Hepato-protective effect of fucoidan extracted from acid-processed Sargassum fusiformis in ethanol-treated Chang liver cells and in a zebrafish model

In our previous study, the anticancer effect of the active fucoidan (JHCF4) isolated from acid-processed Sargassum fusiformis was evaluated. In this study, the liver-protective effects of JHCF4 against ethanol-induced Chang liver cell damage and apoptosis-related responses were investigated. Furthermore, the low cytotoxicity and high cell viability of JHCF4 against ethanol-induced cell damage, as well as its protective effect against ethanol-induced cell apoptosis, were observed via nuclear staining with Hoechst 33342 in Chang liver cells. Additionally, the treatment of the 72 h post-fertilization (hpf) zebrafish model with JHCF4 increased the ethanol-stimulated survival rates as well as decreased oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and cell death levels. JHCF4 was found to significantly decrease steatosis production in the 128 hpf zebrafish model by Oil Red O staining, as well as attenuate the malondialdehyde and increase the glutathione contents, compared with the untreated group. These results demonstrate that JHCF4 has a potential hepato-protective effect against ethanol-induced damage both in vitro and in vivo.