Polyphenols in Liubao Tea Can Prevent CCl₄-Induced Hepatic Damage in Mice through Its Antioxidant Capacities.

Yanni Pan,Xin Zhao,Ruokun Yi,Xingyao Long

doi:10.3390/nu10091280

Abstract

The present study investigated the preventive effect of polyphenols in Liubao tea (PLT) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in mice. The mice were initially treated with PLT, followed by induction of liver injury using 10 mL/kg CCl4. Then liver and serum indices, as well as the expression levels of related messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and proteins in liver tissues were measured. The results showed that PLT reduces the liver quality and indices of mice with liver injury. PLT also downregulates aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglycerides (TGs), and malondialdehyde (MDA), and upregulates superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the sera of mice with liver injury. PLT also reduces serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-12 (IL-12), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) cytokines in mice with liver injury. Pathological morphological observation also shows that PLT reduces CCl4-induced central venous differentiation of liver tissues and liver cell damage. Furthermore, qPCR and Western blot also confirm that PLT upregulates the mRNA and protein expressions of Gu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, catalase (CAT), GSH-Px, and nuclear factor of κ-light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor-α (IκB-α) in liver tissues, and downregulates the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB). Meanwhile, PLT also raised the phosphorylated (p)-NF-κB p65 and cytochrome P450 reductase protein expression in liver injury mice. The components of PLT include gallic acid, catechin, caffeine, epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), gallocatechin gallate (GCG), and epicatechin gallate (ECG), which possibly have a wide range of biological activities. Thus, PLT imparts preventive effects against CCl4-induced liver injury, which is similar to silymarin.

Highlights

Liubao tea is prepared from Wuzhou large tea leaves from China
The results show that polyphenols of Liubao tea (PLT) can reduce the liver quality and liver indices of mice with effects are similar to those using liver to injury liver injury, and these effects arethe similar thosedrug, usingsilymarin
Through the detection of inflammatory cytokines, we found that PLT could inhibit inflammation by reducing the level of inflammatory factors, thereby reducing liver injury

Summary

Introduction

Liubao tea is prepared from Wuzhou large tea leaves from China. It is a specialty tea generated through the processes of natural fermentation, pile fermentation, drying, autoclaving, aging, and other characteristics. Recent studies showed that Liubao tea imparts lipid-lowering effects, regulates glucose and lipid metabolism, possesses anti-oxidation activity, and regulates immune function and intestinal flora. These health benefits come from the components of Liubao tea, which include polyphenols, flavonoids, caffeine, free amino acids, and soluble sugars [4,5,6]

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Discussion

Conclusion