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ABSTRACT
Background: In Chinese folk medicine, Corni fructus (C. fructus) has traditionally been used to improve liver function, although the mechanism underlying its activity remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of wild C. fructus methanolic extract against acute alcoholic liver injury.
Methods: Alcohol was administered to mice for three consecutive days, either alone or in combination with C. fructus methanolic extract (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg body weight/d). Serum and liver tissue were collected from the animals and subjected to biochemical and histopathological analyses.
Results: C. fructus significantly alleviated alcohol-induced liver injury by reducing serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and thiobarbituric acid reactive species, inhibiting hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and increasing total superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione in the liver (P < 0.05). In addition, the C. fructus treatment inhibited the expression and activity of cytochrome P450 2E1 (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: C. fructus could be a promising natural substance for ameliorating acute alcohol-induced oxidative stress and hepatic injury.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Acknowledgement
Contributors Zhihui Jiang designed and performed the study, wrote the manuscript, Jian Wang performed study, analyzed data, Meng Wang and Huiting Xue analyzed data, Hai Jiang, Yinku Liang and Alberto C. Dias designed study and organized discussion; Marslin Gregory proof read the manuscript; Chen Chen and Xiaoying Zhang designed the study, organized discussion, and revised the manuscript.
Ethics approval The protocol of this study was approved by the institutional review board for care and use laboratory animals of Shaanxi Sci-Tech University.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes on contributors
Zhihui Jiang is studying in Agriculture & Forestry University (PhD student), China. Her research area is pharmacology of traditional Chinese medicine.
Jian Wang graduated from Shaanxi Sci-Tech University (postgraduate) in Pharmacology, China. His research area is pharmacology of traditional Chinese medicine.
Huiting Xue is studying in Xinjiang Agriculture University (master student). Her research area is ethnopharmacology.
Dr Meng Wang graduated from Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University (PhD), China. Her research area is ethnopharmacology.
Associate Prof. Hai Jiang has been appointed as associate professor at Shaanxi Sci-Tech University, China. His research area is natural product research.
Associate Prof. Yinku Liang has been appointed as associate professor at Shaanxi Sci-Tech University, China. His research area is natural product research.
Prof. Alberto C. Dias has been appointed as professor at University of Minho, Portugal. His research area is natural product research.
Associate Prof. Marslin Gregory has been appointed as associate professor at Shaanxi Sci-Tech University, China. He graduated from University of Minho, Portugal. His research area is natural product research.
Associate Prof. Chen Chen has been appointed as associate professor at Shaanxi Sci-Tech University, China. His research area is natural product research.
Prof. Dr Xiaoying Zhang has been appointed as professor at Northwest Agricultural & Forestry University, China since 2008. He graduated from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (postgraduate and PhD) in Pharmacology.