Ixeris dentata (ID) is an herbal medicine used in Asian countries to treat indigestion, pneumonia, hepatitis, contusions, and tumors; however, its effect on intestinal inflammation is unknown. Thus, we investigated the effect of ID in the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) model of colitis in female BALB/c mice; animals were evaluated after seven days of DSS treatment. DSS-treated mice showed considerable clinical signs, including weight loss, reduced colon length, colonic epithelial injury, infiltration of inflammatory cells in the colon tissue, and upregulation of inflammatory mediators. However, administration of ID attenuated body weight loss, colon shortening, and the increase in disease activity index score. ID also significantly decreased the colonic mucosal injury and the number of infiltrating mast cells. Moreover, ID inhibited the expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 α in colon tissue. Taken together, the results provide experimental evidence that ID might be a useful therapy for patients with ulcerative colitis.
A 7-year-old neutered male Cocker spaniel was referred to Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Kyungpook National University with a left abdominal mass, anorexia and weight loss. Hematologic test and biochemical panel showed severe leukocytosis, mild anemia, mild hypoalbuminemia and a marked elevation in gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT). Radiography demonstrated a large mass on the left kidney and there was no evidence of pulmonary metastases. Histopathologic features of the mass were consistent with renal tubular carcinoma. The dog was treated with unilateral nephrectomy. During the follow-up, the dog died 6 months after surgery.
The hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects of Allium victorialis (AV) methanol extracts were investigated on high fat diet (HFD) supplied mice. Treatment of AV extracts (62.5, 125, 250 ㎎/㎏) once a day for 12 weeks markedly decreased the liver steatohepatitis and kidney damages. AV extracts were inhibited the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine elevations and reduced the histopathological changes of livers induced by HFD supply. In addition, AV extracts strengthened the antioxidative defense system with an increased activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), catalase and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The 125 ㎎/㎏ of AV extract showed similar favorable effects as compared with silymarin 100 ㎎/㎏. It is suggested that AV methanol extract administration is beneficial to the improvement of the alleviation of liver and kidney damages in HFD supplement.
Objective : Obesity is often defined as a condition associated with accumulations of excessive body fats which resulting from disorder of energy balance in term of energy intake and energy expenditure. Methods : The effects of natural mixture (T) for inhibition of lipid metabolism on the liver, epididymal fat pads and pancreatic zymogen granules of high fat diet (HFD) supplied rats were observed by histopathology and histomorphometry. Results : As results of HFD supply, severe steatohepatitis such as increases of mean diameters of hepatocytes and the percentages regions of fatty changes was detected. In addition, hypertrophy of adipocytes (increase of mean diameters of epididymal fat pads) was also detected with dramatic decreases of pancreatic zymogen granules at histopathological and histomorphometrical observations. However, theses steatohepatitis and hypertrophy of adipocytes induced by HFD supply were inhibited by treatment of 5 % and 10 % T (T5, T10), respectively. Well corresponded as the results of adipocyte hypertrophy and steatohepatitis, the decreases of pancreatic zymogen granules were also dose-dependently inhibited by T treatment as compared with HFD control, respectively. Conclusion : In conclusion, based on the results, it is considered that test materials, T5 and T10, will be showed hepatoprotective and anti-obese effects, may be directly and/or indirectly mediated by pancreatic zymogen granules because they dose-dependently inhibited steatohepatitis, hypertrophy of adipocytes and decreases of pancreatic zymogen granules induced by HFD supply, respectively.