Gnetum montanum extract ameliorates ethanol-induced hepatic injury and metabolic dysfunction via inhibition of xanthine oxidase

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of a crude extract from Gnetum montanum Markgr. on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity and metabolic disorders.

Methods: Alcoholic liver disorder was induced in mice by administering increasing doses of ethanol via oral gavage. Biomarkers of liver injury and oxidative stress were assessed at the end of the study. Liver tissue damage and fat deposition were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin and oil red O staining, respectively. In addition, key biomarkers were examined in acetaldehyde-treated HepG2 cells.

Results: Ethanol consumption induced characteristic pathological changes, including elevated serum markers of liver injury, hepatic lipid accumulation, and oxidative stress in liver tissues. Oral administration of Gnetum montanum extract (175 and 350 mg/kg) decreased serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transferase, and bilirubin levels in ethanol-treated mice. The extract also lowered triglyceride levels in serum and liver tissue in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, it mitigated malondialdehyde levels, preserved reduced glutathione levels, and enhanced catalase activity and total antioxidant capacity in liver tissue homogenates. Additionally, ethanol-induced hyperuricemia was suppressed by Gnetum montanum extract by inhibiting xanthine oxidase activity. Similar effects were observed in Gnetum montanum extract-treated HepG2 cells.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that Gnetum montanum extract alleviates ethanol-induced hepatic injury by alleviating oxidative stress and inhibiting xanthine oxidase activity.

Keywords

Alcoholic liver disease / Gnetum montanum / Hepatic steatosis / Hepatoprotective effect / Xanthine oxidase

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Funding

This research was funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development under grant number 108.05-2023.23.

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding authors upon request.

Authors’ contributions

HLT performed the experiments, collected data, and drafted the manuscript. Both TDN and THN contributed to the experimental design and data analysis. TDN secured funding for the project. HNN and DVP critically revised the manuscript and were responsible for the final version. DVP conceived the idea and supervised the project.

Publisher’s note

The Publisher of the Journal remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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