Typical structural characteristics and hepatoprotective effects of novel high Fischer ratio oligopeptides from Antarctic krill on acute alcoholic liver injury

Food Funct. 2024 Sep 16;15(18):9298-9314. doi: 10.1039/d4fo02609h.

Abstract

High Fischer ratio oligopeptides derived from Antarctic krill (HFOPs-AK) were screened, and their hepatoprotective effects and potential mechanisms were investigated. Herein, HFOPs-AK, with a Fischer ratio of 29 g/g (40.22 mol/mol) (MW < 1000 Da), were prepared via two-step enzymatic hydrolysis using chymotrypsin and flavourzyme and aromatic amino acid removal. Seventy-eight characteristic peptides were identified from HFOPs-AK through UHPLC-Q/TOF, with peptides containing Leu, Val, or Ile accounting for 79%. High hepatoprotective peptides were purified using GFC and RP-HPLC and identified as SDELGW and LLGWDDM. Furthermore, a murine model of acute liver injury induced by alcohol was successfully established. It was demonstrated that the oral administration of HFOPs-AK (800 mg per kg bw per d) remarkably increased the contents of ADH and ALDH compared with the model group, reaching 3.40 and 5.10 U mg-1 prot, respectively. Further, it was revealed that HFOPs-AK could effectively mitigate hepatic oxidative stress by increasing the levels of GSH-Px (p < 0.01) and decreasing the level of MDA (p < 0.05). Additionally, HFOPs-AK (800 mg per kg bw per d) attenuated liver inflammation by down-regulating the mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 by 40.45%, 38.48%, and 35.83%, respectively. Therefore, HFOPs-AK may have the potential as a new nutritional supplement for the treatment of alcoholic liver injury.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antarctic Regions
  • Euphausiacea* / chemistry
  • Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / drug therapy
  • Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / prevention & control
  • Liver* / drug effects
  • Liver* / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Oligopeptides* / chemistry
  • Oligopeptides* / pharmacology
  • Oxidative Stress* / drug effects
  • Protective Agents / chemistry
  • Protective Agents / pharmacology

Substances

  • Oligopeptides
  • Protective Agents