Cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside protects against liver fibrosis induced by alcohol via regulating energy homeostasis and AMPK/autophagy signaling pathway

- Cy-3-G prevented HFC diet and ethanol feeding induced liver injuries.
- Cy-3-G regulated energy homeostasis in both liver and LX-2 cells.
- Cy-3-G regulated AMPK/autophagy pathway to prevent the activation of LX-2 cells.

Cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside (Cy-3-G) has protective properties in many diseases. Whether Cy-3-G has protective effects on alcohol induced liver injuries remains uncertain. In our study, mice were fed with a high fat high cholesterol diet (HFC) plus ethanol for 12 weeks. Cy-3-G supplementation reversed the liver damage induced by alcohol. In vitro studies, Cy-3-G restored the intracellular energy status of LX-2 cells and inhibited the activation of LX-2 cells induced by ethanol plus palmitate. The protective effect of Cy-3-G is via the increase of AMPK phosphorylation and autophagy. In conclusion, Cy-3-G ameliorated chronic alcoholic liver injuries, possibly by improving energy metabolic status. Specifically, liver fibrosis was protected by Cy-3-G via inhibiting the activation of stellate cells, which was mediated partially by AMPK/autophagy signaling pathway.