DEMONSTRATION OF HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTION OF CAMEL MILK THROUGH IMPROVING ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND REGULATING GENE ex<x>pression IN MICE

Z.X. Wang1, X.Y. Qiao1, S.N. Hao1 and R. Ji1,2
1Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and
Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, Inner Mongolia, P.R. China
2Camel Research Institute of Inner Mongolia, Alxa 737300, Inner Mongolia, P.R. China

ABSTRACT

The composition of camel milk includes antioxidants that are beneficial for liver function and regulate gene expression. Here we evaluated the protective effects of camel milk in mice. Our results revealed that camel milk protected the liver by decreasing levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) in mice. Histopathological examination demonstrated that the livers of mice receiving camel milk were not different to those of control mice. The mRNA expression of SAA1, TGF-α, TNF-α, and LCN2 was down-regulated in the livers of mice receiving camel milk. These results indicate that camel milk significantly increases the antioxidant capability of the liver and regulates gene expression in mice. Thus it is opined that regular consumption of camel milk has hepato- protective effect.
Key words: Camel milk, Hepatoprotective, Antioxidant activity, Regulating gene expression