Abstract
Fermented dairy products have been associated with multiple health benefits. The present study aimed to produce a functional yogurt drink fortified with golden berry juice and assess its therapeutic effect on hepatitis rats. Thirty male albino rats were randomly divided into two major groups. The first group included the control (-) animals (six rats) and was fed a standard diet, whereas the second group included 24 rats that were fed a standard diet and injected with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for 2 weeks to trigger chronic damage of the liver (hepatitis); they were then divided into four groups (six rats/group): Group 2: hepatitis, fed on a standard diet as a positive control group; Group 3: received a basal diet with 5 mL of the yogurt drink; Group 4: received a basal diet with 5 mL of the yogurt drink fortified with 10% golden berry juice. Group 5: received a basal diet with 5 mL of the yogurt drink fortified with 20% golden berry juice. Various biological parameters were determined. Yogurt drink treatments were evaluated for their chemical, phytochemical, and sensory properties, as well as for their effects on hepatoprotective activity by determining various biochemical parameters. We found that the yogurt drinks containing golden berry juice exhibited no significant differences in fat, protein, and ash content compared with the control samples. Moreover, the yogurt drinks containing golden berry juice exhibited the highest content of total phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and organoleptic scores among all treatments. In addition, rats fed on a diet fortified with yogurt drinks containing golden berry juice for 8 weeks exhibited higher potential hepatoprotective effects compared with the liver injury control group. This improvement was partly observed in the group that received the yogurt drink containing golden berry juice. Therefore, we concluded that golden berry juice can be recommended as a natural additive in the manufacture of functional yogurt drinks, as it showed a potential hepatoprotective effect in rats with hepatitis.
Highlights
Liver diseases remain among the most serious health problems worldwide; prevention and treatment options are limited in this context [1]
The total phenolic, ascorbic acid, and carotenoid contents, and the % DPPH inhibition of the golden berry juice were 112.40 mg GAE/100 mL, 52.68 mg/100 mL, 86.54 μg/mL, and 78.34%, respectively. These results of chemical composition were in line with those reported by El Sheikha et al [54,55], who found that the moisture, protein, fat, and ash contents of golden berry juice were 89.34, 1.02, 0.13, and
Based on the results presented above, the golden berry fruit juice can be used to fortify several vital food products, such as yogurt drinks
Summary
Liver diseases remain among the most serious health problems worldwide; prevention and treatment options are limited in this context [1]. Fermentation 2022, 8, 112 pathogenesis, oxidative stress, and inflammation are the causes of liver disease, and that blocking and retarding the chain reactions of the oxidation and inflammation processes is a promising therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases [2,3]. Clinical and experimental evidence has largely demonstrated that oxidative stress is a major inducer of apoptosis in various types of acute and chronic liver injuries and in hepatic fibrosis [7]. Hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4 is associated with the depletion of the antioxidant status and the exacerbation of lipid peroxidation [5,8]. The use of antioxidants and their interactions in the diet, which has attracted the attention of many researchers, presents a potential and effective therapeutic strategy for preventing or delaying the occurrence of hepatic fibrosis [9,10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
