Chemical composition and hepatoprotective effect of free phenolic extract from barley during malting process

In this study, No.Ganpi4 of barley was steeped and malted to investigate the changes of phenolic compounds during malting process. The free phenolic extract from raw barley (FPEB) was analyzed by HPLC and predominant compounds were (+)-catechin, protocatechuate and quercetin. The FPEB was evaluated for hepatoprotective effect in vivo and in vitro. Intragastric administration of FPEB (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/bw) to mice significantly weakened the effects of hepatic damage induced by CCl₄ toxicity on serum markers, including serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total-bilirubin, total cholesterol and total triglycerides. FPEB administration also increased the hepatic levels of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Histopathological examinations further confirmed that FPEB could protect the liver from CCl₄-induced damage. In vitro, the experimental results demonstrated that FPEB could reduce BRL hepatocyte apoptosis and damage induced by CCl₄. These results suggest that FPEB exerts an effective protection for hepatic injury, and barley has the potential as a functional food to prevent hepatic injury.