we evaluated the hepatoprotective and inhibitory effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by barley ethanol extracts after inducing oxidative stress with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) in HepG2 cells. Hinchalssal and Saechalssal extracts showed the most significant cytoprotective effect and also reduced ROS production significantly. These results suggest that Hinchalssal, Saechalssal, and Betaone represent potential natural antioxidant and hepatoprotective agents.

This study investigated the preventive effect of Dendropanax morbifera leaf extracts (DMLEs) drew out with water, 30, 50 and 70% ethanol against alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in vitro and vivo. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-dipenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to assess cytotoxic activity of DMLEs, and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranged between 1.11 and 2.08 mg/mL on Hep3B cells. In preventing ethanol-induced-hepatotoxicity on Hep3B cells, 30 and 50% ethanol DMLEs were significantly effective compared to the 5% ethanol treatment control. In addition, the 30% ethanol DMLE was orally provided to rats 30 min prior to the administration of ethanol (3 mL/kg body weight). At 1, 3 and 5 h after ethanol treatment, the plasma levels of ethanol and acetaldehyde were determined. The 30% ethanol DMLE effectively decreased the plasma ethanol levels during 5 h but increased the plasma acetaldehyde levels until 3 h and then significantly decreased at 5 h, as compared to the control. These results indicate that the 30% ethanol DMLE possesses a potent preventive effect against ethanol-induced liver toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats.

This study evaluated the biological activity and cytoprotective effect of guava (Psidium guajava L.) branch against oxidative stress. The contents of vitamin C, beta-carotene, total carotenoids, quercetin and catechin determined were 26.783, 43.676, 65.083, 58.245, and 8.309 mg/100 g, respectively. To measure antioxidant activity, the guava branch was extracted using various concentrations of ethanol (60, 80, or 100%) and water. The highest content of polyphenols (0.245 mg gallic acid equivalent/mg residue) and flavonoids (0.128 mg cathechin equivalent/mg residue) was found in the 100% ethanol extract of the branch (E100). Moreover, E100 also possessed the highest radical scavenging activities and showed the highest inhibition rate of α-glucosidase (77.692%). E100 was the most effective extract to impart cytoprotectant activity against oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Taken together, our results determine the promising antioxidant activity of guava branch, and indicate the potential to be applied as a natural antioxidant.

This study examined the bioactive compound content and the antioxidant activities of bitter melon (Momordica charantia Linn.) leaves. The content of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and total carotenoids was 69.77, 45.68, and 65.08 mg/100 g, respectively. To investigate the antioxidant capacity, bitter melon leaves were extracted using various concentrations of ethanol (60, 80, or 100%). Highest content of total polyphenols (18.07 mg gallic acid equivalent/g) and flavonoids (4.53 mg cathechin equivalent/g) was found in the 100% ethanolic extract of the leaves (E100). Also, the E100 extract showed the highest levels of 2,2'azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and α-α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activities. Reducing power was also the highest (39.21 mg Trolox equivalent/g) in E100 extract. The E100 extract effectively inhibited lipid peroxidation by 91.45% compared to the control group. Also, the E100 extract showed a cytoprotective effect against oxidative stress in HepG2 cells and decreased the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species. These results suggest that bitter melon leaves could be regarded as a potential source of natural antioxidants.

Raphiolepis indica (R. indica) is one of evergreen shrubs belonging to the Rosaceae and is grown wildly in Jeju. This study was performed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of different fractions (n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol, water) from R. indica. Anti-oxidative effects were determined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity and total phenol contents. Hepatoprotective effect was identified by 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in Huh7 cells. Among various fractions, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions showed the lowest DPPH remained rate reaching approximately 78.7 and 65.5% at 400 μg/mL. Ethyl acetate and butanol fractions showed the total phenolic content at 164.5 and 137.3 mg GAE/g extract. The ethyl acetate and butanol fractions were resistant against oxidative stress in MTT assay and showed higher hepatoprotective effect than other fractions. Therefore, these results suggest that the ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of R. indica might have therapeutic value in liver damage.

Oxidative stress is one of common cause of fatty changes in the liver. Antioxidant capacity was confirmed in various vegetables including black radish (Raphanus sativus L. var niger). Fermentation of vegetables using Lactobacillus plantarum has been known to generate bioactive components. This study was conducted to determine if fermented black radish (FBR) ameliorates oxidative liver injury induced by CCl4 in rats. To accomplish this, FBR (250 and 500 mg/ kg) was orally administered to rats for 7 consecutive days, single CCl4 (1.5 mL/kg) treatment or no treatment orally. Serum chemistry at 24 hours after CCl4 injury showed that FBR (500 mg/kg) significantly reduced the level of both alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in CCl4 exposed rats. Moreover, FBR treatment significantly increased radical-scavenging effects in livers with the reduction of lipid peroxidation in CCl4 exposed rats. Histopathologic findings including Kupffer cell activation in the liver of each group matched those of serum chemistry. Collectively, black radish, through fermentation, exerts hepatoprotective capacity in CCl4 induced liver injury in rats through anti-oxidation.

Alcoholic steatosis is a fundamental metabolic disorder and may precede the onset of more severe forms of alcoholic liver disease. In this study, we isolated enzymatichydrolysate from Semisulcospira libertine by alcalase hydrolysis and investigated the protective effect of Semisulcospira libertine hydrolysate on liver injury induced by alcohol in the mouse model of chronic and binge ethanol feeding (NIAAA). In an in vitro study, the hydrolysate protects HepG2 cells from ethanol toxicity. Liver damage was assessed by histopathological examination, as well as by quantitating activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). After the administration of S. libertina hydrolysate, fat accumulation and infiltration of inflammatory cells in liver tissues were significantly decreased in the NIAAA mouse model. The elevated levels of serum AST, ALT, and ALP activities, along with the lipid contents of a damaged liver, were recovered in experimental mice administrated with S. libertina hydrolysate, suggesting its role in blood enzyme activation and lipid content restoration within damaged liver tissues. Moreover, treatment with S. libertine hydrolysate reduced the expression rate of cyclooxygenase (COX-2), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6, which accelerate inflammation and induces tissue damage. All data showed that S. libertine hydrolysate has a preventive role against alcohol-induced liver damages by improving the activities of blood enzymes and modulating the expression of inflammation factor, suggesting S. libertine hydrolysate could be a commercially potential material for the restoration of hepatotoxicity.

Antioxidant activity of dropwort fermented extract (DFE) was measured according to fermentation period, and liverprotective effects were examined using Sprague-Dawley rats. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents as well as DPPH andABTS radical scavenging activities increased up to 60~80 days and then decreased slightly. Proper fermentation time forDFE was more than 60 days and less than 80 days. Administration of alcohol to rats for 10 days at 10mL/kg/day raisedserum AST, ALT, total cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) levels, which were then lowered by DFE and sugar liquid with thesame soluble solids. While sugar liquid increased the blood lipid profile, especially TG levels, DFE had no effect due to itsantioxidant activity. When TBARS content of the DFE group in liver tissue significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner compared to that of the ALH group (p<0.05). Liver damage was recovered by DFE treatment and wasconfirmed by hamatoxylin-eosin staining. These results suggest that DFE has a protective effect against alcohol-inducedhepatotoxicity in SD rats.

국내 전통식품 인증을 획득한 된장을 대상으로 간 섬유화 억제를 위한 기능 소재로서의 활용가능성을 알아보고자하였다. 국내 농산물로만 제조되어진 전통식품인증 된장총 24개 제품을 전국에서 수집하여 70% 메탄올로 추출한다음, MEF 세포주에 처리하여 간섬유화의 지표인 α-SMA의 발현 억제활성을 측정하였다. 공장식 생산과정을 거치는 일반 시판된장과 대조군 대비, 경북지역에서 수집된No. 13 전통인증된장 추출물이 약 74%의 α-SMA 발현억제활성을 나타내어 뛰어난 간 섬유화 억제활성을 나타내었다. 이는 의약품으로 사용되는 silymarin 84%과 비교시10% 정도밖에 차이나지 않았으며, 2년 이상의 발효시간을거친 제품임을 감안할 때 향후 발효시기에 따른 기능성의향상에 대한 기대도 가능할 것으로 예상된다.

Previous studies have shown that methanol extract and its butanol fraction of Carthamus tinctorius L. Semen have the hepatoprotective effect on the CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity. The hepatoprotective effect of subfractions has been evaluated by analyzing blood and hepatocyte biochemical analyses and biotransformation enzyme analyses. Treatment of BS-5 subfraction has significantly decreased the activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. In addition, the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride in liver have been decreased as compared with that of CCl₄ treated rats. The hepatoprotective effect of BS-5 subfraction on the CCl₄-induced hepatotocicity would be mediated of the attenuation of the level of cytochrome P450 and the enhancement of the activity of glutathion S-transferase.

Several parts of Lythrum salicaria were used for this study. Scavenging activities on radicals, inhibitory activity on linoleic acid peroxidation and total phenol contents of extracts from root, flower, and aerial part were evaluated. Flower and root selected from in vitro assay were subjected to in vivo assay on CCL4-induced liver injury rat model for two weeks. Carbon tetrachloride intoxication on rats produced large amounts of hepatic lipid peroxidation product, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) compared with normal rats. Treatment with root extract of L. salicaria (LSR) showed effective inhibitory activity on lipid peroxidation product. Administration with LSR extract significantly alleviated CCL4-induced increase in GPT activity which were more effective than silymarin. The results of this study suggest that root and flower of L. salicaria have antioxidant and liver protecting activities, and root part is the most effective candidate to develop a new functional material.

해당화 뿌리는 우리나라 민간에서 당뇨병 치료제로 사용되는 약용식물이다. Bromobenzene으로 간독성을 유발한 흰쥐에 뿌리에서 분리한 화합물인 (+)-catechin을 경구투여하여 bromobenzene대사계에 미치는 효소활성을 간독성 물질인 bromobenzene 3,4-oxide 생성에 관여하는 효소인 aminopyrine N-demetylase와 aniline hydroxylase와 독성 epoxide 대사중간체를 무독화 시키는 epoxide hydrolase와 glutathione S-transferase에 활성을 관찰하였다. (+)-Catechin의 투여가 aminopyrine N-demetylase, aniline hydroxylase 및 glutathione S-transferase에 활성에는 영향을 주지 못하였으나, epoxide hydrolase는 positive control로 사용한 ascorbic acid에 미치지 못하지만, bromobenzene 처리군 보다 39% 효소활성을 회복 시켰다. 따라서, (+)-catechin은 간독성 물질을 무독화시키는 epoxide hydrolase의 활성을 회복시켜 간보호 활성을 나타냄을 알 수 있었으며, 해당화에서 분리한 사포닌 성분인 rosamultin도 이효소의 활성을 증가시킴으로 인해 보호활성을 나타내는 것으로 보고된바 있다.

The objective of present study was to investigate the anti oxidative and hepatoprotective effects of tomato extracts. Total antioxidant capacity and total antioxidant response were 5.5 and 19.8μg Trolox equivalent per mg of tomato extract, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activity of tomato extracts (10mg ml-1) was 70% as compared to 100% by pyrogallol solution as a reference. The effect of the tomato extracts on lipid peroxidation was examined using rat liver mitochondria induced by iron/ascorbate. Tomato extracts at the concentration of 0.5mg ml-1 significantly decreased TBARS concentration. Tomato extracts prevented lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of the tomato extracts on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was examined using cell-free system induced by H2O2/FeSO4. Addition of 1mg ml-1 of tomato extracts significantly reduced dichlorofluorescein (DCF) fluorescence. Tomato extracts caused concentration-dependent attenuation of the increase in DCF fluorescence, indicating that tomato extracts significantly prevented ROS generation in vitro. The effect of tomato extracts on cell viability and proliferation was examined using hepatocyte culture. Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were incubated with 1mM tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) for 90 min in the presence or absence of tomato extracts. MTT values by addition of tomato extracts at the concentration of 2, 10, and 20mg ml-1 in the presence of t-BHP were 13, 33 and 48%, respectively, compared to 100% as control. Tomato extracts increased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that tomato extracts suppressed lipid peroxidation and t-BHP-induced hepatotoxicity and scavenged ROS generation. Thus antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of tomato extracts seem to be due to, at least in part, the prevention from free radicals-induced oxidation, followed by inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

민간 약으로 사용되는 쇠비름의 물 추출물에 대하여 실험한 결과 간 효소 활성의 경우 CCl4에 의하여 손상된 간에 대하여 간 질환 치료제인 silymarin 과 비교하여 s-GPT 치는 59.4%, s-GOT 치는 55.8% 의 개선효과가 있었으며, 이뇨활성의 경우는 최대일 때 이뇨제인 furosemide의 43.7%에 해당하는 이뇨 효과를 나타냈고, carrageenan에 의한 부종에 대하여는 항염제인 indomethacin의 61.8% 에 해당하는 부종억제 효과를 보여 쇠비름 전제(前劑)의 간질환 개선, 이뇨 및 항부종의 약용가치는 충분하다고 사료된다.

활성산소에 기인하는 다양한 성인병을 예방 치료할 수 있는 안전하고 우수한 항산화 물질을 천연물로 부터 개발하기 연구의 일환으로 오배자의 주성분에 대한 항산화효과 및 간보호효과를 연구하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. Ferric-Thiocyanate 법에 의하여 과산화반응 억제에 따른 항산화 활성을 측정한 결과 모두 tocopherol보다 강한 과산화반응 억제 활성을 보였으며 gallic acid methyl ester, protocatechuic acid와 syringic acid는 tocopherol 보다는 강한 활성을 보였으며 BHA와는 유사 또는 그 이상의 활성을 보였다. 특히 1, 2, 3, 4, 6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D- glucose는 tocopherol과 BHA보다 매우 강한 과산 화반응억제 활성을 보였다. 2. TBA 법에 의한 과산화지질의 생성의 지표인 MDA 억제효과에 의한 항산화효과를 측정한 결과 gallic acid 는 1.6×10-4의 농도에서 BHA 보다 높은 억제율을, protocatechuic acid는 1.6×10-6의 농도에서 BHA 보다 높은 억제율을 보였다. gallic acid methyl ester와 1, 2, 3, 4, 6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose는 농도가 증가함에 따라 우수한 MDA의 억제활성을 나타내었다. 3. Glycyrrhizin을 비교군으로 하여 간 보호 실험을 한 결과 1, 2, 3, 4, 6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose의 0.5mg/ml첨가군에서는 GOT의 강한 감소 효과를 보였으며 GPT 실험에서는 각 시료 0.5mg/ml 첨가군에서 감소하는 경향을 나타내었다.