Abstract:
Ellagic acid (EA) is a phenolic compound
found in fruits and nuts, including raspberries, straw-
berries, grapes and walnuts. In the present study, we
examined the hepatoprotective effects of ellagic acid
from the Korean raspberry (Rubus coreanus Miq.)
compared to alcohol-induced toxicity in vitro. Ethanol-
induced HepG2 cells were treated with EA at three
concentrations (1, 10 and 100 μM), and then the pro-
tective effects of EA were evaluated through the regu-
lation of NO, TGF-β1 and SR-B1 production. In res-
ponse to the exposure of ethanol, the productions of
NO, TGF-β1 and SR-B1 were increased and EA pre-
treatment significantly recovered NO release and TGF-
β1 expression at the baseline level except for SR-B1
protein. EA at 100 μM more increased SR-B1 expres-
sion in ethanol treated cells whereas there is no chang-
ed without ethanol. Elevated SR-B1 expression seems
to be positive effects on the regulation of cholesterol
efflux and atherosclerosis. These findings suggest that
EA from R. coreanus could be beneficial for the alle-
viation of alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity.
