Myricetin (3,3 ' ,4 ' ,5,5 ' ,7-hexahydroxyflavone) prevents ethanol-induced biochemical and inflammatory damage in the liver of Wistar rats.

Purpose:  The current investigation was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of myricetin in ethanol-induced liver toxicity in Wistar rats.  Research Design:  Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into four groups with six animals per group. Group-I animals were administered with vehicle (distilled water), Group II, III, and IV were treated orally with sequential (per week) increase in the dose of ethanol (5, 8, 10, and 12 g/kg b wt per week in each group) for 28 days. Myricetin was treated orally to Group-III and IV animals at the respective doses of 25 mg/kg b wt. and 50 mg/kg b wt.  Results:  Our results showed that myricetin prevented hepatotoxicity by modulating the production of free radicals, ethanol metabolizing enzymes, and inflammatory markers in vivo. Myricetin also helped maintain lipid membrane integrity, oxidant-antioxidant status, and histoarchitecture. Ethanol administration caused elevation in XO, ADH, and CYP2E1 in hepatic tissue, which significantly normalized with myricetin administration. After ethanol administration, there was a steep increase in the hepatotoxicity biomarkers, including ALT, MDA, and AST. The level of cytotoxicity marker LDH also increased after ethanol administration; myricetin administration decreased the level of all these markers. Moreover, myricetin treatment also reduced ethanol-induced inflammatory markers such as NF-κB and IL-6.  Conclusion:  Findings from the current study demonstrate that myricetin administration prevents alcohol-induced hepatic injury by influencing the metabolism of ethanol, inhibiting oxidative stress, maintaining lipid profile, and suppressing inflammatory markers.