Combination of s-methyl cysteine and protocatechuic acid provided greater lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects in mice liver against chronic alcohol consumption

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Center for Digestive Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

2 Department of Food Nutrition and Health Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan

3 Department of Gastroenterology, Asia University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

4 Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

Abstract

Objective(s): Protective effects of s-methyl cysteine (SMC) alone, protocatechuic acid (PCA) alone, and SMC plus PCA against chronic ethanol consumption induced hepatic steatosis and inflammation were investigated.  
Materials and Methods: Mice were divided into six groups: normal diet (ND) group, Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet without ethanol (LD diet) group, LD diet with ethanol (LED diet) group, SMC group (LED diet plus 0.25% SMC), PCA group (LED diet plus 0.25% PCA), and SMC+PCA group (LED diet plus 0.125% SMC + 0.125% PCA).  After 8 weeks of supplementation, blood and liver were used for analysis.  
Results: Biochemical and histological data showed that SMC plus PCA led to a greater reduction in lipid droplets in the liver than SMC or PCA treatment alone.  SMC plus PCA resulted in greater suppression in hepatic mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and myeloperoxidase than SMC or PCA treatment alone.  SMC plus PCA led to a greater decrease in hepatic reactive oxygen species and inflammatory cytokine levels than SMC or PCA treatment alone.  
Conclusion: These novel findings suggest that the combination of SMC and PCA was a potent remedy for alcoholic liver disorders.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 8
August 2021
Pages 1146-1152

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