Effect of Pine (Pinus densiflora) Needle Hot Water Extract on Antioxidant Activity in Rats Treated with Carbon Tetrachloride

Pine (pinus densiflora) needles have long been used as a traditional health-promoting medicinal food in Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of pine needle extracts on the hepatic antioxidant system in the damaged liver of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-treated rats. Nine-week-old Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups: normal group (NOR), CCl₄-treated group (CCL), pine needle hot water extract and CCl₄-treated group (CCL-P), and Vitamin C and CCl₄-treated group (CCL-V). The enzyme activities and antioxidant effects of the pine needle hot water extracts were investigated at the levels of liver homogenates and serum of rats intoxicated with CCl₄. Serum GOT and GPT activities by CCl₄ treatment increased compared to those of the NOR group. However, they tended to decrease in the hot water extract-administered group. Liver SOD activity in the CCL group was significantly lower than the NOR group (p＜0.05). However, they increased in the CCL-P group compared to the CCL group. Further, the CAT and GPx activities of serum treated with CCl₄ were higher compared to those of the NOR group but lower in the CCL-P group compared to CCL group. These results suggest that pine needle hot water extract increases antioxidant activities.