Protective Effects of Ethanolic Extracts from Artichoke, an Edible Herbal Medicine, against Acute Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice.

Xuchong Tang,Tingping Lei,Aihua Deng,Ruofan Wei

doi:10.3390/nu9091000

Xuchong Tang, Tingping Lei + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9091000

Copy DOI

Abstract

Oxidative stress and inflammation are well-documented pathological factors in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is a healthy food and folk medicine with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to evaluate the preventive effects of ethanolic extract from artichoke against acute alcohol-induced liver injury in mice. Male Institute of Cancer Research mice were treated with an ethanolic extract of artichoke (0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 g/kg body weight) by gavage once daily. Up to 40% alcohol (12 mL/kg body weight) was administered orally 1 h after artichoke treatment. All mice were fed for 10 consecutive days. Results showed that artichoke extract significantly prevented elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and malondialdehyde. Meanwhile, the decreased levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione were elevated by artichoke administration. Histopathological examination showed that artichoke attenuated degeneration, inflammatory infiltration and necrosis of hepatocytes. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that expression levels of toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in liver tissues were significantly suppressed by artichoke treatment. Results obtained demonstrated that artichoke extract exhibited significant preventive protective effect against acute alcohol-induced liver injury. This finding is mainly attributed to its ability to attenuate oxidative stress and suppress the TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory pathway. To the best of our knowledge, the underlying mechanisms of artichoke on acute ALD have been rarely reported.

Highlights

Drinking alcohol has always been deemed essential in many areas, such as in social gatherings, status functions, personal interactions, and conformance
Data presented clearly showed that artichoke reduced levels of AST, ALT, TG, total cholesterol (TC), and MDA, while increasing the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and GSH in an acute alcoholic liver disease (ALD) mice model
TLR4 and NF-κB expression levels in liver tissue were effectively downregulated by artichoke

Summary

Introduction

Drinking alcohol has always been deemed essential in many areas, such as in social gatherings, status functions, personal interactions, and conformance. Long-term excessive alcohol intake can result in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). ALD is the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver-related death worldwide for decades and is responsible for 4% of global mortality [1,2,3]. ALD encompasses a histological spectrum of liver injury that ranges from steatosis (fatty liver) to alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH), and in severe cases, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma [4,5]. The control of ALD at an early stage, for example, at a stage prior to the occurrence of ASH, could be of great significance in preventing development of ALD.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion