Probiotic‐fermented Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi alleviates alcoholic liver injury by enhancing antioxidant defense and modulating gut microbiota

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi (PL) has been used in China to detoxify alcohol and protect the liver for millennia, though its mechanism of liver protection has not been elucidated. However, fermentation is considered to be one of the effective ways to enhance the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective mechanism of probiotic-fermented PL (FPL). Sprague Dawley rats were administered with FPL followed by gavage of alcohol for seven consecutive days; following that, liver injury levels were evaluated in rats.RESULTS: FPL ameliorated lipid accumulation and inflammation levels in rats. Meanwhile, the levels of ethanol dehydrogenase, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, and cytochrome P4502E1 were elevated by FPL treatment. It was observed that the levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase were elevated, and the expression of nuclear transcriptional factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 genes and proteins were increased by FPL treatment, demonstrating that the Nrf2-mediated signal pathway was activated. Furthermore, FPL restored the composition of the gut microbiota with an increase in the abundances of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus and a decrease in the abundances of Bacteroidota and Akkermansia. Additionally, a strong correlation was found between the gut microbiota and the antioxidant parameters. CONCLUSION:The results indicate that FPL possesses an excellent protective effect in alcoholic liver injury. Our findings are beneficial to the development of hepatoprotective nutraceuticals for alcoholics.

Alleviation of Alcoholic Fatty Liver by Dendrobium officinale Flower Extracts due to Regulation of Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Mice Exposed to Chronic Alcohol

“…In summary, DOFE supplementation promoted alcohol metabolism, restored hepatic antioxidant capacity, alleviated oxidative stress, reduced inflammatory factor levels, and inhibited dyslipidemia induced by alcohol intake in chronic alcohol-exposed mice, especially in group H. Moreover, DOFE supplementation increased the diversity, structure, and composition of the gut microbiota in mice, restored some of the abnormal SCFA levels caused by AFLD, and helped to restore intestinal function. This analysis revealed that DOFE supplementation significantly increased the relative abundance of Akkermansia , suggesting that Akkermansia may be a potential target for the protective effect of DOFE, which is similar to previous research results [ 50 ]. Therefore, improving the composition of the gut microbiota through DOFE supplementation may be an effective therapeutic approach for the management and even prevention of AFLD.…”

Targeted modulation of gut microbiota by traditional Chinese medicine and natural products for liver disease therapy

“…A study showed that probiotic-fermented Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi significantly reduced the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Akkermansia muciniphila while increasing the abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus , which modulated aberrant gut microbiota composition and activated nuclear transcription factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)-mediated signals, thereby improving lipid accumulation and inflammation and exerting antioxidant effects and ultimately preventing ALD ( 29 ). One of the naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactones is costunolide, which has been extensively investigated for a wide range of biological activities.…”

Gut microbiota: A magical multifunctional target regulated by medicine food homology species

“… [77] . Studies on medicine food homology species of Hippophae Fructus [78] , Puerariae Lobatae Radix [79] , Astragali radix , and related processed products [80] , [81] have shown a growing role in preventing and alleviating of ALD through the gut microbiota.…”