Colon-targeted delivery of liver hydrolysates: efficacy in reversing carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage

Liver hydrolysates contain various active polypeptides with multiple physiological functions. Oral colon-targeted drug delivery is a potential delivery approach for proteins and therapeutic polypeptides. The aim of this study was to assess the enhancement of the protective effect of liver hydrolysates on liver injury by using a colon-targeted delivery system. Rats were orally administered with a colon-targeted capsule with or without swine liver hydrolysates (22.5 or 5.625 mg/kg) or given the same daily doses of liver hydrolysates via the regular gavage route for 30 days, followed by induction of liver injury with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Pathological analysis showed that liver hydrolysates delivered via the colon-targeted capsules had a significant improving protective effect on CCl4-induced damage to the rats’ liver when compared to liver hydrolysates administered intragastrically by gavage. This study supports the feasibility of oral colon-targeted drug delivery for proteins, therapeutic polypeptides, and functional food.