Hepatoprotective Effects of Pleurotus ostreatus Protein Hydrolysates Yielded by Pepsin Hydrolysis

Abstract

Pleurotus ostreatus protein extract (POPE) was prepared by the alkali precipitation method with 0.3% (w/v) NaOH. POPEP-III with a MW of 3000–5000 Da was acquired by pepsin enenzymatic hydrolysis. POPEP-III displayed noteworthy effects of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl DPPH and H2O2 scavenging activities, Fe2+ chelating ability, lipid peroxidation inhibition capacity, and metal reducing power. The administration of POPEP-III in mice significantly prevented prior CCl4-induced strengthen serum ALT and AST activities, changing from 365.44 ± 36.87 IU/L to 220.23 ± 22.27 IU/L and 352.52 IU/L to 206.75 ± 17.26 IU/L, respectively (p < 0.001), and suppressed hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) formation from 15.28 ± 3.47 nmol/mg prot to 10.04 ± 2.06 nmol/mg prot (p < 0.001). Mice treated with POPEP-III demonstrated augmented activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver, from 187.49 ± 19.81 U/mg prot to 233.35 ± 34.23 U/mg prot, and of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), from 84.01 ± 14.54 U/mg prot to 115.9 ± 16.57 U/mg prot (p < 0.05). POPEP-III also prevented CCl4-induced oxidative liver histological alteration. The results suggest that POPEP-III can protect the liver from CCl4-induced oxidative damage.