Study on the synergistic protective effect of Lycium barbarum L. polysaccharides and zinc sulfate on chronic alcoholic liver injury in rats.

Both Lycium barbarum L. polysaccharides (LBP) and zinc have protective effects on liver injuries. In this paper, LBP and ZnSO₄ were combined to study the effects on the prevention of alcoholic liver injury. The rats were divided into six groups, the normal group, alcohol group, zinc sulfate group, LBP group, low-dose group of ZnSO₄, and high-dose group of ZnSO₄ and LBP, used to explore the impact of LBP and ZnSO₄ complex on liver lipid metabolism of alcohol, alcohol-metabolizing enzymes, oxidative damage, and inflammation of the liver. The experimental model was established by gavage treatment, observation, and determination of indexes of rats. The results showed that the combination of LBP and ZnSO₄ could significantly decrease the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-ɑ), malondialdehyde (MDA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and the activity of enzyme subtype 2E1 (CYP2E1). It also significantly increased the activities of total superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione peptide (GSH), and alcohol dehydrogenase, effectively improved the liver tissue lesion. What is more, the combination of LBP and ZnSO₄ had a synergistic effect on the remission of alcoholic fatty liver, and alleviated chronic alcoholic liver injury by promoting lipid metabolism, inhibiting oxidative stress, controlling inflammatory responses, and regulating the expression and activity of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes in rats.