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Abby's Magazine - July/August 2015 | Page 39 Liver Extracts Liver Hydrolysate Extracts have been used in the treatment of many chronic liver diseases for more than 100 years. Numerous studies have demonstrated that these extracts improve fat utilization, promote tissue regeneration, and prevent damage to liver cells. Clinical studies have demonstrated that oral administration of liver hydrolysates are effective in the treatment of chronic liver diseases, including chronic and active hepatitis. In one double-blind, placebo-controlled study, over 500 patients with chronic hepatitis received either liver hydrolysate or placebo. Aer three months of treatment, the liver extract group had far lower levels of liver enzymes. Since the level of liver enzymes in the blood reflects the health of the liver, the researchers concluded that liver extract is an effective treatment for chronic hepatitis that improves the function of damaged liver cells and prevents further damage to the liver. Curcumin Curcumin is the yellow pigment of the spice turmeric. Its documented choleretic effects support its historical use in the treatment of liver and gallbladder disorders. It has also been shown to lower cholesterol levels in clinical studies. Curcumin possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and chemoprotective actions. It counteracts the hepatotoxic actions of xenobiotic substances and increases the liver's detoxification capacity, as demonstrated by increased levels of the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase. For example, curcumin has been shown to reverse aflatoxin- induced liver damage and to normalize elevated liver enzymes in animals exposed to hepatotoxic chemotherapeutic agents. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory actions that are comparable to steroidal and hepatotoxic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as indomethacin and phenylbutazone. Curcumin's anti-inflammatory actions may result from diminishing inflammatory products of arachidonic acid metabolism, prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Its antioxidant activity is eight times more powerful that vitamin E. Curcumin has no known toxicity. Artichoke Powdered Extract (Cynara scolymus) Recent evidence supports the long history of artichoke in treating many liver diseases. e active phytochemicals in artichoke are cynarin and its intestinal metabolite, caffeic acid. ese phytochemicals have demonstrated significant liver-protecting and regenerating effects. ey possess cholertic effects that have proven useful in the treatment of hepatitis and other liver diseases. Consistent with its choleretic effects that have proven useful in the treatment of hepatitis and other liver diseases. Consistent with its choleretic effect, Cynara has been shown to lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Green Tea Extract Green Tea Extract contains a series of flavonoid catechins with powerful hepatoprotective actions. In a number of European studies, catechins and their derivatives have effectively treated many hepatic diseases that include both acute and chronic hepatitis. ese hepatic-specific actions result from catechins' antioxidant, anti-endotoxin, membrane and hepatogenic effects. Studies have shown that catechins inhibit hepatic lipid accumulation and produce antinecrotic actions on liver cells. ey have increased in the amount of sulphated glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in liver used for hepatic regeneration. Moreover, catechins increased both the volume and density of Kupffer cells. Catechins have prevented depletion in total equivalents and completely abolish hepatic lipoperxidation. e isolated and purified catechin derivatives from green tea have produced antimutagenic, anti-bacteria and anti-tumor activities. In addition to their own antioxidant activity, they have the activity of antioxidant enzymes and detoxifying enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, catalase, and quinone reductase) in the liver.