Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is recognized one of the leading metabolic diseases globally, and the younger age population with the disease is rapidly growing, especially in developed countries. Since there has been no approved medicine, losing weight is known to be the only best remedy to control or reverse the disease. Recently, the field of microbiome has attracted much attention to offer more practical choices for patients. Here, we provide experimental evidence that Streptococcus thermophilus LM1012 (LM1012), a safe probiotic strain, is effective for improving NAFLD indexes. In the methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet induced C57BL/6 mouse model, administration of LM1012 promoted marked reductions of aspartate transaminase (23.8%), total bilirubin (27.8%), hydroxycholesterol (64.2%), triglyceride (29.7%) and IL-1β (68.3%) compared to the MCD diet alone group. Also, the histopathological data imply that LM1012 inhibited fat accumulation and inflammation in the liver, which are the key biomarkers for progression of the disease. Together, these findings suggest that human consumption of LM1012 as a healthy nutritional supplement, may be helpful in reducing the risk of liver damages in NAFLD patients.

Barley’s nutritional value as a health food is increasing due to its excellent nutritional functionality. In this study, the levels of β-glucan, total polyphenols, and total flavonoids were analyzed in the ethanol extracts of different barley cultivars (Hinchalssal, Heuksoojeongchal, Betaone, Ganghochung, and Saechalssal). Also, the free radical scavenging abilities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzo-thiaxoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) were measured to determine their antioxidant activity. The results confirmed that Betaone extract contained highly activefunctional components and exhibitedantioxidant activity. Next, we evaluated the hepatoprotective and inhibitory effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by barley ethanol extracts after inducing oxidative stress with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) in HepG2 cells. Hinchalssal and Saechalssal extracts showed the most significant cytoprotective effect and also reduced ROS production significantly. These results suggest that Hinchalssal, Saechalssal, and Betaone represent potential natural antioxidant and hepatoprotective agents.

This study evaluated the biological activity and cytoprotective effect of guava (Psidium guajava L.) branch against oxidative stress. The contents of vitamin C, beta-carotene, total carotenoids, quercetin and catechin determined were 26.783, 43.676, 65.083, 58.245, and 8.309 mg/100 g, respectively. To measure antioxidant activity, the guava branch was extracted using various concentrations of ethanol (60, 80, or 100%) and water. The highest content of polyphenols (0.245 mg gallic acid equivalent/mg residue) and flavonoids (0.128 mg cathechin equivalent/mg residue) was found in the 100% ethanol extract of the branch (E100). Moreover, E100 also possessed the highest radical scavenging activities and showed the highest inhibition rate of α-glucosidase (77.692%). E100 was the most effective extract to impart cytoprotectant activity against oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Taken together, our results determine the promising antioxidant activity of guava branch, and indicate the potential to be applied as a natural antioxidant.

Alcoholic steatosis is a fundamental metabolic disorder and may precede the onset of more severe forms of alcoholic liver disease. In this study, we isolated enzymatichydrolysate from Semisulcospira libertine by alcalase hydrolysis and investigated the protective effect of Semisulcospira libertine hydrolysate on liver injury induced by alcohol in the mouse model of chronic and binge ethanol feeding (NIAAA). In an in vitro study, the hydrolysate protects HepG2 cells from ethanol toxicity. Liver damage was assessed by histopathological examination, as well as by quantitating activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). After the administration of S. libertina hydrolysate, fat accumulation and infiltration of inflammatory cells in liver tissues were significantly decreased in the NIAAA mouse model. The elevated levels of serum AST, ALT, and ALP activities, along with the lipid contents of a damaged liver, were recovered in experimental mice administrated with S. libertina hydrolysate, suggesting its role in blood enzyme activation and lipid content restoration within damaged liver tissues. Moreover, treatment with S. libertine hydrolysate reduced the expression rate of cyclooxygenase (COX-2), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6, which accelerate inflammation and induces tissue damage. All data showed that S. libertine hydrolysate has a preventive role against alcohol-induced liver damages by improving the activities of blood enzymes and modulating the expression of inflammation factor, suggesting S. libertine hydrolysate could be a commercially potential material for the restoration of hepatotoxicity.

Several parts of Lythrum salicaria were used for this study. Scavenging activities on radicals, inhibitory activity on linoleic acid peroxidation and total phenol contents of extracts from root, flower, and aerial part were evaluated. Flower and root selected from in vitro assay were subjected to in vivo assay on CCL4-induced liver injury rat model for two weeks. Carbon tetrachloride intoxication on rats produced large amounts of hepatic lipid peroxidation product, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) compared with normal rats. Treatment with root extract of L. salicaria (LSR) showed effective inhibitory activity on lipid peroxidation product. Administration with LSR extract significantly alleviated CCL4-induced increase in GPT activity which were more effective than silymarin. The results of this study suggest that root and flower of L. salicaria have antioxidant and liver protecting activities, and root part is the most effective candidate to develop a new functional material.

The objective of present study was to investigate the anti oxidative and hepatoprotective effects of tomato extracts. Total antioxidant capacity and total antioxidant response were 5.5 and 19.8μg Trolox equivalent per mg of tomato extract, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activity of tomato extracts (10mg ml-1) was 70% as compared to 100% by pyrogallol solution as a reference. The effect of the tomato extracts on lipid peroxidation was examined using rat liver mitochondria induced by iron/ascorbate. Tomato extracts at the concentration of 0.5mg ml-1 significantly decreased TBARS concentration. Tomato extracts prevented lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of the tomato extracts on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was examined using cell-free system induced by H2O2/FeSO4. Addition of 1mg ml-1 of tomato extracts significantly reduced dichlorofluorescein (DCF) fluorescence. Tomato extracts caused concentration-dependent attenuation of the increase in DCF fluorescence, indicating that tomato extracts significantly prevented ROS generation in vitro. The effect of tomato extracts on cell viability and proliferation was examined using hepatocyte culture. Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were incubated with 1mM tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) for 90 min in the presence or absence of tomato extracts. MTT values by addition of tomato extracts at the concentration of 2, 10, and 20mg ml-1 in the presence of t-BHP were 13, 33 and 48%, respectively, compared to 100% as control. Tomato extracts increased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that tomato extracts suppressed lipid peroxidation and t-BHP-induced hepatotoxicity and scavenged ROS generation. Thus antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of tomato extracts seem to be due to, at least in part, the prevention from free radicals-induced oxidation, followed by inhibition of lipid peroxidation.