Hepatoprotective effect of mulberry water extracts on ethanol-induced liver injury via anti-inflammation and inhibition of lipogenesis in C57BL/6J mice

Many plant extracts and their bioactive substances are well recognized for their potential to exert as chemoprotective agents against common alcoholic liver injury. In this study, the effects of Mulberry water extracts (MWE) treatment in the prevention of alcohol-induced liver injury were investigated in mice. MWE contain many nutrients and bioactive substances, including fifteen types of polyphenols and anthocyanin compounds. The parameters of histopathology, immunohistochemistry, antioxidant defense and proinflammatory mediator demonstrated the inhibitory effect of MWE on alcohol-induced liver injury. Plasma and hepatic content analysis showed that MWE inhibited the levels of liver injury biomarkers (AST, ALT and ALP), triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (TC). Furthermore, treatment with MWE lessened the expression of lipid synthesis-related proteins, increased the p-AMPK/AMPK ratio and PPAR-α. Fatty acid oxidation and export via microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) were both activated as well as carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT1). These results suggested that MWE prevents alcohol-induced liver injury through the activation of the AMPK and PPAR-α signal. This may be mediated by multiple pathways, including reduced lipid accumulation and lipid synthesis, increased fatty acid transport and fatty acid oxidation responses, decreased oxidative stress and facilitated anti-inflammation.