Resveratrol protects against chronic alcohol-induced liver disease in a rat model

Hepatic ethanol metabolism participates in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). We aimed to evaluate the protecting effects and underlying mechanisms of Resveratrol against ALD. Adult male rats were fed with liquid ethanol diet, in the presence or absence of Resveratrol for 23 weeks. It was demonstrated that Resveratrol attenuated ethanol-induced release of serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase. Ethanol insult caused malondialdehyde elevation and the impairment of antioxidant defense system, leading to reactive oxygen species generation, which could be greatly reversed by Resveratrol treatment. Moreover, Resveratrol protected against chronic ethanol-induced upregulation in hepatic cytochrome P-4502E1 expression, whereas hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase expression was unaffected by Resveratrol. Unexpectedly, hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase2 expression was markedly diminished in ethanol-fed rats, which was gradually improved by Resveratrol treatment. Our data demonstrate that the protecting effects of Resveratrol on ALD might be associated with changes in the regulation of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes. Our findings could provide new perspective into the pharmacological targets of Resveratrol in the treatment of ALD.