Basic nutritional investigationLiver-protecting effects of table beet (Beta vulgaris var. rubra) during ischemia-reperfusion
Introduction
Ischemia-reperfusion during hepatic surgery and transplantation is associated with oxidative stress, which alters the main cellular functions and causes damage to the hepatocytes [1].
Kupffer cells and stellate cells are also activated by oxidative stress and are responsible for most of the ensuing liver damage [2]. During the respiratory burst, Kupffer cells generate an enormous amount of free radicals. In addition, cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor-α) and prostaglandins are generated, transcriptional factors (nuclear factor-κB, nuclear factor E2-related factor-2) are induced; therefore, hepatic injury may be prevented by altering these molecular pathways [3], [4], [5].
In addition to damaging DNA and proteins, oxidative stress causes lipid peroxidation, which has a lethal effect on the liver cells by changing the cellular homeostasis due to the insufficiency of the membranes [6].
Through the generation of prostaglandins, inflammation is also associated with oxidative damage. It has been assumed that Kupffer cells and T cells mediate the activation of neutrophil inflammatory responses [7].
Owing to the low risk of possible side effects, the administration of natural food constituents before surgery seems to be a promising treatment option.
The consumption of table beet (Beta vulgaris var. rubra) has numerous beneficial physiologic effects, some of which may be appropriate for the protection of the liver of presurgical patients. Because table beet contains a great number of different components, it may be able to modulate various cellular pathways. The beneficial medical effect is due to bioactive components, such as betaine, betanin, betaxanthins, flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamins (thiamine, riboflavine, pyridoxine, ascorbic acid), folic acid, and biotin, and soluble fiber and pectin. Mainly betanin (the natural coloring agent of beetroot), flavonoids (e.g., quercetin), and other polyphenols have extremely effective antioxidant properties [8], [9], [10].
The results measured in cell culture experiments are difficult to compare with real pathologic states of the living organism; therefore, it may be presumed that studying the consumption of bioactive molecules in their natural form may provide more relevant information.
Our aim was to determine whether hepatic tissue damage during ischemia-reperfusion can be prevented by pretreatment with a table beet-rich diet. The wide range of physiological effects may include possible protection against oxidative stress. It has been assumed that metal element content of the liver has an essential role in determining the survival of hepatocytes by modification of the antioxidant enzyme activity [11], [12], [13], [14]. The metal element content of table beet may prevent the decrease of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the liver. Although table beet may restore the normal function of fatty acid metabolism, these essential cellular pathways have not been thoroughly studied thus far. Because betaine is a potent methyl donor, study of the effect of transmethylation may provide new perspectives for liver protection during surgery.
Section snippets
Materials and methods
Luminol, microperoxidase, hydrogen peroxide, and the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrasyl radical were obtained from Sigma (St. Louis, MO, USA), and total antioxidant status (NX2332), SOD (SD 125) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx; RS 506) kits were bought from Randox (Crumlin, UK). The standard solution for inductively coupled plasma measurements was made from Merck inductively coupled plasma standards (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). Other chemical reagents were purchased from Reanal Chemical Co.
Statistical analysis
The differences between two groups was examined by Student’s t probe using Statistica 6.0 software (Statsoft, Tulsa, OK, USA). One-way analysis of variance was also applied to evaluate the significance across the different groups. Significance levels were determined at P < 0.05.
Changes in the blood
Lyophilized table beet reduced the chemiluminescent intensity of the plasma significantly after ischemia-reperfusion (Fig. 1).
Antioxidant parameters of the plasma were higher in rats fed the beetroot diet (Table 2).
Changes in the liver
Beetroot significantly reduced the diene conjugate concentration of liver during ischemia-reperfusion. H-donor ability and the reducing power of the liver tissue were significantly increased as a result of feeding, whereas the concentration of free SH groups showed no significant
Discussion
The most important physiologic role of betaine is that it may serve as an osmolyte and methyl donor [26]. In addition, betaine treatment has a restoring effect on the alterations in the level of triacylglycerol, lipid peroxide, and GSH under pathologic conditions [27].
Polyphenols have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects. Polyphenols may reduce the severity of liver injury in association with lower concentrations of lipid peroxides and proinflammatory nitric oxide–generated
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Sarolta Bárkovits and Edina Pintér for great technical assistance. This work was supported by Zsolt Pallai, head of Diachem Ltd., and Timea Kurucz, chemical engineer (Diachem Ltd., Hungary).
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This study was supported by the Ph.D. Programme of the Semmelweis University No. 2/1, ETT 012/2006 Project, NKFP 1A 005/2004, and NKFP1B 047/2004 Projects.