Ethosomes in Integrated Alcoholic Beverages: Unveiling Hidden Dangers and Potential Remedies for Alcoholic Liver Disease

Ethosomes are ethanol-based liposomes which may self-assemble in alcoholic beverages and exhibit dual effects: nanoscale ethanol has liver-targeting property with potential hepatotoxicity on the one side, while ethosomes can encapsulate active constituents that provide hepatoprotective benefits on the other side. This study investigated the dual role of ethosomes, focusing on their existence, characterization, potential toxicity, and toxicological mechanisms. Our results confirmed the existence of ethosomes in alcoholic beverages using particle size analysis, ultracentrifugation, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that ethosomes can cause significant liver injury in a short period, associated with abnormal secretion of transforming growth factor-β ( TGF-β ) by parenchymal cells and subsequent apoptosis of Kupffer cells. Notably, the toxicity of ethosomes was significantly reduced when encapsulated natural active compounds like oleanolic acid. In conclusion, ethosomes could form self-assembly in the production progress of the integrated alcoholic beverages. The present study underscored the dual impact of ethosomes on alcoholic liver disease and offered new insights into the safety risk assessment of alcoholic beverages.