Objective: To study the mechanism of protective effects of procyanidins on liver injury model induced by alcohol in mice.
Methods: Mice were divided into 3 groups to set up the model of liver injury induced by alcohol in mice: the group of liver injury induced by alcohol, the group of procyanidins with low doses (100mg/kg), the group of procyanidins with high doses(300mg/kg). Then established normal group of control. The model of liver injury induced by alcohol in mice was used to investigate the protective effects at low and high doses procyanidins in serum indicated by alanine aminotransferase (ALT), asparate aminotransferase (AST) and in liver homogenate indicated by malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reactive oxygen species (ROS). The levels of Cu,Zn-SOD mRNA in hepatic tissue and toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA were determined by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique.
Results: The procyanidins with low and high doses could reduce ALT, MDA, ROS content and increase SOD level, up-regulate the expression of Cu, Zn-SOD mRNA and down-regulate the expression of TLR4 mRNA.
Conclusion: Mechanism of the protective effects on liver injuries of mice induced by alcoholmay be associated with promoting the expression of Cu, Zn-SOD and suppressing the expression of TLR4 mRNA.