Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of selenium-enriched corn peptides (SeCPs) on the enzyme activities related to the metabolism of acetaminophen and its protective effect on liver injury. Methods: Se-enriched corn proteins were extracted with a aqueous solution NaOH and alcohol, and then hydrolyzed by alcalase. SeCPs with a molecular weight less than 5 kDa were prepared by ultrafiltration. Liver injury was induced by intraperitoneal injection of acetaminophen in mice. Liver index, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity in serum, and the contents of cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1), cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2), glutathione S-transferase (GST), uridine diphosphate-dependent glycosyltransferase (UGT) and glutathione (GSH), the activities of sulfotransferase (SULT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in mice liver were determined. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe pathological liver changes. Results: Compared with the model group, the contents of CYP2E1, CYP1A2, UGT and SULT in the liver of mice treated with SeCPs were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while the contents of GSH and GST and the activity of GSH-Px were significantly increased. In addition, liver index and serum AST activity were significantly lowered and liver pathology was significantly improved. Conclusion: The protective effect of SeCPs on liver injury induced by excessive acetaminophen was better than that of combined sodium selenite and corn peptides (CPs + Na2SeO3). Therefore, the combined use of organic selenium and corn peptides had a good synergistic effect on liver protection.

Key words: selenium-enriched corn peptides, acetaminophen, liver injury, glutathione