The purpose of this research is to study the effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on ethanol-induced liver injury and its mechanism. The cell survival rate, the apoptosis rate, and the intracellular ROS level was detected by MTT assay, flow cytometry, laser confocal microscopy, and fluorescence spectrophotometry, respectively. The antioxidative indices were determined by ELISA kits and the protein level was detected by western blot. The result showed Lycium barbarum polysaccharide could protect ethanol-induced cell injury by reducing cell apoptosis and regulating the levels of indicators related to oxidative stress, such as ROS, MDA, SOD, etc. In addition, LBP could increase the nuclear expression of Nrf2 protein and significantly up-regulate the expression levels of Nrf2 protein and its downstream proteins, such as HO-1, NQO1, and GCLC in the cell nucleus. Therefore, Lycium barbarum polysaccharide has a protective effect on ethanol-induced liver cell injury and it plays the role in cell apoptosis pathway and oxidative stress pathway. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Lycium barbarum is a kind of food that can be used as food and medicine in China. The result showed that Lycium barbarum polysaccharide could protect ethanol-induced liver cell injury, which is beneficial to the application of LBP in functional food.
Keywords: Lycium barbarum polysaccharide; ethanol-induced injury; oxidative stress.
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