Lycium ruthenicum Polysaccharides Alleviate CCl4-Induced Acute Liver Injury Through Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects

[Introduction] The study aimed to investigate the protective effect of <i>Lycium ruthenicum</i> polysaccharides (LRPs) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced acute liver injury (ALI). [Method] After LRP was extracted and characterized, a CCl₄-induced cell damage and mouse ALI model was established to evaluate its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacities. [Results] The results demonstrated that LRP markedly attenuated hepatocyte necrosis, alleviated cellular edema and degeneration, and preserved nuclear integrity to sustain hepatic function, thereby restoring hepatic architecture. It downregulated serum ALT and AST levels, reduced MDA content in liver tissue, and enhanced SOD activity. Additionally, LRP inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6, while upregulating the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. [Conclusions] These findings suggest that LRP effectively alleviates CCl₄-induced ALI through both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, demonstrating its potential as a novel liver-protective agent.