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.

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.

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.

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.

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.