Protective effects of hot water extract from glasswort (Salicornia herbacea L.) on ethanol-induced hepatic injury in mice

Chronic ethanol intake induces hepatic steatosis and injury. Glasswort (Salicornia herbacea L.) contains betaine and other bioactives with potential hepatoprotective effects. Male C57BL/6 mice (n=10/group) were assigned to four groups and reared for 6 weeks on Lieber-DeCarli liquid diets: normal diet (N), ethanol diet (C), ethanol diet plus silymarin (100 mg/kg, P), and ethanol diet plus hot water extract from glasswort (HWEG, 6.7 mg/kg, A). Ethanol feeding was gradually adapted and maintained at a final concentration while providing 36% of total energy from ethanol. Serum biomarkers and liver histology (H&E) were evaluated. Body weight gain was lower in ethanol‑fed groups than in N, without significant differences among ethanol groups. Compared with C, HWEG significantly decreased serum lactate dehydrogenase and total cholesterol, and lowered aspartate aminotransferase; high‑density/low‑density lipoprotein profiles were improved. Histologically, HWEG reduced both size and number of hepatocellular fat globules relative to C, approaching the morphology of N. Oral administration of a HWEG at 6.7 mg/kg exerts hepatoprotective effects against ethanol-induced liver injury in mice, with biochemical and histological improvements comparable in trend to silymarin. These findings support HWEG as a promising ingredient for development of functional foods targeting alcohol‑related hepatic dysfunction. Further work to quantify active constituents (e.g., betaine) and delineate mechanisms is warranted.