Traditional herbs show promise in fighting alcohol-related liver damage

Medical News: Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) remains one of the leading causes of chronic liver conditions, posing significant challenges to public health worldwide. Excessive alcohol consumption leads to liver damage, and currently, no effective treatment exists aside from alcohol abstinence. However, a recent study reveals the potential of traditional herbal remedies in alleviating ethanol-induced liver injury. Researchers from Gyeongsan, Chonnam National University, Dongguk University, and Yeungnam University, all in South Korea, explored the hepatoprotective effects of traditional herbs. This Medical News report provides insights into their findings and the promising outcomes for alternative treatments in liver diseases.


Traditional herbs show promise in fighting alcohol-related liver damage

Study Overview
Researchers delved into the effects of four traditional herbs: Angelica gigas Nakai (AG), Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer (GR), Zizyphus jujuba Mill. (ZF), and Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (PR), on ethanol-induced liver injury in mice. These herbs, known for their therapeutic uses in traditional medicine, were tested to understand their efficacy in protecting the liver from alcohol-related damage. The herbs were administered orally to mice with ethanol-induced liver injury to examine their protective benefits on liver health.
 
What the Study Found
The team discovered that administering these herbs led to several significant improvements in liver health. Mice treated with the herbs showed reduced liver weight and improved levels of liver injury biomarkers, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The herbs also enhanced the liver’s antioxidant capacity, reducing harmful oxidative stress, and lowering inflammation, which plays a critical role in alcohol-induced liver damage.
 
Notably, Angelica gigas Nakai (AG) emerged as a particularly effective herb in the study, showing the most promising outcomes compared to the others.
 
The study demonstrated that these herbs worked by modulating genes related to lipid metabolism and reducing harmful cytokines and proteins associated with inflammation and cell death in the liver.
 
Mechanisms Behind the Healing Effects
The protective effects of the herbs on the liver involved several mechanisms. Alcohol metabolism produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death in the liver. These herbs counteracted these effects through various pathways. For instance, the antioxidants in the herbs helped restore the balance of free radicals, while the anti-inflammatory properties worked to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-1β. Additionally, the herbs prevented apoptotic changes, which contribute to liver cell death.
 
The specific mechanisms the researchers identified involve important liver pathways, such as the Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathways. These pathways are essential for reducing oxidative stress and improving the liver’s response to alcohol-induced injury. Additionally, the herbs were found to inhibit the activity of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), an enzyme linked to alcohol metabolism that exacerbates liver injury. This inhibition is key to preventing the cascade of damage triggered by excessive alcohol consumption.
 
Histological and Molecular Findings
The histological analyses of liver tissues supported these findings. Mice treated with the herbs showed a reduction in fat accumulation in the liver, less cell swelling, and fewer apoptotic cells. These histological improvements align with the molecular data, where the herbs modulated genes involved in lipid metabolism, particularly lowering the expression of genes related to fat accumulation and promoting the expression of genes that help break down lipids.

In addition to reducing fat in the liver, the herbs also lowered oxidative damage, as demonstrated by reduced levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation. The increased levels of beneficial antioxidants, such as glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), confirmed the herbs’ ability to enhance the liver's antioxidant defenses.
 
Angelica gigas Nakai (AG) stood out for its comprehensive effects in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation while promoting liver repair. Among the four herbs, AG showed the strongest anti-inflammatory effects by significantly lowering levels of TNF-α, a key player in liver inflammation. The anti-inflammatory properties of these herbs are particularly important because chronic inflammation is a hallmark of progressive liver disease.
 
Implications for Future Liver Disease Treatments
The findings suggest that these traditional herbs, especially Angelica gigas Nakai, could offer a promising alternative to current treatments for alcohol-induced liver injury. While there are no effective pharmaceutical treatments available for ALD, these herbal remedies may provide a natural solution with fewer side effects. The study’s results indicate that the herbs not only prevent liver damage but also actively promote liver repair through multiple mechanisms, making them strong candidates for further research and development into treatments for ALD.
 
However, more research is necessary to fully understand the molecular mechanisms behind the herbs' beneficial effects. Additionally, clinical trials will be needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these herbs in humans. The study provides a strong foundation for further investigation into the use of traditional herbal medicines in modern healthcare, particularly for liver diseases where treatment options are limited.
 
Conclusion
This research highlights the potential of traditional herbal medicines in treating alcohol-induced liver injury. The study found that the four herbs - Angelica gigas Nakai, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer, Zizyphus jujuba Mill., and Paeonia lactiflora Pall. - all demonstrated hepatoprotective effects in ethanol-induced liver injury in mice. These herbs worked through various mechanisms, including reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and fat accumulation in the liver. Angelica gigas Nakai was particularly effective, suggesting that it could be a valuable candidate for future treatments of liver diseases.
 
While the study was conducted in animal models, the findings provide a promising outlook for the use of traditional herbs in treating liver disease in humans. As alcohol-related liver diseases continue to pose a major public health challenge, these herbal remedies could offer an affordable and accessible solution. Further clinical trials will be essential to confirm their efficacy and safety in human populations.
 
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Antioxidants.
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/13/9/1137
 
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