Effects of Antrodia camphorata on Alcohol Clearance and Antifibrosis in Livers of Rats Continuously Fed Alcohol

Abstract

Alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) is the result of an excessive or chronic consumption of alcohol. Nine male Wistar rats per group were randomly assigned to one of the following drinking treatments: a 20% (w/w) alcohol solution (ALC); a 20% (w/w) alcohol solution cotreated with 0.25 g silymarin/kg BW/day; or a 20% (w/w) alcohol solution cotreated with 0.025 g Niuchangchih ( Antrodia camphorata )/kg BW/day for 4 weeks. Rats with cotreatments of silymarin or Niuchangchih had smaller (p < 0.05) relative liver size, less (p < 0.05) liver lipid accumulation, and lower (p < 0.05) liver damage indices [aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) values]. In the regulation of alcohol metabolism, the lower serum alcohol level was observed only in alcohol-fed rats supplemented with Niuchangchih. Meanwhile, cotreatment of silymarin or Niuchangchih increased (p < 0.05) CAT and ALDH activities but did not (p > 0.05) affect ADH and CYP2E1 expressions, which accelerate alcohol metabolism in the body. Additionally, neither silymarin nor Niuchangchih (p > 0.05) influenced serum/hepatic MMP-2 activities and NF-κB, AP1, and α-SMA gene expressions, but serum/hepatic MMP-9 activities and TNF-α, KLF-6, and TGF-β1 gene expressions of alcohol-fed rats were down-regulated (p < 0.05) by silymarin or Niuchangchih, which also could explain the lower liver damage observed in rats chronically fed alcohol.

Taurine Attenuates Hepatic Inflammation in Chronic Alcohol-Fed Rats Through Inhibition of TLR4/MyD88 Signaling

“…Chronic alcoholic hepatitis in rats was induced as described elsewhere. 20 Since our previous study indicated that a dosage of 1 g taurine/kg BW and 0.25 g silymarin/kg BW accelerated alcohol clearance in a rat model of chronic alcohol consumption, 20 the rats in the current study were randomly divided into four treatment groups with eight rats each: (1) water per day (p.o. ); and (4) 1X silymarin group (Sil): 3 g alcohol/kg BW + 0.25 g silymarin/kg BW/day in 3 mL of sterile distilled water per day (p.o.).…”

“…19 Our recent study indicated that taurine downregulates lipogenesis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokines in a rat model of chronic alcohol consumption. 20 However, the precise signaling involved in the beneficial effect of taurine on alcohol-induced liver injury is still obscure. Therefore, this study investigated the precise signaling conferred by taurine in alcohol-induced liver injury.…”

Effects of taurine on hepatic lipid metabolism and anti-inflammation in chronic alcohol-fed rats

“…MMP-2, -8, -9, and -13 cause fibrinolysis and tissue remodeling, which results in the progression of liver fibrosis (Consolo et al, 2009). It was reported that higher hepatic MMP-2/-9 activities are observed in rodents treated with carbon tetrachloride (Shyu, Kao, & Yen, 2008), high-fat/cholesterol diet , and chronic alcohol consumption (Wu et al, 2011). Hsu et al (2010) reported that a high-cholesterol diet increases hepatic stress-related molecules, i.e.…”

Taurine ameliorates alcoholic steatohepatitis via enhancing self-antioxidant capacity and alcohol metabolism

“…Hence, quicker alcohol metabolism in hepatocytes results in less damage (Wu et al, 2011). The previous researches related to the alcohol metabolism of Tau against chronic alcohol consumption seem insufficient.…”