Dendropanax morbifera Leaf Extracts Improved Alcohol Liver Injury in Association with Changes in the Gut Microbiota of Rats

Abstract

This study evaluated the protective effects of Dendropanax morbifera leaf (DML) extracts in the liver due to excessive ethanol consumption. Our results showed that the ethanol extract had better antioxidant activity than the water extract, likely due to the higher levels of total flavonoid and phenolic compounds in the former. We found that the main phenolic acid was chlorogenic acid and the major flavonoid was rutin. Results from the animal model experiment showed concentration-dependent liver protection with the distilled water extract showing better liver protection than the ethanol extract. Gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by alcohol consumption was significantly shifted by DML extracts through increasing mainly Bacteroides and Allobaculum. Moreover, predicted metabolic activities of biosynthesis of beneficial monounsaturated fatty acids such as oleate and palmitoleate were enhanced. Our results suggest that these hepatoprotective effects are likely due to the increased activities of antioxidant enzymes and partially promoted by intestinal microbiota shifts.

Translational Approaches with Antioxidant Phytochemicals against Alcohol-Mediated Oxidative Stress, Gut Dysbiosis, Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction, and Fatty Liver Disease

“…Some alternative and complimentary remedies, such as traditional herbal medicines in China [ 260 , 261 , 262 ], Korea [ 263 ], and India [ 264 , 265 ], have recently proved effective in both combatting inflammation and in altering the gut microbial composition in models of ALD or models of intestinal disease. For example, co-administration of ethanol with the fungi Wolfporia cocos (or, more specifically, the water-insoluble polysaccharides from their fruiting bodies) decreased the hepatic triglyceride levels and MCP-1 levels, indicating decreased steatosis and inflammation of the liver [ 261 ].…”

“…Interestingly, these polysaccharides increased Firmicutes abundance and decreased the abundance of the Gram-negative, LPS-producing Proteobacteria phylum following chronic alcohol exposure [ 261 ]. Additionally, leaf extract from the plant Dendropanax morbifera leaf extract also altered microbial composition in rats acutely exposed to alcohol, whereby, for example, members of the Bacteroides operational taxonomic unit (OTU) increased upon co-administration of leaf extract with ethanol, compared to the ethanol group [ 263 ]. The Dendropanax morbifera leaf extract co-administered with ethanol contained several phytochemicals (e.g., rutin, caffeic acid, etc.)…”

“…The Dendropanax morbifera leaf extract co-administered with ethanol contained several phytochemicals (e.g., rutin, caffeic acid, etc.) [ 263 ] and it is highly likely that the list of beneficial antioxidant phytochemicals capable of protecting against alcohol-mediated oxidative stress, gut dysbiosis, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and ALD (as well as NAFLD) will be increased in the future.…”

Optimization of Caffeic Acid Extraction from Dendropanax morbifera Leaves Using Response Surface Methodology and Determination of Polyphenols and Antioxidant Properties

“…The antioxidants have been used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutics; among them, phenolic acids are major plant compounds that possess antioxidant capacity [9]. Caffeic acid (CA) and chlorogenic acid are representative phenolic acids in D. morbifera [10]. Previous studies have revealed the antioxidant capacity [11][12][13], antiviral [14], anti-inflammation [15], anti-cancer [16,17], and neuroprotective [12,18] effects of CA.…”

“…Chlorogenic acid exhibits antioxidant and DNA-protective activities [19], along with anti-inflammation [20], anticancer [21], antibacterial, and anti-biofilm activities [22]. Therefore, the antioxidant capacity of phenolic acids from D. morbifera has been extensively reported [10,23].…”