Hangover relieving and antioxidant effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino and/or Hovenia dulcis Thunb. extracts

ABSTRACT

The present study attempts to study alcohol metabolizing and antioxidant properties of Gynostemma pentaphyllum(Thunb.) Makino distillate (GPD) and combination effects with Hovenia dulcis Thunb. extract (HDE) on these activities.The alcohol-metabolizing activity of GPD with/without HDE was determined by assessing alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities. To define the effect of GPD with/without HDE on alcoholmetabolism, antioxidant activities and total phenolic content of GPD with/without HD extract were evaluated using2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, ferrous chelating assays, and the Folin–Ciocalteu method.Cytotoxicity against human normal liver CHANG cells was also evaluated using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. GPD treatment alone or in combination with HDE significantly increased ADHand ALDH activities; combined treatment was most effective. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were greater incombination than the level found in GPD alone. GPD revealed a synergistic antioxidant effect when combined withHDE. GPD and/or HDE had no antiproliferative activity against the normal liver cell line. These results suggest thatGPD-HDE combination is the possible natural resource for the management of alcohol-induced liver injury.