Mol Nutr Food Res. 2023 May 10:e2200562. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.202200562. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

SCOPE: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a common disease with a high incidence. Because traditional drugs have obvious side effects, it is desired to find more effective drugs.

METHODS AND RESULTS: This study investigates the effects of melanin from Inonotus hispidus fruiting bodies (IHFM) on acute alcoholic injury mice and detects the protective mechanisms via the gut-microbiota-liver axis. The results show that IHFM alleviates mouse liver injury by enhancing alcohol metabolism capacity, reducing inflammation response level and strengthening antioxidant activities. IHFM also improves mouse liver injury by activating Nrf2 signaling pathway and inhibiting TLR4/NF-κβ signaling pathway. Furthermore, 16S amplification sequencing shows that IHFM could significantly increase the relative abundance of Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus johnsonii. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus reuteri is positively correlates with an antioxidant index, while negatively correlates with inflammatory factors.

CONCLUSION: IHFM could protect mice from acute alcoholic liver injury by up-regulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway, down-regulating the TLR4/NF-κβ signaling pathway, and upregulating the relative abundance of L. reuteri and L. johnsonii, representing a step forward in the development of IHFM. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:37162033 | DOI:10.1002/mnfr.202200562