Protective effect of Que Zui tea hot-water and aqueous ethanol extract against acetaminophen-induced liver injury in mice via inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis

Food Funct. 2021 Mar 21;12(6):2468-2480. doi: 10.1039/d0fo02894k. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Abstract

The tender leaves and buds of Vaccinium dunalianum Wight have been traditionally processed as folk tea, known as Que Zui tea (QT), with a wide range of benefits to humans. In this study, Que Zui tea hot-water extract (QTW) and aqueous-ethanol extract (QTE) were tested for their effectiveness to alleviate acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver damage. QTW and QTE significantly inhibited the alanine aminotransaminase, aspartate aminotransaminase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β levels in the serum. Both extracts also ameliorated pathological damage and inhibited oxidative stress in the liver of APAP-induced mice. In addition, QTW and QTE activated the nuclear erythroid related factor 2 signal pathway, and inhibited mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. QTW and QTE also suppressed hepatocyte apoptosis by improvement of Bcl-2/Bax and inhibition of caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression. The results demonstrated that QTW and QTE could effectively protect APAP hepatotoxicity, which might be attributed to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis activities.

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen / adverse effects
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / metabolism*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology*
  • Inflammation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Plant Preparations / pharmacology
  • Vaccinium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Plant Preparations
  • Acetaminophen