Abstract:This study aimed to evaluate the alcohol detoxification and liver protection effects of seven food-derived compounds (samples 1 to 7) using an acute alcoholic liver injury model in mice induced using 0.14 mL/10 g of 56° liquor. After treatment, behavioral changes were observed, and the blood alcohol concentration, activity of key alcoholmetabolizing enzymes, biochemical indicators of liver injury, and histopathological morphology of the liver were determined. Treatment with sample compounds reduced the intoxication rate in all groups (lowest percentage: 33.33%), extended the intoxication time by up to 54.03%, and shortened the time to regain the righting reflex by up to 31.65%. The lowest blood alcohol concentration among the groups was observed at 1 h and 4 h in mice treated with sample 2 (30.17 and 3.79 μmol/L, respectively). The alcohol dehydrogenase activity in mice treated with sample 2 and the aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in mice treated with sample 1 were reduced by 31.92% and 30.40%, respectively. The levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in mice treated with sample 5 significantly decreased by 23.87% and 39.87%, respectively. The malondialdehyde content in mice treated with sample 1 decreased by 29.66%, and the total superoxide dismutase content in mice treated with sample 2 increased by 52.94%. Histopathological examination revealed that treatment with the sample compounds improved the alcohol-induced abnormal cell structure and fat vacuolation in the liver. In conclusion, the seven food-derived compounds had significant alcohol-detoxifying and liver protection effects, through mechanisms partially related to enhancing the activity of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes and improving liver antioxidant capacity. Moreover, the differential effects of the food-derived compounds are related to the ratio of their total sugar and phenolic content, with samples 1 and 2 showing the best effects. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for further developing and utilizing natural products for alcohol detoxification and liver protection.
