Wheat Germ Leaf Extract for Liver Injury Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for liver diseases lack effective, naturally occurring materials that can safely improve liver injury caused by toxins like LPS, alcohol, and acetaminophen, and do not adequately inhibit apoptosis of hepatocytes or increase antioxidant enzyme synthesis.
Innovation Solution
Administration of a composition comprising Triticum aestivum Lamarck leaf extract or a fraction thereof, preferably a 15-50% ethanol extract, to inhibit cytotoxicity, treat liver tissue degeneration, and increase synthesis of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione and superoxide dismutase, thereby reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional treatments (interferon, ursodeoxycholic acid, silymarin) are used for liver disease, then liver function improvement is achieved, but safety and natural occurrence are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, complex conventional liver treatments with a simple, naturally occurring wheat germ extract that can be safely ingested. The extract acts as a disposable, safe alternative to toxic pharmaceuticals like interferon and silymarin, providing effective liver protection without the harmful side effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful oxidative stress that causes liver injury into a beneficial effect by using wheat germ extract to enhance the body's own antioxidant defenses. The extract stimulates endogenous glutathione production, turning the harmful oxidative environment into an opportunity for upregulating protective mechanisms.
2Reliability
If antioxidant enzymes are depleted due to oxidative stress, then liver injury occurs, but increasing antioxidant enzyme synthesis is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The wheat germ extract acts as a feedback stimulus that detects oxidative stress conditions and triggers an increased production of antioxidant enzymes in response. The extract contains compounds that sense the oxidative environment and signal hepatocytes to upregulate glutathione and other antioxidant enzyme synthesis, creating a self-regulating protective response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies wheat germ extract as a preliminary protective measure before severe liver injury occurs. The extract pre-conditions the liver by enhancing antioxidant enzyme levels and reducing oxidative stress vulnerability, preventing liver injury before it fully develops rather than treating it after damage occurs.
3Reliability
If hepatocyte apoptosis is induced by toxins (LPS, alcohol, acetaminophen), then liver injury develops, but inhibition of apoptosis is required
Solution Approach 1:
The wheat germ extract provides beforehand cushioning against toxin-induced apoptosis by pre-enhancing cellular antioxidant defenses and reducing oxidative stress vulnerability. When toxins like LPS, alcohol, or acetaminophen are encountered, the pre-conditioned liver cells have increased resistance to apoptosis due to elevated glutathione levels and enhanced antioxidant capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheat germ extract acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between toxic environmental factors and hepatocyte cells. It absorbs and neutralizes the harmful effects of toxins through its antioxidant compounds, preventing direct toxic interaction with hepatocytes and blocking the apoptotic signaling pathway that would otherwise be triggered by toxin exposure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively alleviates liver tissue damage, reduces levels of GOT and GPT enzymes, and inhibits apoptosis in animal models with liver injury induced by LPS, alcohol, and acetaminophen, promoting liver function recovery.
Implementation Method 1
increasing the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) which can reduce oxidative stress in liver tissue
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method for preventing, alleviating or treating a liver disease, comprising administering a composition comprising a Triticum aestivum Lamarck leaf extract or a fraction thereof to a subject in need thereof. Therefore, the method for preventing, alleviating or treating a liver disease of the present invention can improve the morphological change of liver tissue due to liver injury, inhibit apoptosis of hepatocytes, increase the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) which can reduce oxidative stress in liver tissue, and reduce the levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) which are known to change sensitively in liver diseases.