為了確證及瞭解薑黃 (Curcuma xanthorrhiza roxb.) 與鬱金 (Curcuma domestica valetoon) 的保肝作用，本研究以動物實驗模式，來探討此二種生藥的保護功能。肝細胞障害的誘 導是以下列四種具有肝毒性的藥物來進行 : （一）四氯化碳 carbon tetrachloriide (CCl4) 以及（二） acetaminophen (Pcml,i.e. paracetmol) 分別以 32μl/kg 和 600mg/kg 的劑量，腹 腔注射於 ICR 系雄性小白鼠，而（三） β-D-galactosamine (GalN) 則以 288mg/kg 的劑 量，腹腔注射投予 Wistar 系雄性大白鼠；（四）慢性肝傷害的誘發是使用酒精 alcoho l (EtOH,ethanol) 經口投予大白鼠。生菜薑黃和鬱金以科學中藥的製備方法，分別於各種 肝毒性物貿投予完後口服投予。
在保肝效果的確認中，除了做必要之生化學檢驗外，同時就病理學立場，評估肝細砲組 織學上的損傷，諸如：脂肪變性 (fatty degeneraation) 、肝小葉中心壞死 (centrilobular ne crosis) 、淋巴細胞浸潤 (lymphoocye infiltration ) 等項目。
由血清生化檢查值之統計分析發現，肝功能指標中的血清轉胺酵素 serum glutamate ox alocetate transaminase (SGOT) 和 serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) 值可因薑 黃或鬱金的投予而明顯下降，同時於肝臟的病理組織切片上亦可發現，由於薑黃或鬱金 的投予，可使受肝毒性物質傷害的肝細胞組織獲得明顯改善。
為了進一步證實薑黃和鬱金的保肝功效，各種血清生化檢查值及病理組織變比的評估，
同時輿已被證實具有保肝作用的北柴胡 (Bupleurum chinense De Candolle) 進行比較，困 而更確證了薑黃以及鬱金具有可對抗各種不同肝毒性物質，經由不同機轉所誘導的肝傷 害之保肝效果。
薑黃與鬱金對各種肝毒性物質所誘發肝障害之治 療效果的研究
Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. ( 薑黃 ), a medicinal plant used in Indonesia, has been sh own to exert diverse physiological function. However, many attentions have been paid t o its effect on liver damage induced by hepatotoxins. Either the fresh tuber, or a decocti on of the dried sliced tuber, is used to treat liver affections (jaundice, gall stones ), and p romote the cholagogue action. Curcuma domestica Valetion ( 鬱金 ), the commercial tu rmeric, is cultivated every where in the East. In medicine, since there was a protective e ffect on the liver damage and a slimulation of bile secretion, C. domestica has been adv ocated for use in liver disorders. The hepatoprotective effect of Circuma was investigate d in four kinds of models (carhon tetrachloride, acetaminophen, β-D-galactosamine, eth anol). The animals were treated with Circuma (p.o.) after the hepatotoxins administratio n. Significantly protective effects were expressed. These protective effects were evideic ed by compariig serum tranaaminases (SGOT and SGPT) levels, and histopathological e xamination in Curcuma-treated aid untreated animals, Serum enzyme activities were sig lificantly lower in Curcuma-treated groups. In the histopathological ohservation, it waa found that the liver damages induced by the four kinds of hepatotoxins were markedly a meliorated in Circumatreated animals, These results demonstrate that C. xanthorrhiza an d C. domestica have a definitely hepatoprotective effect against the liver damages induc ed by various hepatotoxins. It is suggested that C. xanthorrhiza and C. domestica could be useful ii the treatment of liver injuries and has promised as broad spectrum hepatopro tective agents.
Protective and Therapeutic Effects of the
Curcuma xanthorrhiza and Curcuma domestica on Hepatotoxins-Induced Liver Damage
