title: Protective effect of fucosterol isolated from the edible brown algae, Ecklonia stolonifera and Eisenia bicyclis, on tert-butyl hydroperoxide- and tacrine-induced HepG2 cell injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fucosterol is the primary sterol found in brown algae. Recently, considerable interest has been generated regarding fucosterol due to its potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of fucosterol on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)- and tacrine-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fucosterol by itself exhibited no cytotoxicity at concentrations below 100 μm by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased glutathione levels observed in t-BHP- and tacrine-treated HepG2 cells were ameliorated by fucosterol pretreatment, indicating that the protective effects of fucosterol are mediated by the induction of cellular defence mechanisms against oxidative stress. Moreover, elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in tacrine-treated mice were significantly reduced after oral administration of fucosterol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The hepatoprotective effects of fucosterol may occur via an increase in the hepatic level of glutathione and a decrease in ROS production, thereby preventing hepatic damage and the resultant increases in ALT and AST activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that fucosterol may be an effective hepatoprotective agent that could be useful for preventive therapies against oxidative stress-related hepatotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Sue
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Yu Ran
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Su
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Byeon
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Kyeong Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Se-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choung
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Ah
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D000459:Phaeophyceae; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013265:Stigmasterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013619:Tacrine / Q000633:toxicity; D020122:tert-Butylhydroperoxide / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D020011:Protective Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013619:Tacrine; C015896:fucosterol; D020122:tert-Butylhydroperoxide; D013265:Stigmasterol; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: fucosterol; hepatoprotection; oxidative stress; tacrine; tert-butyl hydroperoxide