Protective effects of tea extracts against alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice via modulating cytochrome P450 2E1 expression and ameliorating oxidative damage.

The alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) has been a severe public health problem. Oxidative stress is involved in the initiation and progression of AFLD. Tea is a popular beverage worldwide with strong antioxidant activity. In this research, our purpose is to explore and compare the effects of 12 selected teas on AFLD. The ethanol liquid diet was used to feed the mice, and 12 tea extracts were administrated at 200 mg/kg body weight every day for 4 weeks. The results showed that the application of several tea extracts exhibited different inhibitory effects on lipid accumulation induced by sub-acute alcohol consumption based on the determination of triglyceride concentration and the histological alteration in the liver. In addition, several teas significantly decreased serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities, inhibited the cytochrome P450 2E1 expression, and promoted alcohol metabolism (p < .05). Besides, compared with the model group, several teas obviously elevated superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities as well as glutathione content, and remarkably decreased malondialdehyde level (p < .05). In general, Fried Green Tea, Fenghuang Narcissus Oolong Tea, and Pu-erh Dark Tea possessed potential preventive effects on AFLD. Moreover, the main phytochemicals in the three tea extracts were determined and quantified via high-performance liquid chromatography, and the most commonly detected ingredients were catechins and caffeine, which could exert the protective effects on AFLD.