Studies of the protective effect and antioxidant mechanism of blueberry anthocyanins in a CC14-induced liver injury model in mice

Abstract

This study investigated the protective effects and antioxidant mechanisms of blueberry anthocyanin extract (BBAE) in vivo and in vitro using the model of acute CC14-induced liver injury in mice. It was found that BBAE significantly inhibited CC14-induced liver injury and inhibited acute ethanol-induced increases in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and malondialdehyde in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glycogen and glutathione reductase were markedly increased in the anthocyanin group (P<0.01). BBAE also significantly suppressed cellular injury and apoptotic cell death. In summary, BBAE possesses marked protective effects against CC14-induced liver injury, related to its ability to reduce human embryonic-liver cell (L-02) apoptosis and damage induced by oxidative stress. These findings indicate that BBAE may be of value in protecting against acute liver injury, providing pharmacological evidence supporting its clinical application. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.