Amelioration effects of traditional Chinese medicine on alcohol-induced fatty liver

Hyun-Jeong Kwon, Yun-Young Kim, Se-Young Choung, Department of Hygienic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, South Korea

Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.

Correspondence to: Se-Young Choung, PhD, Department of Hygienic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, South Korea. rk.ca.uhk@gnuohcys

Telephone: +82-2-961-0372 Fax: +82-2-961-0372

Hyun-Jeong Kwon, Yun-Young Kim, Se-Young Choung, Department of Hygienic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, South Korea

Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.

Correspondence to: Se-Young Choung, PhD, Department of Hygienic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, South Korea. rk.ca.uhk@gnuohcys

Telephone: +82-2-961-0372 Fax: +82-2-961-0372

Received 2004 Nov 8; Revised 2004 Dec 20; Accepted 2004 Dec 23.

Abstract

AIM: To examine the effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on alcohol-induced fatty liver in rats. TCM consists of Astragalus membranaceus, Morus alba, Crataegus pinnatifida, Alisma orientale, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Pueraria lobata.

METHODS: The rats were separated randomly into five groups. One (the CD group) was fed a control diet for 10 wk, another (the ED group) fed an ethanol-containing isocaloric liquid diet for 10 wk, and the last three (the TCM group) were fed an ethanol-containing isocaloric liquid diet for 10 wk and dosed orally with TCM (222 mg/kg•d, TCM222; 667 mg/kg•d, TCM667; and 2 000 mg/kg•d, TCM2000, respectively) weekly during the last 4 wk.

RESULTS: ED group developed fatty liver according to lipid profile and liver histological findings. Compared with the control group, liver/body weight, serum triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC), liver TG and TC, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartic aminotran-sferase (AST) significantly increased in the ED group. Whereas, in the rats administered with TCM, liver/body weight, serum TG and TC, liver TG and TC, serum ALT and AST were significantly decreased, and the degree of hepatic lipid droplets was markedly improved compared with those in the ED group.

CONCLUSION: TCM treatment causes significant reduction in alcohol-induced lipid hepatic accumulation, reversing fatty liver and liver damage, and can be used as a remedy for alcoholic fatty liver.

Keywords: Fatty liver, Alcohol, Astragalus membranaceus, Morus alba, Crataegus pinnatifida, Alisma orientale, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Pueraria lobata

Abstract

Footnotes

Science Editor Guo SY Language Editor Elsevier HK

Footnotes

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