Preventive Effect of Alkaloids from Lotus plumule on Acute Liver Injury in Mice

Bihui Liu,Xin Zhao,Jianfei Mu,Ruokun Yi,Xianrong Zhou,Ji Li

doi:10.3390/foods8010036

Abstract

Lotus plumule is a traditional Chinese food that can be used as a beverage. In this study, three kinds of Lotus plumules from different regions of China were selected to observe the preventive effects of extracted alkaloids on CCl4-induced liver injuries. Animal experiments revealed that alkaloids extracted from Lotus plumules decreased the serum AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase), and TBIL (total bilirubin) levels, enhanced SOD (superoxide dismutase) activity, and reduced MDA (malondialdehyde) level in the liver tissues of mice with liver injury. H&E observation confirmed that alkaloids from Lotus plumules could alleviate CCl4-induced injuries of liver tissues and inhibit the inflammatory effect on hepatocytes. Further qPCR experiments also demonstrated that alkaloids from Lotus plumules upregulated the expression of IκB-α (inhibitor of NF-κB alpha), Cu/Zn-SOD (copper/zinc superoxide dismutase), Mn-SOD (manganese superoxide dismutase), and CAT (catalase) mRNA and downregulated TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor alpha) and NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) expression in the liver tissues of mice with liver injury. All three kinds of alkaloids from Lotus plumules could prevent CCl4-induced liver injuries by regulating the levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in mice, and the therapeutic effect was comparable to that of silymarin, the medicine commonly used in the treatment of liver diseases. In summary, alkaloids from Lotus plumules contain bioactive substances with hepatic protective efficacy and possess potential application value in the field of functional food.

Highlights

Lotus plumule is the green radicle in the middle of mature seeds of Nymphaeaceae plant lotus.In addition to being a traditional Chinese medicine, it is more commonly used as a beverage in China [1].Lotus plumule is rich in alkaloids and sterols, and it contains water-soluble polysaccharides and a variety of micronutrients [2]
Results of this study confirmed that CCl4 increased the organ index, and alkaloids from Lotus plumules could effectively alleviate increased liver index to a level very close to normal mice, which was comparable to silymarin, the common treatment drug for liver injury
This study showed that the alkaloids from Lotus plumules collected from different regions could prevent CCl4 -induced liver injury by regulating the levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in mice

Summary

Introduction

Lotus plumule is the green radicle in the middle of mature seeds of Nymphaeaceae plant lotus.In addition to being a traditional Chinese medicine, it is more commonly used as a beverage in China [1].Lotus plumule is rich in alkaloids and sterols, and it contains water-soluble polysaccharides and a variety of micronutrients [2]. Lotus plumule is the green radicle in the middle of mature seeds of Nymphaeaceae plant lotus. In addition to being a traditional Chinese medicine, it is more commonly used as a beverage in China [1]. Lotus plumule is rich in alkaloids and sterols, and it contains water-soluble polysaccharides and a variety of micronutrients [2]. In traditional Chinese medicine, Lotus plumule has the effects, such as nourishing Yin, suppressing hyperactive yang, purging fire, eliminating toxins, clearing heat, cooling the blood, promoting the secretion of saliva and body fluid, regulating Qi, protecting the stomach and the liver, improving vision, and inducing ataraxia [3]. Lotus plumule can lower blood pressure by regulating blood vessels and smooth muscles [4].

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion