Antioxidant Capacity of Proteins and Hydrolysates from the Liver of Newborn Piglets, and Their Inhibitory Effects on Steatosis in vitro

Abstract

Research background. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is a potentially progressive hepatic disorder that can lead to end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. The inhibitory effects of proteins and hydrolysates from the liver of newborn piglets on hepatic steatosis in oleic-acid-induced HepG2 cells were investigated in vitro. Experimental approach. The extracted proteins from the liver of newborn piglets (NPLP) were hydrolysed with papain, pepsin, trypsin and Alcalase. Based on comparison of different enzyme digestion condition, a protein hydrolysis protocol was established to obtain hydrolysates with lipid-lowering effect. Results and conclusions. NPLH-trypsin (trypsin-digested NPLP hydrolysate) exhibited strong antioxidant activity and possessed good inhibitory effects on lipogenesis and cholesterol accumulation in HepG2 cells at 150 μg/mL, with a triglyceride decrease of (43±3) % and cholesterol decrease of (31±5) %, comparing with 0.75 mM oleic acid induced model. The addition of NPLH-trypsin (300 μg/mL) decreased alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities and increased superoxide dismutase activity. Novelty and scientific contribution. This study demonstrated that NPLH-trypsin have a potential preventive effect on NAFLD in its early stage, and NPLH-trypsin has potential use as the modulator of lipid overaccumulation disease in food supplements.