The protective effect of Liza klunzingeri protein hydrolysate on carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stress and toxicity in male rats

Objective(s): Today, consumers are looking for food products providing health benefits in addition to meeting the basic nutritional needs of the body. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of Liza klunzingeri protein hydrolysate both in vivo and in vitro. Materials and Methods: Fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) was prepared using enzymatic hydrolysis with papain. In vitro antioxidant activity was assessed using five different antioxidant assays. The cytotoxic effect on 4T1 cell line was evaluated using the MTT assay. The distribution of the molecular weight of FPH was measured using HPLC. In the in vivo study, CCl4-exposed Wistar rats were orally treated with FPH (150, 300, and 600 mg/kg) or gallic acid (50 mg/kg) for 28 consecutive days. Results: Enzymatic hydrolysis gave hydrolysate rich in low molecular weight peptides (<1000 Da) with strong free radicals (ABTS, DPPH, and OH) scavenging activity and cytotoxicity. Treatment of CCl4-exposed rats with all doses of FPH significantly lowered serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). FPH at doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg significantly decreased lipid peroxidation and improved total antioxidant capacity in serum, liver, and kidney of the CCl4 exposed rats. All doses of L.klunzingeri protein hydrolysate reduced CCl4-induced nitric oxide production of the kidney. Liver histopathological damage caused by CCl4 also ameliorated with all doses of FPH. Conclusion: L. klunzingeri protein hydrolysate can be considered as a functional food to alleviate oxidative stress.