Red Quinoa Bran Extracts Protects against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Injury and Fibrosis in Mice via Activation of Antioxidative Enzyme Systems and Blocking TGF-β1 Pathway

Abstract

The late stages of liver fibrosis are considered to be irreversible. Red quinoa (Chenopodium formosanum Koidz), a traditional food for Taiwanese aborigines, was gradually developed as a novel supplemental food due to high dietary fibre and polyphenolic compounds. Its bran was usually regarded as the agricultural waste, but it contained a high concentration of rutin known as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. This study is to explore the effect of red quinoa bran extracts on the prevention of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis. BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally injected CCl4 to induce liver fibrosis and treated with red quinoa whole seed powder, bran ethanol extracts, bran water extracts, and rutin. In the results, red quinoa powder provided more protection than rutin against CCl4-induced oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory factor expression and fibrosis development. However, the bran ethanol extract with high rutin content provided the most liver protection and anti-fibrosis effect via blocking the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)/interleukin 6 (IL-6) pathway and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) pathway.

Phenolic Profile, Antioxidant Activity, and Ameliorating Efficacy of Chenopodium quinoa Sprouts against CCl4-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rats

“…Previous studies have also indicated that RQS contains anthocyanins, betacyanins, and flavonoids (quercetin and rutin) in valuable amounts. These compounds have been proven to perform antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects in rats with hepatic damage [ 57 ].…”

“…The administration of 30 mg kg −1 RQS was more efficient than YQS, which might be due to the high content of polyphenols and AOA in RQS. The enzymatic antioxidant defense system, such as SOD and glutathione enzymes are important scavengers of active radicals [ 57 ]. RQS and YQS attenuated GSH, SOD, and MDA levels close to the NR.…”

“…Due to the presence of more polyphenols, the RQS efficiently reduces complications related to oxidative stress. Therefore, RQS provides better liver protection than YQS by blocking the development of liver fibrosis via suppressing TGF-β1 [ 57 ]. Its mechanism was involved in antioxidative system activation, suppressing the TNF-α/IL-6 pathway, and blocking the TGF-β1 pathway [ 57 ].…”

“…Therefore, RQS provides better liver protection than YQS by blocking the development of liver fibrosis via suppressing TGF-β1 [ 57 ]. Its mechanism was involved in antioxidative system activation, suppressing the TNF-α/IL-6 pathway, and blocking the TGF-β1 pathway [ 57 ]. However, valuable identified phenolics and flavonoids in RQ sprouts as bioactive compounds (see Table 2 ) may have an efficient activity to prevent CCl 4 -induced oxidative stress and liver inflammation, since RQS had a greater effect than YQS extracts.…”

Synbiotic Combination of Djulis (Chenopodium formosanum) and Lactobacillus acidophilus Inhibits Colon Carcinogenesis in Rats

“…Djulis (Chenopodium formosanum) is a native cereal crop planted in Taiwan and traditionally called "ruby of cereals" for its bright red color. Djulis has many health benefits, such as anti-adipogenesis [13] and recovering liver injury [14,15]. Some studies found that the color of djulis was mainly from betalains, including betanin, isobetanin, amaranthine, and isoamaranthine, which were directly related to its antioxidant capacity [16].…”