Abstract
This study aimed at evaluating the cytoprotective activity of jujube water extract (JWE) against alcohol-induced oxidative stress via the activation of the Nrf2 pathway in HepG2 cells. JWE had various phenolic compounds, and the vanillic acid content was the highest in the extract. To determine the cytoprotective effect of JWE against alcohol-induced damage, hepatocytes were treated with JWE and 3% ethanol. JWE (100 μg/mL) markedly increased cell viability by approximately 100% in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, JWE attenuated the production of malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species, aspartate, and alanine aminotransferase and the depletion of glutathione. Moreover, JWE enhanced the expression of antioxidant defense enzymes including heme oxygenase-1, NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1, and γ-glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic against alcohol-induced oxidative damage in hepatocytes via the activation of Nrf2. Taken together, JWE possesses the protective effect against alcohol-induced oxidative injury in hepatocytes through the upregulation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Therefore, jujube fruit might have the potential to improve alcohol-related liver problems.
Highlights
Overconsumption of alcohol leads to alcohol-related liver disease (ALD)
Phytochemicals including flavonoids and phenolic acids are responsible for various biological activities and health benefits
It has been previously reported that 5 phenolic components were identified in the extract [19]
Summary
Overconsumption of alcohol leads to alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). Besides ALD, alcohol is a major cause of mortality and morbidity [1]. It was reported that excessive ROS generation causes liver damage by inducing proinflammatory cytokine production [7, 8]. Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key protein in antioxidant signaling against oxidative damage via inducing the expression of antioxidant genes. The activated Nrf2/ARE pathway enhanced cytoprotection against alcohol stress and ameliorated ALD [10]. Based on the various pieces of evidence, Nrf activation is generally considered as a protective response against alcohol-induced damage. Despite previous results concerning the hepatoprotective effects of jujube [19], a more detailed description is still needed to clarify the effector mechanism behind the protective activity of jujube in hepatocytes against alcohol-induced oxidative damage. The protective mechanism through the activation of the Nrf signaling pathway was studied in human hepatocytes
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