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 (CCl 4 ). Pathological analysis showed that liver hydrolysates delivered via the colon-targeted capsules had a significant improving protective effect on CCl 4 -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.