Hepatoprotective Effect of Albumin Peptides from Corn Germ Meal on Chronic Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice.

Despite the fact that chronic and excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for many chronic diseases, such as a fatty liver disease, the addictive power of alcohol is strong worldwide. Corn germ meal albumin peptides (CGMAPs), by-products in corn germ oil industry have often been considered as wastes disposal in food processing. The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of CGMAPs on chronic alcohol-induced liver injury in a mouse model. The corn germ meal-derived albumin was enzymatically hydrolysed, and the albumin peptides fractions (APFs) with Mw < 1 kDa (APF4) was collected. APF4 was an oligopeptide with a high Fischer's ratio (F > 3), rich in glutamic, alanine, leucine and proline. The hydrophobic Q value was 5.1, indicating the property of high enrichment in hydrophobic amino acids. Alcohol administration significantly increased the activities and levels of hepatic aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and triglycerides (TG) (P < 0.01), and significantly reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and levels of glutathione (GSH) (P < 0.01) compared to the control group. Those changes were significantly reversed by the application of APF4 at 800 mg/kg bw. Thus, APF4 of CGMAPs had a significant protective effect against chronic alcohol-induced liver injury through enhancement of in vivo antioxidant ability as a possible mechanism of action, which therefore suggested that APF4 might be useful as natural sources to protect liver from alcoholic damage. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Corn germ meal albumin peptides (CGMAPs) of Mw < 1 kDa, a kind of bioactive peptides which could effectively improve alcohol metabolism and protect against the hepatic damage induced by alcohol, might be useful as natural sources to protect liver from alcoholic damage.