Protective effects of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) extract on restraint stress-induced liver damage in mice.
Our experiments showed that 18 h restraint stress could induce serious liver damage, with an increase in plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level (107.68 +/- 3.19 U/L vs 18.08 +/- 1.46 U/L). Meanwhile, we observed increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and lowered oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values in plasma and liver of restraint mice compared with starved mice. Bilberry extract (containing 42.04% anthocyanins) was oral administrated to mice at 50, 100, and 200 mg/(kg x day) for five days, which remarkably decreased plasma ALT level to 17.23 +/- 2.49 U/L at the dose of 200 mg/(kg x day) and thus alleviated stress-induced liver damage. In addition, bilberry extracts increased glutathione (GSH) and vitamin C levels and significantly decreased MDA and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the liver tissues. These results suggest that bilberry extract plays an important role in protecting against restraint stress-induced liver damage by both scavenging free radicals activity and lipid peroxidation inhibitory effect. This study showed the beneficial health effects of bilberry extract through its antioxidative action.
Bao
Li
L
College of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China.
Yao
Xin-Sheng
XS
Yau
Chin-Chin
CC
Tsi
Daniel
D
Chia
Chew-Sern
CS
Nagai
Hajime
H
Kurihara
Hiroshi
H
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D029800:Vaccinium myrtillus / Q000737:chemistry*
D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione; D001205:Ascorbic Acid