Phloroglucinol accelerates the regeneration of liver damaged by H2O2 or MNZ treatment in zebrafish

Abstract

The liver is a vital organ in vertebrates and is vulnerable to oxidative stress that initiates a cascade of intracellular toxic events that lead to activation of the redox system and subsequent cell death, causing chronic liver diseases. Herein, we investigate the protective effect of phloroglucinol (PG), which is a mono-unit of phlorotannins isolated from the brown marine alga Ecklonia cava, on oxidative stress-induced damage in zebrafish. PG is found to reduce H2O2-induced toxicity in addition to H2O2-induced oxidative stress damage. Consequently, PG reduces H2O2-induced hepatocyte death. Moreover, PG accelerates liver regeneration after metronidazole (MNZ)-induced apoptosis. These results clearly indicate that PG possesses prominent antioxidant activity in vivo. Therefore, it could be a potential therapeutic agent for the prevention or treatment of liver diseases associated with oxidative stress.