AIM: To investigate the effects of genistein in attenuation of alcohol-induced liver injury in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three experimental groups of seven rats per group, as follows: control group (CON), alcohol group (ALC), and genistein group (GEN). CON group rats were fed distilled water (16 mL/kg BW per day); ALC group rats was fed 50% alcohol (8 g/kg BW per day); and, GEN group rats were fed genistein (16 mg/kg BW per day) dissolved in 50% alcohol (8 g/kg BW per day). All 3 groups were fed via gavage (feeding) tube twice a day for 4 weeks. At the end of the study, all rats were sacrificed and liver samples were collected to determine malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and interleukin-18 (IL-18) expression. Serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF- alpha) was also measured. RESULTS: Changes in body weight in the ALC and GEN groups were significantly lower than CON group (46.14+/-15.1, 69.71+/-6.84 vs. 137.28+/-17.31 g, P <0.01). However, change in body weight was significantly increased in GEN group, when compared with ALC group (69.71+/-6.84 vs. 46.14+/-15.1 g, P <0.05). Level of hepatic MDA in ALC group was significantly higher than in CON group (0.123+/-0.02 vs. 0.09+/-0.008 nmol/mg protein, P <0.05). However, the high hepatic MDA level was significantly decreased in GEN group, when compared with ALC group (0.091+/-0.025 vs. 0.123+/-0.02 nmol/mg protein, P <0.01). Level of hepatic GSH in CON group was 12.4+/-11.77 nmol/mg protein, while ALC group hepatic GSH was 11.77+/-1.21 nmol/mg protein. GEN group hepatic GSH was significantly higher than in ALC group (14.39+/-2.1 vs. 11.77+/-1.21 nmol/mg protein, P <0.05). Percentage of IL-18 immunoreactive cells in ALC group was significantly higher than CON group (57.4+/-2.54% vs. 16.87+/-5.01%, P <0.01). However, IL-18 expression in rat liver was down-regulated in GEN group, with a significant decrease of IL-18 immunoreactive cells (19.52+/-10.9 vs. 57.4+/-2.54%, P <0.01) CONCLUSION: Genistein could attenuate alcohol-induced liver injury in rat by decreasing oxidative stress, reducing inflammation, and restoring GSH.

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