Extracts from Fermented Black Garlic Exhibit a Hepatoprotective Effect on Acute Hepatic Injury

Abstract

The mechanism of hepatoprotective compounds is usually related to its antioxidant or anti-inflammatory effects. Black garlic is produced from garlic by heat treatment and its anti-inflammatory activity has been previously reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of five different extracts of black garlic against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced acute hepatic injury (AHI). In this study, mice in the control, CCl₄, silymarin, and black garlic groups were orally administered distilled water, silymarin, and different fraction extracts of black garlic, respectively, after CCl₄ was injected intraperitoneally to induce AHI. The results revealed that the n-butanol layer extract (BA) and water layer extract (WS) demonstrated a hepatoprotective effect by reducing the levels of alanine aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, the BA and WS fractions of black garlic extract increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSH-Rd), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and the interleukin-1 (IL-1β) level in liver. It was concluded that black garlic exhibited significant protective effects on CCl₄-induced acute hepatic injury.

Keywords: acute hepatic injury; anti-inflammatory; antioxidant; black garlic; carbon tetrachloride.

Figure 1

Effect of different fractions of black garlic and silymarin on serum (A) AST (B) ALT activities in mice treated with CCl₄. Each value was represented as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 10). ^### p < 0.001 as compared with the control group. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 as compared with the CCl₄ group (one-way ANOVA followed by Scheffe’s multiple range test).

Figure 2

Hepatichistological analyses to the effect of different fractions by black garlic and silymarin on CCl₄-induced acute liver damage in mice. Liver tissues were stained with H & E (400X). (A) control group; (B) animals treated with CCl₄ displayed cell necrosis (short arrow); (C) animals pre-treated with silymarin and then treated with CCl₄; (D) animals treated with BA (0.2 g/kg), and then treated with CCl_4.; (E) animals treated with BA (0.5 g/kg), and then treated with CCl₄; (F) animals treated with WS (0.2 g/kg), and then treated with CCl₄; (G) animals treated with WS (0.5 g/kg), and then treated with CCl₄. BA: n-butanol layer extract; WS: water layer extract

Figure 3

Effect of different fractions of black garlic and silymarin on hepatic TNF-α and IL-1β in mice treated with CCl₄. Each value represents as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 10). ^### p < 0.001 as compared with the control group. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 as compared with the CCl₄ group (one-way ANOVA followed by Scheffe’s multiple range test).

Figure 4

Effect of different fractions of black garlic and silymarin on hepatic MDA content in mice treated with CCl₄. Each value represents as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 10). ^## p < 0.01, ^### p < 0.001 as compared with the control group. ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 as compared with the CCl₄ group (one-way ANOVA followed by Scheffe’s multiple range test).

Figure 5

Effect of different fractions of black garlic and silymarin on hepatic GSH content in mice treated with CCl₄. Each value represents as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 10). ^## p < 0.01 as compared with the control group. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 as compared with the CCl₄ group (one-way ANOVA followed by Scheffe’s multiple range test).

Figure 6

Effect of different fractions of black garlic and silymarin on hepatic (A) SOD (B) CAT (C) GSH-Px (D) GSH-Rd activities in mice treated with CCl₄. Each value represents as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 10). ^## p < 0.01, ^### p < 0.001 as compared with the control group. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 as compared with the CCl₄ group (one-way ANOVA followed by Scheffe’s multiple range test).