Anti-oxidative effect of Korean red ginseng extract in the alcoholic liver damage of a rat model

Abstract

Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been experimented as a potent antioxidant, therefore we investigated the anti-oxidative effect of KRG on the alcoholic damaged liver of a rat model for six weeks. The eight-week rats were divided into three experimental groups -AC, AC(L) and AC(H)- which have ingested alcohol(36% of total energy intake) through liquid diet to induce liver damage, and a control group (CON) which has fed nonalcoholic isocaloric liquid diet. AC(L) and AC(H) were orally administered KRG extract 700 and 1400mg/kg BW/day, respectively, and AC and CON were administered distilled water. To evaluate the anti-oxidative effect of KRG extract, we determined malondialdehyde (MDA) content as a lipid peroxidation substance, and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) from liver of each group. As results, MDA was significantly high in the order of AC, AC(H), AC(L) and CON (p=0.005). SOD was low in the order of AC, AC(L), AC(H) and CON (p=0.046), and GR in AC(L) was higher than other groups (p=0.002). GPx in AC was lower than other groups, however it was not significant. In a conclusion, alcohol consumption during mealtime for six weeks induced accumulation of MDA and decreased the SOD activity significantly. However, KRG consumption (700mg/kg BW) protected the MDA accumulation and enhanced SOD and GR activities significantly in the alcohol-damaged liver of a rat model.