Effects of Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng), urushiol (Rhus vernicifera Stokes), and probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011 and Lactobacillus acidophilus R0052) on the gut-liver axis of alcoholic liver disease.
BACKGROUND
Roles of immune reaction and toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) have widely been established in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD).


METHODS
We evaluated the biologic efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), urushiol, and probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011 and Lactobacillus acidophilus R0052) in mouse models of ALD. Sixty C57BL/6 mice were equally divided into six feeding groups for 10 weeks: normal diet, alcohol, control, alcohol + KRG, alcohol + urushiol, and alcohol + probiotics. Alcohol was administered via a Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet containing 10% alcohol. TLR-4 expression, proinflammatory cytokines, and histology, as well as the results of liver function tests were evaluated and compared.


RESULTS
No between-group differences were observed with regard to liver function. TLR-4 levels were significantly lower in the KRG, urushiol, and probiotics groups than in the alcohol group (0.37 ± 0.06 ng/mL, 0.39 ± 0.12 ng/mL, and 0.33 ± 0.07 ng/mL, respectively, vs. 0.88 ± 0.31 ng/mL; p < 0.05). Interleukin-1β levels in liver tissues were decreased among the probiotics and KRG groups. The tumor necrosis factor-α level of liver tissue was decreased in the KRG group.


CONCLUSIONS
The pathological findings showed that alcohol-induced steatosis was significantly reduced by KRG and urushiol. As these agents improve immunologic capacity, they may be considered in potential anti-ALD treatments.
Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
Chang Seok
CS
Bang
Department of Molecular Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
So Hyung
SH
Hong
Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
Ki Tae
KT
Suk
Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
Jin Bong
JB
Kim
Department of Pathology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
Sang Hak
SH
Han
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Hotaik
H
Sung
Center for Efficacy Assessment and Development of Functional Foods and Drugs, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea.
Eun Ji
EJ
Kim
College of Agriculture and Life Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea.
Myoung Jo
MJ
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
Moon Young
MY
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
Soon Koo
SK
Baik
Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
Dong Joon
DJ
Kim
Lactobacillus; Panax ginseng; alcoholic liver disease; urushiol