title: Hepatoprotective potential of Aloe vera polysaccharides against chronic alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aloe vera polysaccharides are reported to exhibit multiple biological effects, including anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and immune enhancement. However, their influence on alcoholic liver disease (ALD) remains unclear. This study was designed to determine the protective effect of extracted A. vera polysaccharides (AVGP) against ALD in a chronic alcohol-feeding mouse model and investigate the possible underlying mechanisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Supplementation of AVGP significantly attenuated the levels of serum aminotransferases, lipids and hepatic TG and ameliorated histopathological alterations in the model of ALD. Interestingly, AVGP markedly up-regulated hepatic expression of lipolytic genes (AMPK-α2 and PPAR-α) but had no effect on lipogenic gene expression. AVGP diminished alcohol-dependent oxidative stress partly through a decrease in MDA and increase in GSH and SOD. Alcohol-induced inflammation was also mitigated by AVGP treatment via significant reduction in LPS and TNF-α, down-regulation of TLR-4 and MyD88 and up-regulation of IκB-α.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study clearly showed that AVGP exerts a potent protective effect against chronic alcohol-induced liver injury. Its hepatoprotective effect appears to be associated with its antioxidant capacity and its ability to accelerate lipolysis and inhibit inflammatory response. The results indicate that AVGP could be considered as a potent food supplement in the prevention of ALD.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Heya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yingchao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Weirong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qian
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; C000606205:Nfkbia protein, mouse; D047495:PPAR gamma; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D000431:Ethanol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000637:Transaminases; C534978:Prkaa2 protein, mouse; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Aloe vera polysaccharides; chronic alcoholic liver injury; hepatoprotective; inflammation; lipid accumulation; oxidative stress