ABSTRACT. The effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) on morphologic change and function of the liver was investigated after 70% hepatectomy in rats. The liver weight and hepatocyte proliferation of the KRG treated groups significantly increased compared to those of the control group. KRG inhibited the increase of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and the number and area of lipid droplets. On the basis of these results, it could be concluded that KRG accelerated the liver regeneration and ameliorated liver injury after hepatectomy in rats. KEY WORDS: hepatectomy, Korean red ginseng, liver regeneration.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 66(2): 193-195, 2004 A hepatectomy may be indicated by hepatic neoplasia, abscess, injury, or vascular alteration [2]. A partial hepatectomy has been proved to be a useful animal model to study the various aspects of liver regeneration. The regenerative capacity of the normal liver is very well known. Following up to 70 to 90% partial hepatectomy, the original liver volume is regained within 10 to 14 days in rats [7]. The regenerative responses of the liver following removal of 70% of its mass provide a suitable in vivo model of cell proliferation.The Ginseng root has been used for a long time, in the belief that it is a panacea and promotes longevity. The efficacy of ginseng was known in the West by the 18th century, and the study of ginseng has a long history [8]. Among the several kinds of Panax ginseng, Korean red ginseng (KRG) has efficacies such as anticancer [12], antihypertension [9], antidiabetes [14] and antinociception [15].Although KRG has been investigated for multiple purposes, its effect on the regeneration of the liver has not yet been elucidated. The present study, therefore, was conducted to investigate the effect of KRG on morphologic change and function of the liver after 70% hepatectomy in rats.Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (weighing 230 to 290 g and aged 7 to 8 weeks) were used in this study. This study was approved by the Kyungpook National University Animal Ethics Committee.The rats were divided into four groups: the sham group (n=20) in which a laparotomy was performed with no treatment, the control group (n=20) in which a 70% hepatectomy was performed with no treatment, the 250 group (n=20) in which a 70% hepatectomy was performed with an administration of 250 mg/kg of KRG, and the 500 group (n=20) in which a 70% hepatectomy was performed with an administration of 500 mg/kg of KRG.Korean red ginseng (KRG, Cheong-Kwan-Jang) was purchased from the Korea Gingseng Corporation (Seoul, Korea). KRG was dissolved in 1L of distilled water, with a final concentration adjusted to 100 mg/ml. KRG (250 or 500 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered once a day from the day before the laparotomy was performed to the 9th day after a partial hepatectomy in the KRG treated groups.Following an intraperitoneal injection of thiopental sodium (50 mg/kg), ventral abdominal wall hair was shaved and the field was scrubbed with alcohol solution. According...
