In order to determine the curative effectiveness of Kamijiwhang-Tang on the hepatic d j sfunction a kinetic determination was carried out on various serum enzymatic acitivity and some serum components including certain hormones in rat treated with carbon tetrachloride. A particular attention was given to the effectiveness of Artemisia capillaris Thunberg and Artemisia iwayomogi Kitamura and the following results were obtained.
1. The highest activities of serum alkaline phosphatase (AlP), alphahydroxybutiric dehydrogenage (HBD), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and transaminases (GOT& GPT) were registered 24 hours after CC14 administration and these activities were tended to decrease in function of time thereafter.
2. Artemisia capillaris Thunberg was found to be more effective in lowering the activities of A I P, HBD and LDH whereas Artemisia iwayomogi Kitamura was more effective for those of LAP, GOT and GPT.
3. Extract fluid and extract solid did not registered similar effectiveness in terms of varous enzymatic activities but extract liquid tended to be more effective in lowering the enzymatic activities.
4. In the case of extract liquid, a significant decrease in serum iron content was noted within 48 hours after the treatment with Kamij iwhang-Tang in contrast to that of extract solid; significant decrease of the component was noted within 76 hours for Artenisia capillaris Thunberg and 96 hours for Artemisia iwayomori Kitamura.
5. Carbon tetrachloride intoxication lowered the content of serum total protein and albumin in partcular. The administration with Kamijiwhang-Tang inhibited, though not significantly, this reductionand a significant inhibitory effect was remarked in the case of serum albumin content.
6. A significant reduction in serum testosteron and cortisol contents was induced by carbon tetrachloride poisoning and both the extract liquid and extract solid significantly inhibited this reduction although no difference was found between the mode of preparation.
7. The extract liquid was found to be more effective than the extract solid in shortening the sleeping time due to the effect of pentotal sodium treatment even though no significant difference was noted between the mode of extract preparation. This reduction was satisically significant.
8. Hepatic cellular necrosis and fatty deposit were remarkably increased by carbon tetrachloride intoxication and the appearance of PAS positive substance was noted in medium degree both of which were significantly reduced by the administration of Kamijiwhang-Tang regardless the mode of drug preparation; as for the plant species, Artemisia capillaris Thunberg slightly reduced the hepatic necrosis due to the poisoning.
In view of the above fmdings it can be considered that Kamijiwhang-Tang is effective against hepatic damage, in particular, against hepatitis and hepatic necrosis due to the cellular necrosis and fatty infiltration. This is considered to be due to the recovery of hepatic function through the supplementation of nephritic Eum according to the theory of "water nourishes tree" of oriental medicine.
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