title: Hepatoprotective effect of Platycodon grandiflorum against chronic ethanol-induced oxidative stress in C57BL/6 mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried out to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) in ethanol (EtOH)-induced liver damage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PG treatment (both the total extract and saponin fraction) significantly blocked EtOH-induced oxidative stress through the preservation of activities of antioxidant enzymes in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, while the administration of EtOH to C57BL/6 mice for 6 weeks induced liver damage, along with a significant increase in plasma glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, hepatic triglyceride and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels, PG treatment significantly decreased glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, hepatic triglyceride and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels compared with the EtOH-treated control group (p < 0.05). Histological observation by hematoxylin-eosin and oil red O staining in the liver showed more effective inhibition of lipid accumulation in PG-treated groups, as compared to the EtOH-treated control group. Additionally, PG treatments appeared to enhance the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the liver (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that PG has a protective effect against EtOH-induced oxidative damage, possibly by inhibition of lipid accumulation and peroxidation through the enhancement of the antioxidant defense system. PG might be useful as a therapeutically potent natural ingredient for the prevention of chronic EtOH-induced oxidative stress and liver damage.
authors.affiliation: Animal Model Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, College of Pharmacy, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Ran
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.forename: Yong-Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Gil-Tae
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Gang
authors.forename: Jung-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Sang-Kyum
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Shi-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Young-Sup
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun-Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chul-Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D056487:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031238:Platycodon / Q000737:chemistry*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014280:Triglycerides; D000431:Ethanol; D000410:Alanine Transaminase