Image_2.JPEG

Abstract

Cereal vinegar sediment (CVS) is a natural precipitate formed during the aging process of traditional grain vinegar. It has been used as a Chinese traditional medicine, while its composition and function reported minimally. In this study, we measured CVS in terms of saccharide, protein, fat and water contents as well as polyphenol and flavonoid contents. Further, we determined the amino acids, organic acids and other soluble metabolites in CVS using RP-HPLC, HPLC and LC-MS/MS platforms. The hepatoprotective effect of CVS was evaluated in acute CCl4-induced liver injury mice. Administration of CVS for 7 days prior to the CCl4 treatment can significantly decrease liver alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, compared with those in the hepatic injury model group. The gut microbiota was changed by CCl4 administration and was partly shifted by the pretreatment of CVS, particularly the Muribaculaceae family, which was increased in CVS treated groups compared with that in CCl4 administration group. Moreover, the abundances Alistipes genus and Muribaculaceae family were correlated with liver ALT, AST and MDA levels. Our results illustrated the composition of CVS and its hepatoprotective effect in mice, suggested that CVS could be` developed as functional food to prevent acute liver injury.