RESUMEN
The hepatoprotective effects of the ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEP) on alcohol-induced liver steatosis were investigated in Wistar rats. Chronic alcoholic fatty liver was induced by administration of 52% alcohol to male Wistar rats at the dose of 1% body weight for 7 weeks. Then animals were simultaneously treated with 50% ethanol solutions of EEP or normal saline at the dose of 0.1% body weight for 4 further weeks. Serological analyses and liver histopathology studies were performed to investigate the development of steatosis. Microarray analysis was conducted to investigate the alterations of hepatic gene expression profiling. Our results showed that 4-week treatment of EEP helped to restore the levels of various blood indices, liver function enzymes and the histopathology of liver tissue to normal levels. Results from the microarray analysis revealed that the hepatic expressions of genes involved in lipogenesis were significantly down-regulated by EEP treatment, while the transcriptional expressions of functional genes participating in fatty acids oxidation were markedly increased. The ability of EEP to reduce the negative effects of alcohol on liver makes propolis a potential natural product for the alternative treatment of alcoholic fatty liver.
Asunto(s)
Hígado Graso Alcohólico/metabolismo , Hepatopatías Alcohólicas/metabolismo , Extractos Vegetales/metabolismo , Própolis/metabolismo , Sustancias Protectoras/metabolismo , Alanina Transaminasa/metabolismo , Animales , Apiterapia/métodos , Aspartato Aminotransferasas/metabolismo , Colesterol/metabolismo , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Etanol , Ácidos Grasos/biosíntesis , Hígado Graso Alcohólico/tratamiento farmacológico , Hígado Graso Alcohólico/genética , Hígado Graso Alcohólico/patología , Hepatopatías Alcohólicas/tratamiento farmacológico , Hepatopatías Alcohólicas/genética , Hepatopatías Alcohólicas/patología , Masculino , Oxidación-Reducción , Extractos Vegetales/química , Extractos Vegetales/uso terapéutico , Própolis/química , Própolis/uso terapéutico , Sustancias Protectoras/química , Sustancias Protectoras/uso terapéutico , Ratas Wistar , Análisis de Matrices Tisulares/métodos , Transcripción Genética/genética , Triglicéridos/metabolismoRESUMEN
Ethanol abuse is a serious public health problem that is associated with several stages of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. Alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD), the earliest stage of ALD, is a multifactorial injury that involves oxidative stress and disruptions of lipid metabolism. Although benign and reversible, no pharmacological treatments are available for this condition. In the present study, we induced AFLD in mice with 10% ethanol and a low-protein diet and then orally treated them with a hydroethanolic extract of Baccharis trimera (HEBT; 30 mg kg-1). HEBT reversed ethanol-induced oxidative stress in the liver, reduced lipoperoxidation, normalized GPx, GST, SOD and Cat activity, and GSH and total ROS levels. The reverser effect of HEBT was observed upon ethanol-induced increases in the levels of plasma and hepatic triglycerides, plasma cholesterol, plasma high-density lipoprotein, and plasma and hepatic low-density lipoprotein. Moreover, HEBT increased fecal triglycerides and reduced the histological ethanol-induced lesions in the liver. HEBT also altered the expression of genes that are involved in ethanol metabolism, antioxidant systems, and lipogenesis (i.e., CypE1, Nrf2, and Scd1, respectively). No signs of toxicity were observed in HEBT-treated mice. We propose that HEBT may be a promising pharmacological treatment for AFLD.
Asunto(s)
Baccharis/química , Etanol/química , Hígado Graso Alcohólico/tratamiento farmacológico , Extractos Vegetales/uso terapéutico , Agua/química , Animales , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Peso Corporal/efectos de los fármacos , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Hígado Graso Alcohólico/sangre , Hígado Graso Alcohólico/genética , Hígado Graso Alcohólico/patología , Heces/química , Conducta Alimentaria/efectos de los fármacos , Regulación de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Lípidos/sangre , Hígado/efectos de los fármacos , Hígado/patología , Hígado/ultraestructura , Masculino , Ratones , Modelos Biológicos , Estrés Oxidativo/efectos de los fármacos , Extractos Vegetales/farmacologíaRESUMEN
In the present study, the curative effects of crude polysaccharides (PSs) from mushrooms on the symptoms of alcoholic liver injury were investigated. PSs from Agaricus bisporus, Agaricus brasiliensis, and Phellinus linteus fruiting bodies were administered by gavage at levels of 100 mg per kg body weight per day for 7 d after the onset of the disease. The caspase-3 activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial outer membrane integrity of the liver tissues of sacrificed rats, and the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were determined. In addition, light and transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies were performed for histopathological and cytological evaluations on liver sections. PSs from A. brasiliensis decreased ALT level and mitochondrial membrane potential and increased the outer membrane integrity; microscopic examinations also revealed normal hepatocytes and tissue. On the basis of our data, it can be argued that crude PSs from Agaricus brasiliensis have therapeutic potential for alcoholic liver injury.