HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF BANANA PEEL FLOUR ON HISTOLOGICAL AND LIVER FUNCTION IN DIABETIC RATS

In diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely linked to hyperglycemia metabolism. This study aimed to find out how a banana peel supplemented diet affected histological and liver function changes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, antioxidants, and tryptophan are all contained in banana peel flour (BPF). Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has been linked to depression and anxiety. This post-test-only control group study was conducted on twenty-five male Wistar rats which were separated into five groups with different treatments. Groups II to V were diabetic rats model groups that consumed standard diet mixed with BPF 0%, 5%, 10%, and 20%, respectively, while group I was a healthy control group fed a standard diet. Hepatic enzyme transaminase (Alanine Aminotransferase-ALT and Aspartate Aminotransferase - AST) and Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining were analyzed with the NAFLD score to examine the liver function and hepatocellular morphology. A change in liver function was observed, as well as a substantial change in the levels of ALT and AST. The NAFLD score with HE staining showed substantial improvements in liver morphology, which was better seen at a 20% BPF dose. The current study supported the hypothesis that BPF had a hepatoprotective effect in diabetic rats, which may be due to the mechanism of controlling the hepatic enzyme transaminase and inducing liver regeneration.

Hepatic Enzyme Effects of an Imperata cylindrica Extract

This study was performed to investigate the effects of aqueous Imperata cylindrica root extract on hepatic enzyme levels of alloxan-induced diabetic male Wistar rats. Forty (48) male wistar rats were divided into six groups consisting of eight animals each. Diabetes mellitus was induced using intraperitoneal administration 150 mg/kg body weight of alloxan and treatment was carried out for a period of 28 days. The first group served as the normal control and received only feed and water ad libitum. In Group 2 were diabetic rats without treatment with extracts. Group 3: diabetic rats treated with 200 mg/kg aqueous Imperata cylindrica root extract. Group 4: diabetic rats treated with 400mg/kg aqueous Imperata cylindrica root extract. Group 5: diabetic rats treated with 600mg/kg ethanol extract of aqueous Imperata cylindrica root extract. While Group 6 was diabetic rats treated with 0.5mg/kg Glibenclamide. The liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly (p < 0.05) changed in rats treated with Alloxan (150mg/kg b.w.) while treatment with the respective dosages of extracts significantly changed the levels of these parameters to normal. The results obtained indicate that the different doses of aqueous Imperata cylindrica root extracts were beneficial in mending damages to the liver caused by Alloxan monohydrate in the male wistar rats.

Drug Repurposing in Alternative Medicine: Sochehwan, a Polyherbal Traditional Korean Digestant, Protects against Alcoholic Steatohepatitis by Regulating Cytochrome P450 2E1 Expression

Sochehwan (SCH) is an herbal prescription from traditional oriental medicine and is currently used to treat digestive ailments. In a previous study, SCH was found to have the potential to attenuate metabolic syndrome (MetS) by activating AMPK and downstream signaling. From the view of drug repurposing, the efficacy of SCH on alcoholic liver injury is implied in classic medical texts but is yet to be proven. C57BL/6J mice were pre-treated with SCH orally for 5 days and challenged by providing a pair-fed Lieber DeCarli diet containing alcohol for 20 days. Hepatic enzyme and triglyceride levels and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related markers were analyzed. Moreover, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) levels were determined. CYP2E1-transfected HepG2 cells were used to test the cytoprotective efficacy of SCH against the adverse effects of alcohol in vitro. In mice, SCH administration notably reduced hepatic enzyme activity and neural lipid levels. Furthermore, ER-stress markers and MAPK phosphorylation were reduced due to ROS suppression, which was attributed to decreased CYP2E1 expression in liver tissue. In addition, SCH successfully protected CYP2E1-transfected HepG2 cells against ethanol. Our findings suggest SCH attenuated alcohol-induced liver injury by inhibiting CYP2E1 expression and indicate drug repurposing should be considered as a valuable option for drug development in traditional herbal medicines.

Tryptophanemia is controlled by a tryptophan-sensing mechanism ubiquitinating tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase

Maintaining stable tryptophan levels is required to control neuronal and immune activity. We report that tryptophan homeostasis is largely controlled by the stability of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO), the hepatic enzyme responsible for tryptophan catabolism. High tryptophan levels stabilize the active tetrameric conformation of TDO through binding noncatalytic exosites, resulting in rapid catabolism of tryptophan. In low tryptophan, the lack of tryptophan binding in the exosites destabilizes the tetramer into inactive monomers and dimers and unmasks a four–amino acid degron that triggers TDO polyubiquitination by SKP1-CUL1-F-box complexes, resulting in proteasome-mediated degradation of TDO and rapid interruption of tryptophan catabolism. The nonmetabolizable analog alpha-methyl-tryptophan stabilizes tetrameric TDO and thereby stably reduces tryptophanemia. Our results uncover a mechanism allowing a rapid adaptation of tryptophan catabolism to ensure quick degradation of excess tryptophan while preventing further catabolism below physiological levels. This ensures a tight control of tryptophanemia as required for both neurological and immune homeostasis.

Association between Dietary Patterns and Serum Hepatic Enzyme Levels in Adults with Dyslipidemia and Impaired Fasting Plasma Glucose

We investigated the association between dietary patterns and serum hepatic enzyme levels in adults with dyslipidemia and impaired fasting glucose in Taiwan. A total of 15,005 subjects (5452 men and 9553 women) aged 35–69 years were selected. Two major dietary patterns were identified by principal component analysis: Western dietary pattern and Mediterranean dietary pattern. Subjects in the highest quartile (Q4) of the Western dietary pattern showed an increased risk of elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.06–1.45, p-trend = 0.01). Fur-thermore, in the highest quartile of the Western dietary pattern, subjects with high waist circum-ference were observed to have a greater risk for developing abnormal serum ALT levels compared to those in the lowest quartile (Q1) (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.04–1.97, p-trend = 0.01). In the highest quartile of the Western dietary pattern, only women were at an increased risk for having abnormal serum ALT levels (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04–1.59, p-trend = 0.03). By contrast, in the highest quartile of the Mediterranean dietary pattern, only men were at a reduced risk for having abnormal serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.53–0.97, p-trend = 0.048). We report a positive association between the Western dietary pattern and abnormal serum ALT levels.

Sleeve Gastrectomy Is Associated with a Greater Reduction in Plasma Liver Enzymes Than Bypass Surgeries—A Registry-Based Two-Year Follow-Up Analysis

Bariatric surgeries may lead to an improvement in metabolic fatty liver disease, and a reduction in the levels of the hepatic enzyme Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT). We compared the effects of Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG), Roux en Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) and One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB) on the levels of ALT by analysis of two-year follow-up data from 4980 patients in the Israeli Bariatric Registry that included laboratory tests and demographic information. Pre-operative characteristics of patients, and particularly levels of liver enzymes, were similar across surgery types. Regression modeling and retrospective matching showed that SG was superior to RYGB and OAGB in reducing ALT levels, and in reducing the fraction of patients with abnormally high ALT levels. Two-year post-surgery, an increase in ALT levels from normal to abnormal levels was observed in 5% of SG patients, and in 18% and 23% of RYGB and OAGB patients. In conclusion, SG leads to a greater reduction in ALT levels compared with bypass surgeries and a lower incidence of post-surgical elevation of ALT levels. Further studies are required to identify the cause for the rise in liver enzymes, and to determine whether ALT levels correlate with liver pathology especially following bariatric surgery.

Activities of Acetylcholinesterase, Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress Markers in Clarias gariepinus Exposed to ‘Uproot’, a Glyphosate–Based Herbicide

In this study, Clarias gariepinus were exposed to different concentrations (60, 80 and 100 mg/L) of Uproot, a glyphosate-based herbicide and the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), hepatic enzyme markers, oxidative and nitrosative stress markers were determined in serum, gills, liver and brain by using standard assays. Results showed that AChE activity was not significantly inhibited. Activities of ALT, AST and ALP increased (P < 0.05) with increasing exposures. For SOD, elevated (P < 0.05) activities were observed in all tissues at 60 mg/L exposure, but decreased at 80 mg/L and 100 mg/L concentrations. The activity of CAT reduced significantly (P < 0.05) in brain at 100 mg/L exposure. Increased production of NO was observed in gill and brain whereas in serum it is increased. GPx was elevated in gills and reduced in brain and liver. Gills showed lower MDA concentrations. GST was el evated in liver and brain, while total protein reduced (P < 0.05) in serum, gill and liver with increasing concentrations of exposure. The impaired activities of antioxidant enzymes and induction of NO suggest a disruption of normal antioxidant response in Clarias gariepinus exposed to glyphosate, and these activities could be used as biomarkers in aquatic environmental contamination

Administration of Protein Hydrolysates from Anchovy (Engraulis Encrasicolus) Waste for Twelve Weeks Decreases Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease Severity in ApoE–/–Mice

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) includes several diseases, ranging from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. Fish-rich diets are considered helpful in the prevention of MAFLD, and the enzymatic hydrolysis of fish waste has been explored as a means of obtaining high-value protein hydrolysates, which have been proven to exert beneficial bioactivities including anti-obesity and hypocholesterol effects. This study aimed to assess the effect of the administration of protein hydrolysates from anchovy waste (APH) for 12 weeks on attenuated high-fat diet-induced MAFLD in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice (ApoE–/–). Thirty ApoE–/– mice were divided into two groups (n = 15/group) and fed a high-fat diet (HFD), with and without the addition of 10% (w/w) APH. After 12 weeks, serum and hepatic lipid profiles, hepatic enzyme activities, liver histology and immunohistochemistry were analyzed to assess hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. Twelve-weeks on a 10% (w/w) APH diet reduces total cholesterol and triglyceride serum levels, hepatic enzyme activity and hepatic triacylglycerol content (p < 0.0001), and results in a reduction in hepatic fat accumulation and macrophage recruitment (p < 0.0001). The results suggest that a 10% APH diet has an anti-obesity effect, with an improvement in lipid metabolism, hepatic steatosis and liver injury as a result of a high-fat diet. Protein hydrolysates from fish waste may represent an efficient nutritional strategy in several diseases, and their use as nutraceuticals is worthy of future investigation.