Combination of s-methyl cysteine and protocatechuic acid provided greater lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects in mice liver against chronic alcohol consumption

OBJECTIVE(S): Protective effects of s-methyl cysteine (SMC) alone, protocatechuic acid (PCA) alone, and SMC plus PCA against chronic ethanol consumption induced hepatic steatosis and inflammation were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were divided into six groups: normal diet (ND) group, Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet without ethanol (LD diet) group, LD diet with ethanol (LED diet) group, SMC group (LED diet plus 0.25% SMC), PCA group (LED diet plus 0.25% PCA), and SMC+PCA group (LED diet plus 0.125% SMC + 0.125% PCA). After 8 weeks of supplementation, blood and liver were used for analysis. RESULTS: Biochemical and histological data showed that SMC plus PCA led to a greater reduction in lipid droplets in the liver than SMC or PCA treatment alone. SMC plus PCA resulted in greater suppression in hepatic mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and myeloperoxidase than SMC or PCA treatment alone. SMC plus PCA led to a greater decrease in hepatic reactive oxygen species and inflammatory cytokine levels than SMC or PCA treatment alone. CONCLUSION: These novel findings suggest that the combination of SMC and PCA was a potent remedy for alcoholic liver disorders.