Pharmacokinetics and Protective Effects of Tartary Buckwheat Flour Extracts against Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury in Rats

Abstract

The grains of Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) are traditionally consumed on a daily basis and are used in the preparation of diverse processed foods owing to the high concentration of rutin, an antioxidant compound. However, rutin is highly concentrated in hull and bran, but not in edible flour fractions. Rutin-enriched TB flour extracts (TBFEs) were obtained by hydrothermal treatment (autoclaving, boiling, or steaming) and their pharmacokinetic profiles were evaluated following a single-dose oral administration in rats. The antioxidant and protective activities of the extracts against alcoholic liver disease (ALD) were investigated after repetitive oral administration of TBFEs for 28 days prior to ethanol ingestion. The results demonstrated that rutin-enriched TBFEs had better oral absorption and was retained longer in the bloodstream than native TBFE or standard rutin. The activities of antioxidant enzymes and intracellular antioxidant levels increased in ALD rats following TBFE treatments, especially following the administration of rutin-enriched TBFEs. The antioxidant activity of TBFEs consequently contributed toward protecting the liver against injury caused by repetitive ethanol administration, as confirmed by analyzing relative liver weight, liver injury markers, lipid peroxidation, and calcium permeability. These results suggest the promising potential of TBFEs as antioxidant-enriched functional foods for human health.

Lactobacillus plantarum J26 Alleviating Alcohol-Induced Liver Inflammation by Maintaining the Intestinal Barrier and Regulating MAPK Signaling Pathways

“…The activities of ALT, AST, and ALP are often used clinically as indicators to evaluate liver function, and their levels can reflect the degree of liver injury within a certain range [ 20 ]. In addition, anatomical observation and H&E staining can more directly reflect the development of liver tissue inflammation on mouse.…”

The important role of glycerophospholipid metabolism in the protective effects of polyphenol-enriched Tartary buckwheat extract against alcoholic liver disease

“…23 Recently, a rutin-enriched Tartary buckwheat extract prepared by hydrothermal treatment was also shown to exert potent anti-oxidant activity in a rat model of ALD. 16 Another study demonstrated that Tartary buckwheat extract prevented ALD by inhibiting the mitochondrial cell death pathway. 17 Despite the definite beneficial effect of Tartary buckwheat extract on ALD, the specific mechanism remains unclear.…”

“…15 Tartary buckwheat has been reported to protect against ALD, but the specific mechanism remains unclear. 16,17 Herein, we aimed to elucidate the beneficial effects of Tartary buckwheat extract in terms of lipid metabolism with the aid of lipidomic analysis. Our study aimed to provide more theoretical basis for its further exploitation as a medical plant or nutritional food.…”

Tartary Buckwheat in Human Nutrition

“…Rutin also protects type 2 diabetic mice against liver injury [95]. The same function is seen for Tartary buckwheat grain extracts, through inhibition of mitochondrial cell death [96,97]. In vivo pharmacokinetics have also provided support for the administration of Tartary buckwheat extracts to prevent alcoholic liver disease in humans [98].…”