對於保健食品作一適當的管理與規範是世界各國政府的共識，本研究目的是將針對宣稱具保肝功效的保健食品，在陽性對照組-水飛薊的相較下，建立一套以四氯化碳誘導其肝毒性來評估保健食品的保肝功效。本研究方法是以大白鼠做為實驗動物，著重於保護肝臟作用檢驗方法（每天1 次，連續餵食7 天，並以四氯化碳誘導其肝臟毒性）與保健食品對肝臟慢性毒理之評估（每天1 次，連續餵食30 天），以了解相關的評估方法是否確能驗證保健食品的機能性及安全性。在保護肝臟作用檢驗方法之評估方面，以低劑量四氯化碳0.05 及0.20 mL/大鼠體重（公斤）誘導下，對照組（水）動物血清酵素之SGOT 值由118± 25 分別上升至328 ± 42及670 ± 95 (U/L)， SGPT 值由48 ± 5 分別上升至170 ± 18及535 ± 123 (U/L)；陽性對照組－餵食水飛薊140 mg/大鼠體重（公斤）之SGOT 值由123 ± 21 分別上升至221 ± 39及452 ± 43 (U/L)， SGPT 值由52 ± 7 分別上升至90 ± 26及217 ± 40 (U/L)。對照組與陽性對照組在此兩種四氯化碳濃度的誘導下，其血清酵素中SGOT 及SGPT 值的上升程度皆有統計上的差異，由此結果顯示，水飛薊確實有保護肝臟並減輕其受四氯化碳之傷害。再者，以靈芝及紅參精試驗之，其結果也都顯示具保護肝臟之作用。在保健食品對肝臟之慢性毒理評估方面，經長期餵予動物保健食品後，分析其血清酵素之結果，我們發現在本研究中所使用的劑量下，水飛薊、靈芝及紅參精並不會造成實驗動物之肝毒性。本研究之成果將可以提供一個具有科學性與客觀性的方法來評估保健食品之保肝功，以作為政府決策單位訂定法規及管理規範保健食品事宜之參考。

　　　　　Proper regulation of the acclaimed functionality and safety of the healthfood is a consensus among the health authorities of every nation. The objective of thisstudy is focused on the methods development for safety and functionality of hepaticinjury prevention of health food using CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity as model. Theresult from this study could provide some useful information for setting a feasible andreasonable evaluating method for regulatory purpose. In this study, we have shownthat in the untreated rats, administration of CCl4 at 0.05 and 0.20 mL/ kg, BW causedthe increase of SGOT activities from 118±25 to 328±42 and 670±95 (U/L),respectively; SGPT activities from 48±5 to 170±18 and 535±123 (U/L), respectively.In the rats treated with silymarin for 7 days at 140 mg/ kg, BW prior theadministration of CCl4 could attenuate the liver injury induced by CCl4 at 0.05 and0.20 mL/ kg, BW. Similar results were obtained when pretreated with Ganodermalucidum and red ginseng. However, none of the pretreatment can effectively preventor reduce the liver injury induced by CCl4 at higher dosage (0.40 and 0.80 mL/ kg,BW). In addition, we have also found that no toxic effects were observed whenpretreated with silymarin, Ganoderma lucidum and red ginseng for 7 and 30 days asjudged by the pathological examination and serum enzyme activities. The results ofthis study might provide some useful information for the Department of Health with ascientific and objective means to evaluate the safety and functionality for the hepaticinjury prevention of health foods.