Vernonia cinerea regenerates tubular epithelial cells in cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity in cancer bearing mice without affecting antitumor activity

Background

Traditional Siddha Medicine advises using metal-based formulations to treat cancers. In the case of any toxicities during the therapy, Siddha physicians use Vernonia cinerea (VC) whole plant kashayam (crude aqueous extract-CAE) to reverse the toxic effects.

Aim

To evaluate the nephroprotective activity of CAE and its fractions in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and to assess whether they compromise the anticancer efficacy of cisplatin.

Materials and methods

Cisplatin-induced renal damage was induced in Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) bearing mice during mild phase of tumor growth. CAE and its butanol (BF) and aqueous (AF) fractions were administered orally from the 5th day for five days. Nephroprotective potential (serum urea, creatinine, renal histology) and effect of VC on cisplatin anticancer efficacy (tumor volume, viable tumor cells, percentage increase in life span (% ILS)) were calculated.

Result

CAE and its fractions significantly reversed the cisplatin-induced renal damage. CAE and BF treated animals showed regeneration of 50%–75% of proximal tubular cells. Compared to EAC control mice, the % ILS of the cisplatin-treated group was 244% and it was further extended to 379% after CAE administration. The % ILS in the CAE treated group was 1.6 times higher than the cisplatin alone treated group. GC-MS study showed the presence of astaxanthin and betulin.

Conclusion

CAE of VC reverses cisplatin-induced kidney damage as well as regenerates proximal tubular epithelial cells, without compromising the anticancer effect of cisplatin. When CAE was further fractionated, the nephroprotective activity was retained, but the beneficial anticancer effect of cisplatin was compromised.

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Vernonia cinerea (VC) significantly reverses cisplatin-induced kidney damage.

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VC regenerates the damaged proximal tubular epithelial cells.

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VC did not compromise the anticancer beneficial effect of cisplatin.

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Fractionation of VC lead to compromising of cisplatin anticancer effect.

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Astaxanthin and betulin present in VC could be resposible for its nephroprotective effect.

Hepatoprotective potential of antioxidant potent fraction from Urtica dioica Linn. (whole plant) in CCl4 challenged rats

The aim of the present study was to isolate hepatoprotective component from Urtica dioica Linn. (whole plant) against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity in-vitro (HepG2 cells) and in-vivo (rats) model. Antioxidant activity of hydro alcoholic extract and its fractions petroleum ether fraction (PEF), ethyl acetate fraction (EAF), n-butanol fraction (NBF) and aqueous fraction (AF) were determined by DPPH and NO radicals scavenging assay. Fractions were subjected to in-vitro HepG2 cell line study. Further, the most potent fraction (EAF) was subjected to in-vivo hepatoprotective potential against CCl₄ challenged rats. The in-vivo hepatoprotective active fraction was chromatographed on silica column to isolate the bioactive constituent(s). Structure elucidation was done by using various spectrophotometric techniques like UV, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and MS spectroscopy. Ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) of hydro-alcoholic extract of U. dioica possessed the potent antioxidant activity viz. DPPH (IC₅₀ 78.99 ± 0.17 μg/ml) and NO (IC₅₀101.39 ± 0.30 μg/ml). The in-vitro HepG2 cell line study showed that the EAF prevented the cell damage. The EAF significantly attenuated the increased liver enzymes activities in serum and oxidative parameters in tissue of CCl₄-induced rats, suggesting hepatoprotective and anti-oxidant action respectively. Column chromatography of most potent antioxidant fraction (EAF) lead to the isolation of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy cinnamic acid (ferulic acid) which is responsible for its hepatoprotective potential. Hence, the present study suggests that EAF of hydro-alcoholic extract has significant antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential on CCl₄ induced hepatotoxicity in-vitro and in-vivo.