The study investigates the effect of fenugreek seed polyphenol extract (FPEt) on ethanol-induced damage in rat liver. Chronic
ethanol administration (6 g kg
−1 day
−1 × 60 days) caused liver damage that was manifested by excessive formation of thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substances, lipid
hydroperoxides, and conjugated dienes, the end products of lipid peroxidation, and significant elevation of protein carbonyl
groups and diminution of sulfhydryl groups, a marker of protein oxidation. Decreased activities of enzymic and non-enzymic
antioxidant levels and decreased levels of thiol groups (both non-protein and protein) were observed in ethanol-treated rats.
Further, ethanol significantly increased the accumulation of 4-hydroxynonenal protein adducts, nitrated and oxidized proteins
in liver which was evidenced by immunohistochemistry. Administration of FPEt to ethanol-fed rats (200 mg kg
−1 day
−1) significantly reduced the levels of lipid peroxidation products and protein carbonyl content, increased the activities of
antioxidant enzymes, and restored the levels of thiol groups. The effects of FPEt were comparable with those of a positive
control, silymarin. These findings show that FPEt ameliorates the pathological liver changes induced by chronic ethanol feeding.
Keywords Ethanol - Lipid peroxidation - Protein oxidation - Fenugreek seed polyphenols