Effects of a Protein-Enriched Crude Lysate from Chlorella Sp. Against Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury

The effect of crude lysate of Chlorella sp. (CLC) on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury in male ICR mice was investigated. The CLC is a protein-enriched powder containing around 65% of microalgal proteins. There were no hepatotoxicity and renal toxicity detected in the mice fed with the feed containing CLC with a much high level of 10% for 28 days. The hepatoprotective function of CLC was determined in a mouse model of APAP-induced liver injury. Each CLC supplementation (1, 2.5, and 5% CLC) groups could significantly alleviate the increased serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and oxidative damage in the APAP-treated mice. The hepatoprotective effects in the CLC supplementation groups were comparable with the mouse group treated with silymarin, a drug for liver injury. Our results indicate the CLC containing molecules that is potential as candidate for the prevention of chemical-induced liver damage.