Preventive effect of flavonoids from Wushan Shencha (Malus doumeri leaves) on CCl4-induced liver injury.

Kai Zhu,Jing Xie,Guangbin Huang,Xin Zhao,Jianfei Mu,Xianrong Zhou

doi:10.1002/fsn3.1243

Abstract

Wushan Shencha (Malus doumeri leaf) is a unique tea‐like drink. Herein, the effect of flavonoids from Wushan Shencha (FWSSC) on carbon tetrachloride‐induced liver injury was studied. The serum and liver tissues of experimental mice were analyzed by kits, a slice technique, and qPCR assay. The liver index is a calculated liver‐to‐body weight ratio, and the experimental results showed that FWSSC reduced the liver index of the model group with liver injury, which was the highest. Sections stained with H&E showed that FWSSC reduced stem cell necrosis caused by liver injury. FWSSC reduced the serum levels of AST, ALT, TG, and TC, as well as the levels of IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IFN‐γ cytokines in the serum of mice with liver injury. Liver biochemical tests also showed that FWSSC increased the SOD activity and decreased TC, TG, and MPO levels in mice with liver injury. It was found that FWSSC upregulated the expression of Cu/Zn‐SOD, Mn‐SOD, CAT, and IκB‐α, and downregulated the expression of NF‐κB, COX‐2, TNF‐α, and IL‐1β in the liver tissue of mice with liver injury by detecting the expression of mRNA in liver tissue. It is concluded that FWSSC is an active substance with hepatoprotective effects. The activity of FWSSC increased with increasing concentration, and the hepatoprotective effect of FWSSC at 100 mg/kg concentration was stronger than that of silymarin.

Highlights

Wushan Shencha comes from the Three Gorges Valley of the Middle Yangtze River in China
The results showed that the MPO activity of the control group was the highest, while the MPO activity significantly decreased after treatment with Wushan Shencha flavonoids, indicating that Wushan Shencha flavonoids had the effect of repairing oxidative damage, playing a role in preventing liver injury
This study shows that the flavonoids of Wushan Shencha inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress in mice with liver injury

Summary

| INTRODUCTION

Wushan Shencha comes from the Three Gorges Valley of the Middle Yangtze River in China. The preventive effect of flavonoids from Wushan Shencha on carbon tetrachloride‐induced liver injury has not yet been reported. The flavonoids from Wushan Shencha were extracted, and their preventive effect on acute liver injury in mice was tested by establishing a CCl4‐induced liver injury model. The serum and liver tissues of mice were tested, and biochemical and molecular biology experiments showed that the flavonoids of Wushan Shencha had a good preventive effect on experimental acute liver injury. These experimental results will provide the theoretical basis for further utilization of this resource

| MATERIALS AND METHODS

| CONCLUSIONS

Findings

CONFLICT OF INTEREST