Corn peptides protect against thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.
Certain bioactive peptides are reported to be able to alleviate hepatic fibrosis. Our previous work has confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of corn peptides (CPs) that are prepared from a high protein by-product, corn gluten meal, on acute liver injury in an animal model. However, the antifibrotic activity of CPs remained to be elucidated. In this study, the hepatoprotective effect of CPs on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis was tested. Results showed that CPs (100 mg/kg body weight) significantly decreased the levels of alanine transaminase/aspartate transaminase, laminin, type IV collagen, and type III collagen in serum and increased the serum albumin levels and total antioxidant capacity. Additionally, with CP treatment (100 mg/kg body weight), a significant decrease was observed in the levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, hydroxyproline, transforming growth factor β1, and lactate dehydrogenase activity as well as the liver index, while the activity of superoxidedismutase was significantly increased in livers. The histological and morphological analysis showed that the hepatocyte structure in CP-treated rats was superior to that of TAA-injured rats, and inflammation and fibrosis were also ameliorated. Therefore, CPs can be used as an option for prevention and adjuvant therapy of liver fibrosis.
Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University , Wuhan, China .
Jie
J
Lv
Zhi-Kui
ZK
Nie
Jiu-Liang
JL
Zhang
Feng-Yan
FY
Liu
Zhen-Zhen
ZZ
Wang
Zhi-Li
ZL
Ma
Hui
H
He
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D010449:Peptide Mapping; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013853:Thioacetamide / Q000009:adverse effects; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*
D000975:Antioxidants; D010455:Peptides; D010940:Plant Proteins; D020011:Protective Agents; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D013853:Thioacetamide; D008315:Malondialdehyde