Hepatoprotective Effects of Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) on Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Damage via Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis

Alcohol and drug overdoses cause liver diseases such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, and liver cancer globally. In particular, an overdose of acetaminophen (APAP), which is generally used as an analgesic and antipyretic agent, is a major cause of acute hepatitis, and cases of APAP-induced liver damage are steadily increasing. Potential antioxidants may inhibit the generation of free radicals and prevent drug-induced liver damage. Among plant-derived natural materials, radishes (RJ) and turnips (RG) have anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant properties due to the presence of functional ingredients, such as glucosinolate and isothiocyanate. Although various functions have been reported, in vivo studies on the antioxidant activity of radishes are insufficient. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of RG and RJ in APAP-induced liver-damaged mice. RG and RJ extracts markedly improved the histological status, such as inflammation and infiltration, of mice liver tissue, significantly decreased the levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, and malondialdehyde, and significantly increased the levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase in the APAP-induced liver-damaged mice. In addition, RG and RJ extracts significantly increased the expression of Nrf-2 and HO-1, which are antioxidative-related factors, and regulated the BAX and BCL-2, thereby showing anti-apoptosis activity. These results indicated that RG and RJ extracts protected mice against acute liver injury, attributed to a reduction in both oxidative stress and apoptosis. These findings have clinical implications for the use of RG and RJ extracts as potential natural candidates for developing hepatoprotective agents.