Protective potential [correction of potencial] of Euphorbia hirta against cytotoxicity induced in hepatocytes and a HepG2 cell line

J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2010;21(4):401-13. doi: 10.1515/jbcpp.2010.21.4.401.

Abstract

Medicinal plants play a key role in human health care. Frustration over the side effects of allopathic drugs has driven the medical world to take asylum in the plant kingdom for the treatment of various ailments. Euphorbia hirta belonging to the family of Euphorbiacae has been reported to possess antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of E. hirta against antitubercular drug-induced cytotoxicity in freshly isolated hepatocytes. The extent of cytotoxicity of the plant extracts was also analyzed using human liver derived HepG2 cell line by estimating the viability of cells (MTT assay). The alcoholic plant extract normalized the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), triacylglycerol (TAG), cholesterol, total protein, albumin, total and direct bilirubin, which were altered due to antitubercular drug intoxication. A dose-dependent increase in percent viability was observed when antitubercular drug exposed HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of plant extracts (125, 250, 500 and 1000 microg/mL) which were compared with a standard hepatoprotective drug silymarin. The highest percentage viability of HepG2 was observed at a concentration of 1000 microg/mL. The results suggest that E. hirta exerts protection against antitubercular drug-induced cytotoxicity in this vitro model system.

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / metabolism
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Antitubercular Agents / toxicity
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / metabolism
  • Bilirubin / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Cytoprotection
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Euphorbia / chemistry*
  • Hepatocytes / cytology
  • Hepatocytes / drug effects*
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Plant Components, Aerial / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Protective Agents / chemistry
  • Protective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Triglycerides / metabolism

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Protective Agents
  • Triglycerides
  • Cholesterol
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • Bilirubin