Aspergillus oryzae로 발효시킨 이고들빼기의 에탄올 추출물이 알코올성 간독성을 유발한 SD계 흰쥐에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 실험군은 정상대조군(NC), 에탄올대조군(EC), 에탄올급여 및 비발효 이고들빼기 추출물 0.5% 첨가식이 급여군(ENY), 에탄올급여 및 발효 이고들빼기 추출물 0.5% 첨가식이 급여군(EFY)의 4개군(6마리/군)으로 나누어 4주간 사육하였으며, 혈청과 간 조직의 주요 지표 성분과 항산화 및 산화관련 효소활성을 측정하였다. 그 결과, EC군이 NC군에 비하여 혈중 GOT 및 GPT 활성은 각각 87.90% 및 57.02%가 높았다. 간 조직의 중성지질과 총콜레스테롤 함량은 각각 77.51% 및 18.56%, LPO 함량은 193.86%가 높았다. 반면에 GSH 함량은 29.52% 낮았다. 또, 항산화계 효소인 SOD 및 GST 활성은 각각 42.78% 및 0.94% 낮게 나타났으며, XO(O type)효소활성은 70.83% 높았다. 이로써 알코올 급여군은 전형적인 간 손상과 함께 항산화계에도 손상이 있음을 나타내었다. ENY 및 EFY군은 EC군과 비교하여 GOT 및 GPT 활성은 각각 24.73∼41.99% 및 22.91∼30.11%가 낮았고, 중성지질 함량은 16.65∼33.33%, 총콜레스테롤 함량은 22.44∼23.11%, LPO 함량은 63.34∼66.13%가 감소한 반면, GSH 함량은 24.61∼35.60% 증가하였다. 또, GST 활성은 유의적인 차이를 보이지 않았으나, SOD 활성은 각각 214.94% 및 261.19% 높았다. 또, XO(O type) 효소활성은 40.34∼51.20% 감소하였다. EFY군은 ENY군에 비하여 GOT 및 GPT활성은 각각 22.93%, 9.34% 낮았고, 혈중 중성지질과 총콜레스테롤 및 LPO 함량은 각각 20.01%, 0.86% 및 7.59%가 낮았다. 그리고 SOD 및 GST활성은 각각 21.52% 및 0.6%가 높았고, XO(O type) 효소의 활성은 18.19% 낮았다. 이상의 결과, 발효 이고들빼기 추출물이 알코올로 유도된 간 손상 흰쥐에 대하여 간 조직 TG와 총콜레스테롤 및 LPO의 함량을 감소시키고, GOT, GPT 및 XO의 활성감소와 동시에 SOD활성을 높임으로써 간의 해독효과가 큰 것으로 판단되며, 이러한 결과는 향후 발효 이고들빼기의 성분들을 이용한 기능성식품의 개발과 이를 위한 기초자료로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.
This study was performed to investigate the hepatotoxicity reducing effect of ethanol extracts from Youngia denticulata Houtt Kitamura (YD) fermented by Aspergillus oryzae, which is well known as a Korean traditional meju microbe. Experimental rats were divided into 4 diets groups (six rats/group) (NC: normal control group, EC: ethanol supplemented control group, ENY: ethanol extracts 0.5% supplemented diets of the non-fermented YD group, EFY: ethanol extracts 0.5% supplemented diets of the fermented YD group). After feeding them for four weeks, the activities GOT and GPT in serum, contents of neutral lipid, total cholesterol, LPO and GSH, and activities of XO (O type) enzyme, SOD and GST in liver tissue were observed. Compared to the NC group, the GOT and GPT activities in the EC group were markedly increased by 87.91% and 57.02%, and the contents of neutral lipid, total cholesterol and LPO were increased by 77.51%, 18.56% and 193.86%, respectively. On the other hand, the GSH content was decreased by 29.52%. The activities of SOD and GST which are anti-oxidation-related enzymes, were decreased by 42.78% and 0.94%, respectively, compared to the NC group, but the XO (O type) enzyme activity was significantly increased by 70.83%. These results confirmed that the liver tissue and anti-oxidation system of the EC group had been damaged. Compared to the EC group, the GOT and GPT activities of the ENY and EFY groups were significantly decreased by 24.73∼41.99% and 22.91∼30.11%, respectively. The contents of neutral lipid, total cholesterol and LPO were decreased by 16.65∼33.33%, 22.44∼23.11% and 63.34∼66.13%, respectively, but the GSH content was significantly increased by 24.61∼35.60%. The GST activity was not significantly affected, but the SOD activity was significantly increased by 214.94 ∼261.19%. The XO (O type) enzyme activity was significantly decreased by 40.34∼51.20%. Compared to the ENY group, the GOT and GPT activities of the EFY group were significantly decreased by 22.93% and 9.34%, respectively. The plasma contents of neutral lipid, total cholesterol and LPO were decreased by 20.01%, 0.86% and 7.59%, respectively. The SOD activity was significantly increased by 21.52%, and the XO (O type) enzyme activity was decreased by 18.19%. Given decreasde TG, total cholesterol, LPO contents of liver tissue, GOT, GPT and XO activity, and increased SOD activity, these study results that ethanol extracts from fermented Youngia denticulata Houtt Kitamura may be effective in reducing hepatotoxicity.