Ameliorative effect of enhanced Fischer ratio flaxseed protein hydrolysate in combination with antioxidant micronutrients on ethanol-induced hepatic damage in a rat model.

Alcohol abuse causes severe metabolic abnormalities inducing hepatic damage and malnutrition. Since higher Fischer ratio proteins have therapeutic value in liver disease conditions, an investigation was undertaken to study the ameliorative effect of the enhanced Fischer ratio flaxseed protein hydrolysate (EFR-FPH) alone and in combination with antioxidant micronutrients on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in a rat model. The EFR-FPH was prepared by dual enzymatic hydrolysis and charcoal treatment of flaxseed protein. The ratio of the branched-chain to aromatic amino acids (Fischer ratio) was found to be 7.08. The EFR-FPH characterized using LC-MS/MS, showed the abundance of free leucine and isoleucine compared to phenylalanine and tyrosine. The MALDI-TOF MS analysis revealed the larger peptides present in EFR-FPH with mass 2.3 kDa. The EFR-FPH improved the nutritional status, liver function and antioxidant enzymes activity in the ethanol hepatotoxicity induced rat model. The hepatoprotective effect of EFR-FPH was significantly enhanced when combined with selenium or vitamin E. Ethanol-induced changes in the histology of liver tissue were effectively suppressed in the group receiving EFR-FPH. Flaxseed-based hepatoprotective dietary supplement was formulated incorporating an optimum level of EFR-FPH (10%) based on sensory acceptability and was fortified with selenium and vitamin E. The hepatoprotective formulation significantly lowered AST, ALT, ALP, and bilirubin by 47, 61, 55, and 78%, respectively, and improved the antioxidant defense system in the ethanol hepatotoxicity induced rat model. The current investigation suggests that EFR-FPH in synergy with antioxidant micronutrients is potent in ameliorating ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity and has a potential to form a hepatoprotective dietary supplement.