Composition for preventing or treating liver toxicity comprising galgeuntang or lactic acid bacteria fermented galgeuntang

Abstract

The present invention relates to lactic acid fermented Galgeuntang, and a composition comprising the said lactic acid bacteria fermented Galgeuntang or Galgeuntang as an active ingredient, more particularly, to lactic acid fermented Galgeuntang prepared by the steps of inoculating lactic acid bacteria to Galgeuntang, culturing thereof, and fermenting thereof, and a composition for preventing or treating liver toxicity comprising the said fermented Galgeuntang or Galgeuntang. The composition of the present invention has treatment effect on liver toxicity, so that it can be effectively used as a liver function recovering agent or health food for liver function recovery.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A composition for preventing or treating liver toxicity, comprising either or both of Galgeuntang and lactic acid bacteria fermented Galgeuntang as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         15 . The composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the Galgeuntang is prepared by hot water extraction of the mixture of medicinal herbs including Galgeun ( Puerariae radix ), mahuang, ginger, jujube, licorice, peony and gyeji ( Cinnamomi ramulus ). 
     
     
         16 . The composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the Galgeuntang is prepared by mixing 2-10 parts by weight of mahuang, 2-10 parts by weight of ginger, 2-10 parts by weight of jujube, 1-7 parts by weight of licorice, 1-7 parts by weight of peony, and 1-7 parts by weight of gyeji ( Cinnamomi ramulus ) with 12 parts by weight of Galgeun ( Puerariae radix ). 
     
     
         17 . The composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the lactic acid bacteria fermented Galgeuntang is prepared by fermenting the Galgeuntang inoculated with lactic acid. 
     
     
         18 . The composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the lactic acid bacteria are selected from the group consisting of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus , and  Lactococcus  sp. microorganisms. 
     
     
         19 . The composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the lactic acid bacteria are  Bifidobacterium  sp. microorganisms. 
     
     
         20 . The composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the lactic acid bacteria fermented Galgeuntang is prepared by a method comprising:
 preparing Galgeuntang by hot water extraction of the mixture of medicinal herbs including Galgeun ( Puerariae radix ), mahuang, ginger, jujube, licorice, peony and gyeji ( Cinnamomi ramulus );   inoculating the Galgeuntang prepared above with the culture solution of lactic acid bacteria mycelium; and   inducing submerged fermentation with performing anaerobic culture of the Galgeuntang culture solution obtained above.   
     
     
         21 . The composition according to  claim 20 , wherein the method further comprises the step of adjusting pH of Galgeuntang to 6˜8 before inoculating the culture solution of lactic acid bacteria mycelium and after preparing Galgeuntang. 
     
     
         22 . The composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the composition reduces the activities of one or more enzymes selected from the group consisting of AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase), and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase). 
     
     
         23 . A health food for recovering liver function comprising at least one of those Galgeuntang and lactic acid bacteria fermented Galgeuntang as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         24 . The health food according to  claim 23 , wherein the Galgeuntang is prepared by hot water extraction of the mixture of medicinal herbs including Galgeun ( Puerariae radix ), mahuang, ginger, jujube, licorice, peony and gyeji ( Cinnamomi ramulus ) by hot water extraction. 
     
     
         25 . The health food according to  claim 23 , wherein the lactic acid bacteria fermented Galgeuntang is prepared by fermenting the Galgeuntang inoculated with lactic aciid.