Hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic effect of lactic acid fermented Indian Gooseberry-Amla beverage on chronic alcohol-induced liver damage and diabetes in rats

Background: Plant-based fermented foods rich in lactic acid bacterial metabolites, antioxidants, and phytochemicals, can promote recovery from ethanol-induced liver damage by restoring liver antioxidant levels and suppressing liver inflammation, and improving certain metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus. Methods: In the present study, the protective effects of nutraceutical-enriched lactic acid-fermented Amla beverage on chronic alcohol-induced biochemical modulations and diabetes in Wistar rats were investigated. Results: The hepatoprotective studies showed that the fermented beverage was able to reverse the damage caused to the liver with ethanol administration in terms of liver index, liver enzymes (AST, ALT), serum enzymes (g-GT), and serum TG, TCH, hepatic TG, LPO levels, antioxidants (GSH, TSOD, CAT, GSH-Px). Along similar lines, in the hypoglycemic studies, the fermented beverage evidently improved body weight, and fasting blood glucose levels, reducing fasting HbAlc levels, improving C-peptide and GLP-1 levels, and alleviating renal dysfunction and lipid metabolism compared with diabetic rats. All these outcomes were supported by histological observations within the liver and pancreas. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the consumption of fermented Amla beverage may have a protective effect against chronic alcohol-induced toxicity and diabetes. The effects of fermented Amla beverage may be attributed to antioxidant activity, flavonoids, bioactive compounds produced by LAB and their metabolites, which help to counteract free radicals induced by ethanol and in reducing glucagon levels, enhancing glucose utilization, leading to a decrease in blood glucose. The results show that fermented Amla beverage has positive effects in reducing the detrimental effect of alcohol and diabetes.