Liver Assist, Research Review

Liver Assist - Herbal Protection for the Liver

Our animal friends are exposed to a wide variety of environmental pollutants. They can swallow or lick up poisonous substances including household chemical sprays, lawn treatments including herbicides and pesticides; they ingest artificial coloring, flavoring and chemical food preservatives, meat from diseased animals found in pet foods; they must tolerate the stress and strain of vaccines, tick repellent, heartworm chemicals, over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceuticals, etc. The liver is the body’s main detoxifier, one of the most important vital organs, and needs a little help in filtering out all of the above. This formula offers protection and regeneration for your pet’s liver. Silymarin, the active ingredient in milk thistle, has been shown to work in chronic liver disease and is able to improve liver function. Results in many double-blind studies on the effects of silymarin show regeneration of liver cells and positive protection from acute viral hepatitis through major antioxidant and antiperoxidative effects. The base of this formula, (used in Japan by 90% of human chronic hepatitis sufferers) Chai Hu Tang, is being studied by the Japanese for improving levels of interleukin-1, a compound which acts to improve the immunity of the liver. Japanese researchers have identified steroid-like ingredients, saikosaponins, that enhance the activity of cortisone and prevent adrenal atrophy. The studies seemed to to promote the clearance of HBeAg in children with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and with sustained liver disease. Bupleurum, also displays nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory activity and has been shown to protect against the effects of prednisone. Over ninety percent of chronic hepatitis sufferers in Japan, some 1.5 million people, are taking a safe, natural medicine recommended by conventional physicians and proven effective in hundreds of papers and studies. Studies have shown that this herbal formula strengthens the immune system, reduces viral loads, and can stop the progression of chronic viral hepatitis into serious liver damage, cirrhosis and even liver cancer.

 

Ingredients:  Milk thistle seed, nettle leaf, bupleurum root, pinellia rhizome, baical skullcap root, Asian ginseng root, licorice root, ginger rhizome, zizyphus fruit, schisandra fruit, stevia leaf.

 

Antecedent: Based on Minor Bupleurum, Xiao Chai Hu Tang (300 b.c.–300 A.D.), Minor Bupleurum Combination.

 

Base of the Liver-Assist Formula: ShoSaiko-to (SST) (Japanese name) Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Chinese)

SST increases the immune system components

Nagatsu Y., Inoue M., Ogihara Y. Modification of macrophage functions by Shosaikoto (kampo medicine) leads to enhancement of immune response.

 

SST has demonstrated that it can treat viral hepatitis.

1. Gastroenterol Jpn. 1989 Dec;24(6):715-9. Related Articles, Links

A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial of Shosaiko-to in chronic active hepatitis. Hirayama C, Okumura M, Tanikawa K, Yano M, Mizuta M, Ogawa N. Second Department of Internal Medicine,

 

The efficacy of Shosaiko-to (SST) on 222 patients with chronic active hepatitis was studied in a double-blind multicenter clinical study. One hundred and sixteen patients received SST in a daily oral dose of 5.4 g for 12 weeks, followed by the same dose for a further 12 weeks. One hundred and six patients received a placebo containing 0.5 g of SST for 12 weeks, followed by a cross-over to SST for a further 12 weeks. Among the liver tests, serum AST and ALT values decreased significantly with the administration of SST. The difference of the mean value between the SST group and the placebo group was significant after 12 weeks. In patients with chronic active type B hepatitis, a tendency towards a decrease of HBeAg and an increase of Anti-HBe antibodies was also observed. No remarkable side effects were noticed.

 

SST also proves effective in preventing or stopping the progression into liver cancer for patients with cirrhosis

Yamaoka, Y., Kawakita, T., Kaneko, M., Nomoto, K. A poly-saccharide fraction of shosaiko-to active in augmentation of natural killer activity of oral administration. Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 1995 18 (6), 846-849.

 

Yamamoto, S., Oka, H., Kanno, T., Mizoguchi, Y., Kobayahi, K. Controlled prospective trial to evaluate Syosakiko-to in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. Gan to Kagaku Ryoho – Japanese Journal of Cancer and Chemotherapy. April 1989 16 (4, Part 2-2), 1519-1524.

 

The anti-tumor anti-cancer activity of this formula is well documented

 

2. Further characterization of the Sho-saiko-to-mediated anti-tumor effect on melanoma developed in RET-transgenic mice. J. Invest Dermatol. Mar 2000 114 (3): 599-601.

 

3. Sho-saiko-to: Japanese herbal medicine for protection against hepatic fibrosis and carcinoma. J. Gastroenterol Hepatol. Mar 2000 15 Suppl: D84-90.

 

4. Huang Y., Marumo K., Murai M. Anti-tumor effects and pharmacological interaction of xiao-chai-hu-tang (sho-saiko-to) and interleukin 2 in murine renal cell carcinoma. Keio J. Med Sep 1997 46(3): 132-7.

 

5. Oka H., Yamamoto S., Kuroki T., Harihara S., Marumo T., Kim S.R., Monna T., Kobayashi K., Tango T. Prospective study of chemoprevention of hepatocellular carcinoma with Sho-saiko-to (TJ-9). Cancer 1995 Sep 1 76(5): 743.

 

The herbal medicine sho-saiko-to inhibits proliferation of cancer cell lines by inducing apoptosis and arrest at the G0/G1 phase. Yano H, Mizoguchi A, Fukuda K, Haramaki M, Ogasawara S, Momosaki S, Kojiro M. First Department of Pathology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.

 

Water-soluble ingredients of the herbal medicine sho-saiko-to dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (KIM-1) and a cholangiocarcinoma cell line (KMC-1). Sho-saiko-to suppressed the proliferation of the carcinoma cell lines significantly more strongly than did each of its major ingredients, i.e., saikosaponin a, c, and d, ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1, glycyrrhizin, baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin, or another herbal medicine, juzen-taiho-to (P < 0.05 or 0.005). (a) it induces apoptosis in the early period of exposure and (b) it induces arrest at the G0/G1 phase in the late period of exposure.

 

SST prevents and protects against hepatic fibrosis (cirrhosis)and carcinoma

 

Shimizu I. Sho-saiko-to: Japanese herbal medicine for protection against hepatic fibrosis and carcinoma. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2000 Mar; 15 Suppl: D84-90. Review.

Hepatogastroenterology. 2002 Jul-Aug;49(46):1102-8. Links

Antifibrotic properties of botanicals in chronic liver disease.Stickel F, Brinkhaus B, Krahmer N, Seitz HK, Hahn EG, Schuppan D.

Department of Medicine I, Division of Hepatology, Division of Complementary Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Ulmenweg 18, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany. felix.stickel@med1.imed.uni-erlangen.de

 

Milk Thistle, Silybum marianum has the active principle, silymarin, that has been demonstrated in animals to protect against various hepato-toxic substances. To determine the effect of silymarin on the outcome of patients with cirrhosis, a double blind, prospective, randomized study was performed in 170 patients with cirrhosis. Analysis of subgroups indicated that treatment was effective in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Silymarin (Milk Thistle) has so far failed to clearly show an antifibrotic effect in human studies, whereas animal experiments suggest that this mixture of flavolignanes may be beneficial in patients which have not yet developed cirrhosis. Animal studies indicate an antifibrotic potential of Shosaiko-to, a herbal combination frequently used in China and Japan for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis.

Ferenci P., Dragosics B., Dittrich H., Frank H., Benda L, Lochs H., Meryn S., Base W., Schneider B. 1st Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Vienna, Austria. Randomized controlled trial of silymarin treatment in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. J Hepatol. July 1989 9(1): 105-13

 

Milk Thistle Studies in Dogs

Desplaces A; Choppin J; Vogel G; Trost W: The effects of silymarin on experimental phalloidine poisoning. Arzneimittelforschung 1975 Jan;25(1):89-96.

 

Floersheim GL; Eberhard M; Tschumi P; Duckert F: Effects of penicillin and silymarin on liver enzymes and blood clotting factors in dogs given a boiled preparation of Amanita phalloides. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1978 Nov;46(2):455-62.

 

Paulova J; Dvorak M; Kolouch F; Vanova L; Janeckova L: [Verification of the hepatoprotective and therapeutic effect of silymarin in experimental liver injury with tetrachloromethane in dogs]: Overeni hepatoprotektivniho a terapeutickeho ucinku silymarinu pri experimentalnim poskozeni jater tetrachlormetanem u psu. Vet Med (Praha) 1990 Oct;35(10):629-35.

 

Vogel G; Tuchweber B; Trost W; Mengs U: Protection by silibinin against Amanita phalloides intoxication in beagles. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1984 May;73(3):355-62..

 

Schisandra, Fructus Schisandrae

 

Schisandra studies are showing great promise in liver protection against viral hepatitis9 as well as toxic chemicals.10,12 Schisandra protects the liver against toxic chemical damage even when activated into a poison, in the liver, such as with carbon tetrachloride. There are no toxic reactions reported even at huge dosages.11 Schisandra is a well-known Chinese herb, widely used in ancient China. During recent decades, it has been found to be effective in viral and chemical induced hepatitis and repair of the injured liver cells.16

 

9. Chen, Y.Y., Yang, Y.Q. Studies on the SGPT-lowering active component of the fruits of Schisandra rebriflora Rhed et Wils. Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao–Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. April 1982 17 (4), 312-313.

 

10. Ko, K.M., Ip S.P., Poon, M.K., Wu, S.S., Che, C. T., Ng, K.H., Kong, Y.C. Effect of a lignan-enriched Fructus Schisandrae extract on hepatic glutathione status in rats: protection against carbon tetrachloride toxicity, Planta Medica. April 1995 61(2), 134-137.

 

11. (TJN-101), a lignan compound isolated from shisandra fruits, on liver function in rats, Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi –Folia Pharmacologica Japonica. April 1988 91(4), 237-244.

 

12. Ohkura, Y., Mizoguchi, Y., Sakagami, Y., Kobayashi, K., Yamamoto, S., Morisawa, S., Takeda, S., Aburada, M. Inhibitory effect of TJN-101 ((+)-(6S, 7S,R-biar)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,2,3,12-tetramethoxy-6,7-dimethyl-10,11-methylenedioxy-6-dibenzo[a,c]-cyclooctenol) on immunologically induced liver injuries, Japanese Journal of Pharmacology. June 1987 44(2), 179-185.

 

16. Liu G.T. Pharmacological actions and clinical use of fructus schisandrae. Chin Med J (Engl). Oct 1989 102 (10): 740-9.

 

20 Years of International Research

 

Over ninety percent of chronic hepatitis sufferers in Japan, some 1.5 million people, are taking a safe, natural medicine recommended by conventional physicians and proven effective in hundreds of papers and studies. Of over 120 papers and studies done in Japan, most interesting are two double-blind, five-year studies and one seven-year study. They each conclude that herbal protection is effective at preventing the progression of hepatitis into cirrhosis and cirrhosis into liver cancer. One study showed that herbal treatment was 50% more effective than the conventional control treatment. Moreover, in a randomized trial, cirrhotic patients receiving sho-saiko-to had a lower incidence of developing HCC and greater survival compared to placebo. As well, here in the US, a phase-two study is underway at the Sloan-Kettering testing the efficacy of herbal formulae.

 

Recommended Readings:

Can herbs really protect the liver from the hepatitis viruses B & C?  Geoff D’Arcy, Lic. Ac., D.O.M.

Research Papers:

 

Currently being studied by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (www.mskcc.org) to determine its effect against liver cancer.This study is entitled “Sho-Saiko-To after Ablation for Non-Resectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Phase II Trial with Historical Control.”

This Phase II trial led by Tarek Hassanein, M.D., Chief of Hepatology and Liver Transplant at the prestigious UCSD Medical Center. The researchers at UCSD plan to determine the effects of Sho-saiko-to (H09) on patients with compensated cirrhosis. The main focus of this study will be evaluating the anti-fibrotic effect and tolerability of Sho-saiko-to (H09) in the patients.

Clinical investigation by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to determine its effect against hepatitis C. “Sho-Saiko-to for Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Who Are Intolerant to Or Have Contraindication to Interferon-Based Therapy: A Phase II Study”.

Effects of TJ-9 Sho-saiko-to (kampo medicine) on interferon gamma and antibody production specific for hepatitis B virus antigen in patients with type B chronic hepatitis. Int J Immunopharmacol 1991;13:141-6. Kakumu S, et al.

A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial of Shosaiko-to in chronic active hepatitis. Gastroenterol Jpn. Dec. 1989 24 (6): 715-9. Hirayama C., Okumura M., Tanikawa K., Yano M., Mizuta M., Ogawa N. Second Department of Internal Medicine, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.

The herbal medicine sho-saiko-to inhibits proliferation of cancer cell lines by inducing apoptosis and arrest at the G0/G1 phase. Cancer Res 1994;54:448-54. Yano H, et al.

Further characterization of the Sho-saiko-to-mediated anti-tumor effect on melanoma developed in RET-transgenic mice. J. Invest Dermatol. Mar 2000 114 (3): 599-601.

Sho-saiko-to: Japanese herbal medicine for protection against hepatic fibrosis and carcinoma. J. Gastroenterol Hepatol. Mar 2000 15 Suppl: D84-90.

Anti-tumor effects and pharmacological interaction of xiao-chai-hu-tang (sho-saiko-to) and interleukin 2 in murine renal cell carcinoma. Keio J. Med Sep 1997 46(3): 132-7. Huang Y., Marumo K., Murai M.

Effects of a blended Chinese medicine, xiao-chai-hu-tang, on Lewis lung carcinoma growth and inhibition of lung metastasis, with special reference to macrophage activation. Jpn J Pharmacol. July 1986 41(3): 307-14. Ito H., Shimura K.

Prospective study of chemoprevention of hepatocellular carcinoma with Sho-saiko-to (TJ-9). Cancer 1995;76:743-9. Oka H, et al.

Sho-saiko-to: Japanese herbal medicine for protection against hepatic fibrosis and carcinoma. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2000 Mar; 15 Suppl: D84-90. Review. Shimizu I.

Prospective study of chemoprevention of hepatocellular carcinoma with Sho-saiko-to (TJ-9). Cancer 1995;76:743-9Oka H, et al.

Anti-hepatotoxic effects of major diterpenoid constituents of Andrographis paniculata. Biochem Pharmacol. July 1993 6; 46 (1):182-5. Kapil A., Koul I.B., Banerjee S.K., Gupta B.D. Department of Pharmacology, Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu, India.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant property of Andrographis paniculata (Nees) in BHC induced liver damage in mice. Indian J Exp Biol. 2001 Jan;39(1):41-6. PMID: 11349524 Trivedi NP, Rawal UM.

Hepatoprotective effects of Andrographis paniculata against carbontetrachloride-induced liver damage. Arch Pharm Res. 1991 Mar;14(1):93-5. PMID: 10319129 Rana AC, Avadhoot Y.

 

Antihepatotoxic effects of major diterpenoid constituents of Andrographis paniculata. Biochem Pharmacol. 1993 Jul 6;46(1):182-5. PMID: 8347130 Kapil A, Koul IB, Banerjee SK, Gupta BD.


Hepatoprotective activity of andrographolide against galactosamine cetamol intoxication in rats. Indian J Med Res. 1990
In vitro studies on the effect of certain natural products against hepatitis B virus.Indian J Med Res. 1990 Apr;92:133-8. PMID: 2370093 Mehrotra R, Rawat S, Kulshreshtha DK, Patnaik GK, Dhawan BN.