Hepatoprotective effects of hoveniae semen cum fructus extracts in ethanol intoxicated mice.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of Hoveniae Semen Cum Fructus extract in ethanol induced hepatic damages.


METHODS
Hepatic damages were induced by oral administration of ethanol and then Hoveniae Semen Cum Fructus extract was administered.


RESULTS
Following Hoveniae Semen Cum Fructus extract administration, body and liver weights were increased, while aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, albumin, γ-glutamyl transferase, and triglyceride levels in the serum, triglyceride contents, tumor necrosis factor -α level, cytochrome (CY) P450 2E1 activity in the liver and mRNA expression of hepatic lipogenic genes, and Nitrotyrosine and 4-HNE-immunolabelled hepatocytes were decreased. However, mRNA expression of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation was increased. Also, as a protective mechanism for hepatic antioxidant defense systems, decreased liver MDA contents, increased glutathione contents, increased dismutase and catalase activities were observed when compared to the ethanol control.


CONCLUSIONS
Hoveniae Semen Cum Fructus extract favorably protected against liver damages, mediated by its potent anti-inflammatory and anti-steatosis properties through the augmentation of the hepatic antioxidant defense system by NF-E2-related factor-2 activation, and down-regulation of the mRNA expression of hepatic lipogenic genes or up-regulation of the mRNA expression of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation.
Department of Anatomy and Histology, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongsan-si Republic of Korea.
Ilje
I
Cho
Aribio Central Research Institute, Aribio Inc., Sungnam-si Republic of Korea.
Joowan
J
Kim
Aribio Central Research Institute, Aribio Inc., Sungnam-si Republic of Korea.
Jaijun
J
Jung
Aribio Central Research Institute, Aribio Inc., Sungnam-si Republic of Korea.
Soohyun
S
Sung
Aribio Central Research Institute, Aribio Inc., Sungnam-si Republic of Korea.
Jongkyu
J
Kim
Department of Sports Medicine, Jungwon University, Goesan-gun Republic of Korea.
Namju
N
Lee
Department of Anatomy and Histology, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongsan-si Republic of Korea.
Saekwang
S
Ku
Hoveniae; Nrf2; antioxidant; hepatoprotective; mouse