Lycium barbarum polysaccharides protect mice liver from carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stress and necroinflammation

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Lycium barbarum has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine to nourish liver, kidneys and the eyes. Aim of the study: We investigated the protective mechanisms of Wolfberry, Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl ₄)-induced acute liver injury. Materials and methods: Mice were intraperitoneally injected with a 50 μl/kg CCl ₄ to induce acute hepatotoxicity (8 h) and were orally fed with LBP 2 h before the CCl ₄ injection. There were six experimental groups of mice (n = 7-8 per group), namely: control mice (vehicle only; 1 mg/kg LBP or 10 mg/kg LBP), CCl ₄-treated mice and CCl ₄ + LBP treated mice (1 mg/kg LBP or 10 mg/kg LBP). Results: Pre-treatment with LBP effectively reduced the hepatic necrosis and the serum ALT level induced by CCl ₄ intoxication. LBP remarkably inhibited cytochrome P450 2E1 expression and restored the expression levels of antioxidant enzymes. It also decreased the level of nitric oxide metabolism and lipid peroxidation induced by CCl ₄. LBP attenuated hepatic inflammation via down-regulation of proinflammatory mediators and chemokines. Furthermore, LBP promoted liver regeneration after CCl ₄ treatment. The protective effects of LBP against hepatotoxicity were partly through the down-regulation of nuclear factor kappa-B activity. Conclusion: LBP is effective in reducing necroinflammation and oxidative stress induced by a chemical toxin, thus it has a great potential use as a food supplement in the prevention of hepatic diseases.