Korean red ginseng prevents ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in isolated perfused rat liver

Park, Hye-Min; Kim, Shang-Jin; Go, Hyeon-Kyu; Kim, Gi-Beum; Kim, Sung-Zoo; Kim, Jin-Shang; Kang, Hyung-Sub

doi:2011.51.2.159

Korean J Vet Res > Volume 51(2); 2011 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2011;51(2):159-164.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14405/kjvr.2011.51.2.159 Published online June 1, 2011.

Korean red ginseng prevents ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in isolated perfused rat liver

Hye-Min Park¹, Shang-Jin Kim¹, Hyeon-Kyu Go¹, Gi-Beum Kim², Sung-Zoo Kim², Jin-Shang Kim¹, Hyung-Sub Kang¹

¹College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University
²Center for Healthcare Technology Development, Chonbuk National University

Abstract

Alcohol abuse and its medical and social consequences are a major health problem in many areas of the world. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been traditionally used for the treatment of liver disease. This study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of KRG against hepatotoxicity in Sprague- Dawley rats treated with ethanol (EtOH). Administration of EtOH for 20 days induced significant changes in serum biochemical parameters (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, and glucose) accompanied by histological changes in the liver tissue. Treatment with KRG prior to administration of EtOH inhibited the EtOH-induced biochemical and histological changes of the liver. In perfused rat livers, administration of EtOH caused an increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release into the perfusate and activated the pro-apoptotic Bax protein but inhibited the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. Pretreatment with KRG prior to administration of EtOH decreased the EtOH-induced LDH release and inhibition of Bcl-2 protein. These results suggest that KRG exerts anti-apoptotic effects and alleviated EtOH-induced liver injury in rats.

Key Words: ethanol, ginseng, liver, liver perfusion, rat