by King Yeung Wong. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-148). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Title Page --- p.i / Acknowledgement --- p.ii / List of Abbreviations --- p.iii / Table of contents --- p.v / Abstract --- p.viii / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Liver diseases --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Current treatments of liver diseases --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Schizandrae --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Chemistry of Schizandrae (Wuweizi) --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Pharmacology of Wuweizi --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.2.1 --- Hepato-protective effect of Wuweizi --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Toxicology and side-effects of Wuweizi --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4 --- Carbon tetrachloride (CC14) intoxication --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5 --- Hepatic drug metabolism: essential factors --- p.13 / Chapter 1.6 --- Aim --- p.14 / Chapter 2 --- Phase I metabolism --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Animals --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Chemicals --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Instruments --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Preparation of Schizandra seed extract --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Animal model of liver damages --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Evaluation of protective effect of Schizandra extract --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Evaluation of healing effect of Schizandra extract --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Extraction of antipyrine from blood and urine --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.9 --- TLC method for quantitative analysis of antipyrine --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.10 --- Analysis of pharmacokinetic parameters of antipyrine --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.11 --- Statistical analysis --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Effect of CCI4 and Schizandra seed extract on antipyrine metabolism --- p.30 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.41 / Chapter 3 --- Phase II metabolism --- p.44 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Chemicals --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Preparation of Schizandra extract --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Preparation of Salicylamide solution (for injection) --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Preparation of 2，4-dinitrophenylhydrazine solution --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Animal groups --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Animal model of liver damage --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Evaluation of the hepato-protective effect of Schizandra extract --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Determination of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT/ALT) and serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT/AST) --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2.9 --- Salicylamide adminstration and plasma collection --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.10 --- Procession of plasma and urine samples --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2.11 --- HPLC Analysis --- p.54 / Chapter 3.2.12 --- Preparation of liver microsomes --- p.55 / Chapter 3.2.13 --- Determination of cytochrome P450 --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2.14 --- Determination of protein content of the liver microsomes --- p.57 / Chapter 3.2.15 --- Data Analysis --- p.58 / Chapter 3.2.16 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.58 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Liver enzyme levels --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Phase II metabolism profile of salicylamide --- p.61 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Cytochrome P450 content of liver --- p.64 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.65 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Liver enzyme assay --- p.65 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Cytochrome P450 activity --- p.67 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Hepatic metabolism of salicylamide --- p.68 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Effect of CC14 intoxication on Phase II metabolism --- p.71 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Wuweizi actions on Phase II metabolism --- p.73 / Chapter 4 --- Protein binding --- p.102 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.102 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.104 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Chemicals --- p.104 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Instruments --- p.105 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Preparation of Warfarin sodium solution --- p.105 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Animal groups --- p.106 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Equilibrium dialysis --- p.106 / Chapter 4.2.5.1 --- Equilibration time --- p.106 / Chapter 4.2.5.2 --- Equilibrium dialysis of different warfarin concentration --- p.107 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- High performance liquid chromatography analysis of warfarin --- p.108 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Calibration curve --- p.109 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.111 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Equilibriation time --- p.111 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Calibration curve --- p.111 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Free concentration of warfarin --- p.112 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.114 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Effect of CCl4 intoxication on free percentage of warfarin --- p.114 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Effcct of wuweizi cxtract on free percentage of warfarin --- p.115 / Chapter 4.4.2.1 --- Depletion of plasma albumin concentration --- p.116 / Chapter 4.4.2.2 --- Displacement of warfarin by WWZ extract --- p.117 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Concentration dependent protein binding --- p.118 / Chapter 5 --- Hepatic blood flow --- p.124 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.124 / Chapter 5.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.126 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Chemicals....: --- p.126 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Instruments --- p.126 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Preparation of indocyanine green (ICG) solution --- p.126 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Preparation of Schizandra seed extract --- p.127 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Animals groups --- p.127 / Chapter 5.2.6 --- Animal model of liver damage --- p.128 / Chapter 5.2.7 --- Evaluation of hepato-protective effect of Schizandra extract --- p.129 / Chapter 5.2.8 --- Evaluation of healing effect of Schizandra extract --- p.129 / Chapter 5.2.9 --- Quantitative analysis of ICG in plasma by UV spectroscopy --- p.130 / Chapter 5.2.10 --- Analysis of pharmacokinetic parameters of ICG --- p.131 / Chapter 5.2.11 --- Statistical analysis --- p.132 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results --- p.133 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussion --- p.135 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Effect of CCl4 intoxication on hepatic blood flow --- p.135 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Effect of WWZ pretreatment on hepatic blood flow --- p.135 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Effect of WWZ healing on hepatic blood flow --- p.136 / Chapter 6 --- General conclusion --- p.139 / Significance of the study --- p.141 / References --- p.143

Wong Chun-kwan. / Thesis submitted in: December 1999. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-137). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgments --- p.viii / Tables of Contents --- p.ix / List of Figures --- p.xv / List of Tables --- p.xxvi / Chapter Chapter 1: --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1 --- Toxicology --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Acute toxicity test --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Biochemical Analysis --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Organ weights --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2 --- Histology --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Light Microscope --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Electron Microscopy --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3 --- Tissue injury --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Free-radical mechanisms --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Lipid peroxidation --- p.13 / Chapter 2.4 --- Carbon tetrachloride (CC14) --- p.14 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Mechanisms of carbon tetrachloride toxicity --- p.15 / Chapter 2.5 --- Trichloroethylene (TCE) --- p.18 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Mechanisms of trichloroethylene toxicity --- p.21 / Chapter 2.6 --- Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) --- p.25 / Chapter 2.7 --- N-acetylcysteine (NAC) --- p.27 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.28 / Chapter 3.1 --- Materials --- p.28 / Chapter 3.2 --- Methods --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Acute hepatotoxicity test on aqueous seaweed extracts --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.1.1 --- Preparation of aqueous extracts of seaweed --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.1.2 --- Experimental protocol --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.1.3 --- Biochemical assays --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.1.4 --- Organ weights --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2.1.5 --- Histopathological examination --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2.1.6 --- Statistical analysis --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Curative and preventive tests of seaweed aqueous extracts against the CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity --- p.37 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Preparation of aqueous extracts of seaweed --- p.37 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- Experimental protocol --- p.37 / Chapter 3.2.2.3 --- Biochemical assays --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.2.4 --- Organ weights --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.2.5 --- Histopathological examination --- p.40 / Chapter 3.2.2.6 --- Statistical analysis --- p.41 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Acute hepatotoxicity test of TCE in rats by oral and intraperitoneal routes --- p.42 / Chapter 3.2.3.1 --- Experimental protocol --- p.42 / Chapter 3.2.3.2 --- Biochemical assays --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2.3.3 --- Organ weights --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2.3.4 --- Histopathological examination --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.3.5 --- Statistical analysis --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Curative and preventive tests of seaweed aqueous extracts against the TCE effective dose-induced toxicity --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.4.1 --- Preparation of aqueous extracts of seaweed --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.4.2 --- Experimental protocol --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.4.3 --- Biochemical assays --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.4.4 --- Organ weights --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.4.5 --- Histopathological examination --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Antidotal effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against CC14- and TCE- induced poisoning in rats --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.5.1 --- Experimental protocol --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.5.2 --- Biochemical assays --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.5.3 --- Organ weights --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.5.4 --- Histopathological examination --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Hepatoprotective effect of seaweeds' methanol extract against CC14- and TCE-induced poisoning in rats --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.6.1 --- Preparation of methanol extracts of seaweed --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.6.2 --- Experimental protocol --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2.6.3 --- Biochemical assays --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2.6.4 --- Organ weights --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2.6.5 --- Histopathological examination --- p.53 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- RESULTS --- p.54 / Chapter 4.1 --- Acute hepatotoxicity test on aqueous seaweed extracts --- p.54 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- The biochemical assays of the serum transaminase activity --- p.54 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- The organ weight (Aqueous seaweed crude extracts) --- p.56 / Chapter 4.2 --- Curative and preventive tests of seaweed aqueous extracts against the CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity --- p.58 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- The biochemical assays of the serum transaminase activity (Curative) --- p.58 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- The organ weight (Curative) --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- The biochemical assays of the serum transaminase activity (Preventive) --- p.62 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- The organ weight (Preventive) --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3 --- Acute hepatotoxicity test of TCE in rats by oral and intraperitoneal routes --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Oral route --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.1.1 --- One-time oral route --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.1.2 --- Two-time oral route --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Intraperitoneal route --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Time course of the effective dose of 20% TCE in i.p. route --- p.67 / Chapter 4.4 --- Curative and preventive tests of seaweed aqueous extracts against the TCE effective dose-induced toxicity --- p.12 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- The biochemical assays of the serum transaminase activity (Curative) --- p.72 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- The organ weight (Curative) --- p.74 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- The biochemical assays of the serum transaminase activity (Preventive) --- p.76 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- The organ weight (Preventive) --- p.78 / Chapter 4.5 --- Antidotal effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against CC14- and TCE-induced poisoning in rats --- p.80 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- The biochemical assays of the serum transaminase activity (Curative) --- p.80 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- The organ weight (Curative) --- p.82 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- The biochemical assays of the serum transaminase activity (Preventive) --- p.84 / Chapter 4.5.4 --- The organ weight (Preventive) --- p.86 / Chapter 4.6 --- Hepatoprotective effect of methanol extract of seaweed against CC14- and TCE-induced poisoning in rats --- p.88 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- The biochemical assays of the serum transaminase activity (Curative) --- p.88 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- The organ weight (Curative) --- p.89 / Chapter 4.7 --- Histopathological examinations --- p.90 / Chapter 4.7.1 --- Acute hepatotoxicity test on aqueous seaweed extracts --- p.91 / Chapter 4.7.2 --- Curative and preventive tests of seaweed aqueous extracts against the CC14-induced hepatotoxicity --- p.92 / Chapter 4.7.3 --- Acute hepatotoxicity test of TCE in rats by oral and intraperitoneal routes --- p.99 / Chapter 4.7.4 --- Curative and preventive tests of seaweed aqueous extracts against the TCE effective dose-induced toxicity --- p.100 / Chapter 4.7.5 --- Antidotal effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against CC14- and TCE-induced poisoning in rats --- p.100 / Chapter 4.7.6 --- Hepatoprotective effect of methanol extract of seaweed against CC14- and TCE-induced poisoning in rats --- p.102 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- DISCUSSION --- p.106 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- CONCLUSION --- p.124 / REFERENCES --- p.127 / APPENDIX --- p.138

Keung Hoi Yee. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-174). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgement --- p.I / Abstract --- p.II / 摘要 --- p.V / Content --- p.VII / List of tables --- p.XIII / List of figures --- p.XIV / Abbreviations --- p.XVII / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Biology of Pleurotus tuber-regiun (Ptr) --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Ptr grown in the wild --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Cultivation of Ptr --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Functional food and pharmaceutical application of Ptr sclerotium --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Traditional food and medicinal uses of Ptr sclerotium --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Nutritional value and chemical composition --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Anti-tumor activity --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Anti-viral activity --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Immunologic function --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.6 --- Pharmaceutical application --- p.9 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Toxicological evaluation on Ptr sclerotium --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Toxicological concern of Ptr sclerotium --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Toxicological study --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Biochemical methods for toxicological evaluation --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1.3.1 --- Serum enzyme activities --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1.3.2 --- Other serum analytes --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Histopathological study --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Acute toxicity --- p.21 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Sub-acute and sub-chronic toxicity --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1.7 --- Objectives --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Sample materials and chemicals --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Acute toxicity test --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- Diet and animals --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- Experimental design --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.2.3 --- Calculation of sclerotium intake dose --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.2.4 --- Biochemical assays --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.2.5 --- Histopathological examination --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Sub-acute and sub-chronic toxicity tests --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.3.1 --- Diet Preparation --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.3.2 --- Experimental design --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.3.3 --- Biochemical assays --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.3.4 --- Organ weight --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.3.5 --- Histopathological examination --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Statistical analyses --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Acute toxicity test --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.1.1 --- Food consumption --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.1.2 --- Serum transaminase activities --- p.44 / Chapter 2.3.1.3 --- Histopathology --- p.45 / Chapter 2.3.1.4 --- NOAEL --- p.45 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Sub-acute toxicity test --- p.50 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Body weight gain --- p.50 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Biochemical assays --- p.51 / Chapter 2.3.2.3 --- Organ per body weight and histopathology --- p.52 / Chapter 2.3.2.4 --- Effects of Ptr sclerotial diets --- p.53 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Sub-chronic toxicity test --- p.59 / Chapter 2.3.3.1 --- Food and energy consumption --- p.59 / Chapter 2.3.3.2 --- Biochemical assays --- p.63 / Chapter 2.3.3.3 --- Organ per body weight --- p.67 / Chapter 2.3.3.4 --- Body weight increase --- p.75 / Chapter 2.3.3.5 --- NOAEL --- p.80 / Chapter 2.4 --- Summary --- p.81 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Hepatoprotection of Ptr sclerotium --- p.82 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.82 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Hepatotoxicity --- p.82 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Potential hepatoprotection effect of Ptr sclerotium --- p.83 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Toxicity of CC14 --- p.85 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Toxicity of AFB! --- p.89 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- Bioactivity of chlorophyllin --- p.92 / Chapter 3.1.6 --- Comet assay --- p.93 / Chapter 3.1.7 --- Objectives --- p.98 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.99 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Sample materials and chemicals --- p.99 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Curative and preventive tests of Ptr sclerotium against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity --- p.99 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Animal and diets --- p.99 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- Dose-response of CCl4 on rat model --- p.100 / Chapter 3.2.2.3 --- Biochemical assays --- p.100 / Chapter 3.2.2.4 --- Curative hepatoprotection test on Ptr --- p.101 / Chapter 3.2.2.5 --- Preventive hepatoprotection test on Ptr --- p.101 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Preventive tests of Ptr sclerotium against AFB1-induced hepato- and geno-toxicity --- p.103 / Chapter 3.2.3.1 --- Dose-response of AFB1 on rat model --- p.103 / Chapter 3.2.3.2 --- Preventive test of Ptr against AFB1 --- p.103 / Chapter 3.2.3.3 --- Biochemical assays --- p.105 / Chapter 3.2.3.4 --- Histopathological examination --- p.105 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Comet assay --- p.106 / Chapter 3.2.4.1 --- Reagent preparations --- p.106 / Chapter 3.2.4.2 --- Procedures --- p.107 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Statistical analyses --- p.110 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.111 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Curative and preventive tests of Ptr sclerotium against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity --- p.112 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- Dose-response of CCl4 on rat model --- p.112 / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- Curative test of Ptr sclerotium against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity --- p.116 / Chapter 3.3.1.3 --- Preventive test of Ptr sclerotium against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity --- p.121 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Preventive tests of Ptr sclerotium against AFB1-induced hepato- and geno-toxicity --- p.126 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- Dose-response of AFB1 on rat model --- p.126 / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Preventive test of Ptr sclerotium against AFB1-induced geno- and hepatotoxicity --- p.134 / Chapter 3.3.2.3 --- CHL versus 30% Ptr sclerotial diet --- p.137 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- A comparison of the hepatotoxicity of CC14 and AFB1 --- p.142 / Chapter 3.4 --- Summary --- p.147 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Conclusions and future work --- p.148 / References --- p.151 / Related publication --- p.175

Chan Chun-pong. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 171-176). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / 摘要 --- p.iii / Abbreviation --- p.iv / Table of contents --- p.v / List of figures --- p.xi / List of tables --- p.xvi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Liver disorders in Asia Pacific region --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Classification of liver disorders --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Hepatitis --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.1.1 --- Hepatitis A virus infection --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.1.2 --- Hepatitis B virus infection --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.1.3 --- Hepatitis C virus infection --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.1.4 --- Hepatitis D virus infection --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3.1.5 --- Hepatitis E virus infection --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Cancer of the liver --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.2.1 --- Hepatocellular carcinoma --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.2.2 --- Cholangiocarcinoma --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3.2.3 --- Metastatic liver cancer --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4 --- Conventional treatment of liver disorders --- p.14 / Chapter 1.5 --- Role of traditional Chinese medicines in hepatoprotective functions --- p.16 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Abri Herba (Abrus Cantoniensis Hance) --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Rhizoma Coptidis (Coptidis chinensis Franch) --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Fructus Forsythia (Forsythia suspense (Thunb) Vahl) --- p.22 / Chapter 1.6 --- Molecular studies of hepatoprotective effects of TCMs --- p.26 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Roles of detoxofication enzymes in hepatoprotection --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Studies of growth-related genes in cell cycle control --- p.29 / Chapter 1.7 --- Aims of project --- p.32 / Chapter 1.8 --- Application of the project --- p.33 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Methods and materials --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1 --- Screening of traditional Chinese medicines --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2 --- Preparation of TCMs --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Preparation of aqueous extracts of TCMs --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Preparation of active components of TCMs --- p.36 / Chapter 2.3 --- In vitro assays --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Cell culture --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Cytotoxicity test --- p.40 / Chapter 2.4 --- Screening of expressed gene induced by TCMs --- p.41 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- RNA preparation --- p.41 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- cDNA array hybridization --- p.42 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Reverse Transcription --- p.43 / Chapter 2.5 --- Confirmation of expressed genes induced by TCMs --- p.44 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Semi-quantitative PCR analysis --- p.44 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.46 / Chapter 2.6 --- Studies of effects of TCMs in gene expression --- p.47 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Dosage-course study --- p.47 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Time-course study --- p.48 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Results --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1 --- "Cytotoxicity test of A.H., R.C. and F.F" --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2 --- "Molecular screening of expressed gene induced by A.H., R.C., F.F" --- p.58 / Chapter 3.3 --- Confirmation of expressed gene using semi-quantitative RT- PCR --- p.70 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Dosage-course and time-course studies of A.H. using RT- PCR --- p.70 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Dosage-course and time-course studies of R.C. using RT- PCR --- p.94 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Dosage-course and time-course studies of A.H. using RT- PCR --- p.113 / Chapter 3.4 --- Confirmation of expressed gene using northern blot anaylsis --- p.118 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Dosage-course and time-course studies of effects of A.H. and L- abrine in Northern blot analysis --- p.118 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Dosage-course and time-course studies of effects of R.C. and berberine in Northern blot analysis --- p.129 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Dosage-course and time-course studies of effects of F.Fin Northern blot analysis --- p.147 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Discussion --- p.152 / Chapter 4.1 --- "Roles of A.H., R.C. and F.F. in treatment and prevention of liver disorders" --- p.153 / Chapter 4.2 --- "Cytotoxicity effect A.H., R.C., and F.F. in liver cells" --- p.153 / Chapter 4.3 --- Effects of herbal medicines on the transcription of mRNA in liver cells --- p.155 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Effects of treatment of A.H. in liver at transcriptional level … --- p.155 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Effects of treatment of R.C. in liver at transcriptional level … --- p.156 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Effects of treatment of R.C. in liver at transcriptional level --- p.157 / Chapter 4.4 --- Comparison of results of RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis --- p.157 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Comparison of the effects of time and dosage-course studies of DTD expression induced by A.H. and L-abrine --- p.157 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Comparison of the effects of time and dosage-course studies of p21;cip;waf1 expression induced by A.H. and L-abrine --- p.158 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Comparison of the effects of time and dosage-course studies of c-myc responsive protein; rcl expression induced by R.C. and berberine --- p.159 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Comparison of the effects of time and dosage-course studies of GST Ya expression induced by R.C. and berberine --- p.160 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Comparison of the effects of time and dosage-course studies of GST 7-7 expression induced by F.F --- p.160 / Chapter 4.5 --- Biochemical significance of genes induced by hepatoprotective TCMs --- p.161 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Roles of significant expression of detoxifying enzymes induced by TCMs in liver cells --- p.161 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Roles of induction of growth-related c-myc responsive protein; rcl in R.C. treated liver cells --- p.167 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- Roles of increased p21;cip;waf1 expression in A.H. treated liver cells --- p.168 / Chapter 4.6 --- Conclusion --- p.169