Protective Effects of Polysaccharides From <i>Sargassum hemiphyllum</i> (Turner) C. Agardh Against Alcohol‐Induced <scp>LO2</scp> Cell Damage

The study aimed to explore the protective impact of polysaccharide derived from <i>Sargassum hemiphyllum</i> (Turner) C. Agardh (SHP) against ethanol-induced injury in LO2 hepatocytes, along with its potential mechanism of action. A model of alcoholic injury in LO2 cells was established to assess the shielding effect of SHP against liver injury induced by alcohol. Treatment with 800 mmol/L ethanol for 6 h was selected for the construction of the hepatocyte injury model. Compared with those in the alcohol model group, the survival rate of LO2 cells in the SHP treatment group was significantly greater. When the concentration of SHP reached 60 μg/mL, the cell viability increased to 89.17% ± 3.58%. Moreover, SHP treatment significantly reduced the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased the levels of intracellular glutathione (GSH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and catalase (CAT), reduced the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), and prevented the leakage of intrahepatic enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT)) to protect LO2 cells from alcohol-induced injury. Moreover, at a concentration of 60 μg/mL, SHP inhibited the ethanol-induced reduction in the protein expressions of Nrf2, HO-2, and GCLC, indicating its potential to modulate the antioxidant system to restore the homeostatic state, consequently shielding the liver from peroxidative damage induced by alcohol. These results propose that SHP exhibits a protective role against oxidative damage in LO2 cells and holds promise as a novel natural hepatoprotective agent for averting liver injury.