The allelopathic effects of wormwood plants (Artemisia princeps var.orientalis) and their possible phytotoxicity on receptor species were investigated. The aqueous extracts of mature leaf, stem, and root of wormwood plants caused significant inhibition in germination and decreased seedling elongation of receptor plants, whereas germination of some species was not inhibited by extracts of stems and roots. Dry weight growth was slightly increased at lower concentrations of the extract, whereas it was proportionally inhibited at higher concentrations. The calorie value of the organic matter in receptor plants measured by bomb calorimeter was reduced proportionally to the extract concentration. However, results with extracts of juvenile leaf did not correlate with inhibition or promotion of elongation and dry weight.
We compared the effects of ethylacetate extracts from Artemisia iwayomogi (AIE) and Artemisia capillaris (ACE) on ethanol-induced hepatic injury in mice. Ethanol (25% v/v, 5 g/kg body weight) was orally administered once a day for 6 wk. AIE or ACE was provided in the diet (0.05 g/100 g diet). AIE and ACE did not affect hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity but did significantly inhibit cytochrome P450 2E1 activity. Hepatic acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 activity significantly increased in the AIE group compared to the control group. AIE caused a significant decrease in plasma acetaldehyde levels and aspartate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase activities, whereas ACE slightly decreased these values compared to the control. Hepatic catalase activity and glutathione levels were significantly increased by AIE and ACE supplements, whereas glutathione peroxidase activity was higher only in the AIE group compared to the control group. AIE and ACE supplements significantly lowered the plasma cholesterol concentration and increased the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio compared to the control group. Compared to the control, both AIE and ACE groups showed a significant decrease in hepatic triglyceride levels and an increase in fecal triglyceride excretion simultaneous with inhibition hepatic activities of fatty acid synthase, phosphatidate phosphohyrolase, fatty acid β-oxidation, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase. AIE significantly lowered hepatic cholesterol levels and increased fecal cholesterol levels compared to the control. These results indicate that AIE and ACE exhibit hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic properties by enhancing hepatic alcohol, antioxidant, and lipid metabolism. AIE seemed to have more potent hepatoprotective effects than ACE.
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