Abstract
Hepatoprotective effect of flaxseed and its protein on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in adult Wistar rats was investigated. The rats were divided into eight groups of which two served as control (group I: Control for AIN-93M diet groups and group II: Control for cereal-pulse diet groups) and six groups received ethanol orally every day. After 10 days along with ethanol, the rats received AIN-93M diet (group III); AIN-93M diet and commercial hepatoprotective formulation (CHF) (group IV); casein replaced by flaxseed protein in AIN-93M diet (group V); cereal-pulse diet (group VI); cereal-pulse diet and CHF (group VII); cereal-pulse diet containing flaxseed (group VIII) for four weeks. The flaxseed and its protein significantly prevented the elevation of plasma markers of hepatic damage, lowered lipid peroxidation, mitigated changes in antioxidant enzymes, and suppressed histopathological signs of hepatic damage. The hepatoprotective effect of flaxseed and its protein was comparable to CHF. These findings implicate the ameliorative effect of flaxseed and its protein on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Owing to globalization and an increase in earning capacity, alcohol consumption is becoming a part of social life and gradually transforming to addiction. Binge drinking is highly prevalent among low socioeconomic status population, which poses severe risks to health. Alcohol abuse is a public health problem causing three million deaths annually worldwide. Alcohol consumption is known to be a major cause of liver damage worldwide and has contributed to 44% of deaths from liver disease. As abstaining from alcohol is a challenging task, there is an escalating need to formulate potential hepatoprotective agents to prevent alcohol-induced hepatic damage. This study investigates the efficacy of flaxseed and its protein in conferring protection to the liver against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. This study also explores the benefits of incorporating flaxseed in the staple cereal-pulse diet. Findings of this study suggest that incorporation of flaxseed or its protein in food formulations can prevent hepatotoxicity and improve the overall quality of life among alcoholics.
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Key Points
Chronic alcohol abuse can induce hepatotoxicity and jeopardize the normal functioning of the liver. The present investigation was undertaken to study the role of flaxseed and its protein concentrate in the prevention of ethanol‐induced hepatotoxicity in a rat model. Chronic ethanol administration induced changes in the feed intake and body weight gain in rats. The feed efficiency ratio of the diet containing flaxseed protein was significantly lower than that of the diet containing casein. Flaxseed, flaxseed protein, and CHF were able to prevent ethanol‐induced morphological changes in the liver. Flaxseed protein showed hepatoprotective potential against ethanol‐induced hepatotoxicity by preventing cellular leakage of cytosolic enzymes. Hepatoprotective effect conferred by flaxseed can be attributed to its functional components such as omega‐3 fatty acids, phenolics, and secoisolariciresinol glucoside (SDG). The investigation suggests a possible hepatoprotective effect of flaxseed. Flaxseed and its protein significantly ameliorated ethanol‐induced alteration in the antioxidant enzyme activities in the liver homogenate. In this study, flaxseed protein exhibited antioxidant property by quenching the free radicals produced by ethanol metabolism. Flaxseed also prevented the necrotic changes and inflammatory processes in the liver by suppressing the production of inflammatory signaling molecules.
The findings of this investigation indicate that flaxseed and its protein were potent in conferring protection to the liver against ethanol‐induced hepatotoxicity. This study highlights the scope of incorporating flaxseed or flaxseed protein in formulating hepatoprotective supplements.