The Beneficial Effects of Ethanol Extract of the Microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum in Alcoholic Liver Disease

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a condition resulting from liver damage linked to excessive drinking over a brief duration. It poses a significant public health challenge globally, with its prevalence and morbidity rising annually due to escalating rates of alcohol abuse, which adversely affect human health. <i>Phaeodactylum tricornutum</i> (PT), a diatom species of microalgae, is reported to possess active components that provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. This study aimed to investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of PT extract on ALD. To address our purpose, we used ethanol diet induced live disease model. Mice fed an ethanol diet showed less weight gain and higher levels of AST and ALT compared to those fed a regular diet. PT extract suppressed the inhibition of weight gain and the increase in AST/ALT levels caused by an ethanol diet. In addition, PT extract also prevented liver tissue damage caused by an ethanol diet. Thus, the effect of PT on ALD was found to be related to the inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinases) phosphorylation and TNF-α production.