Hepatoprotective effects of Hovenia dulcis seeds against alcoholic liver injury and related mechanisms investigated via network pharmacology

BACKGROUND Alcoholic liver disease(ALD)is a worldwide health problem,and natural products have been shown to improve ALD due to their antioxidant activities.Some parts of Hovenia dulcis(H.dulcis),such as roots,peduncles,and stems,provide health benefits.Nevertheless,the effects and mechanisms of H.dulcis seeds on ALD have not yet been fully elucidated.AIM To determine H.dulcis antioxidant activity,evaluate its effects against ALD,and investigate the related mechanisms via network pharmacology.METHODS The antioxidant activity of H.dulcis seed was determined by both ferric-reducing antioxidant power and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays.The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu method and aluminum chloride colorimetry,respectively,and polysaccharide was determined by phenol-sulfuric acid method.The effects of H.dulcis seeds against alcoholic liver injury were investigated in mice with water extract pretreatment for 7 days followed by alcohol administration.Moreover,the mechanisms of action were explored with network pharmacology.RESULTS The results showed that H.dulcis seeds possessed strong antioxidant activity(245.11±10.17μmol Fe2+/g by ferric-reducing antioxidant power and 284.35±23.57μmol TE/g by trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity)and contained remarkable phenols and flavonoids,as well as a few polysaccharides.H.dulcis seeds attenuated alcohol-induced oxidative liver injury,showing reduced serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases,alkaline phosphatase,and triglyceride,elevated hepatic glutathione,increased activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase,and reduced malondialdehyde and hepatic triglyceride.The results of network pharmacology analysis indicated that kaempferol,stigmasterol,and naringenin were the main bioactive compounds in H.dulcis seeds and that modulation of oxidative stress,inflammation,gut-derived products,and apoptosis were underlying mechanisms of the protective effects of H.dulcis seeds on ALD.CONCLUSION The results of this study demonstrate that H.dulcis seeds could be a good natural antioxidant source with protective effects on oxidative diseases such as ALD.

拐枣果汁超滤膜分级分离及抗氧化活性比较

以拐枣(Hovenia dulcis)果汁为原料,研究超滤膜分级分离后成分含量的变化和抗氧化活性。采用8种孔径超滤膜连续分级分离拐枣果汁,测定各透过液的糖类和黄酮类物质含量,并进行抗氧化活性分析比较。结果表明,在研究范围内,随着超滤膜孔径变小,总糖和还原糖含量均有明显降低的趋势,但还原糖在总糖中的占比增加,而大分子的多糖占比减少;总糖含量在100 kDa以上超滤膜的透过液中分布显著高于其他膜(P<0.01)。拐枣果汁中黄酮类物质含量在分级前和200 kDa膜透过液中明显高于其他孔径的膜,100 kDa孔径膜以下的透过液中黄酮含量无明显差别。以100 kDa超滤膜处理的透过液对DPPH和羟基自由基清除能力最强。因此,超滤膜能有效进行拐枣多糖的分级及与还原糖的分离,从抗氧化活性角度可以选用100 kDa超滤膜进行拐枣果汁处理,以获得抗氧化活性高的组分。

模糊数学综合评价法优化拐枣饮料配方

以拐枣(Hovenia dulcis)浓缩汁为原料,在单因素试验基础上,通过正交试验,以模糊数学综合评价为指标,进行拐枣饮料配方的优化。结果表明,优化后的配方组合为:配制100 mL拐枣饮料所需拐枣浓缩汁的用量20 mL,蔗糖与安赛蜜用量比5.000 g∶0.020 g,柠檬酸用量0.20 g,柠檬黄与胭脂红用量比0.100 mL∶0.050 mL,黄原胶与瓜尔胶用量比0.02 g∶0.02 g。该配方配制的拐枣饮料酸甜适口,带有清淡的拐枣香气,可用于拐枣饮料的开发。