Standardized bioactive fraction of Phaleria macrocarpa (Proliverenol) prevents ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity via down-regulation of NF-κB-TNFα-caspase-8 pathway

Gastroprotective Effect of DLBS2411 Bioactive Fraction from Cinnamomum burmannii Against Ethanol-Induced Gastric Damage in Rats

Background

The study was carried out to evaluate the anti-ulcerative and gastroprotective effect of DLBS2411, a bioactive fraction from Cinnamomum burmannii (Nees & T. Nees) Blume, in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus).

Methods

The rats were divided into five treatment groups, which were the Normal control group, Negative control group (ethanol-induced) and two treatment groups: DLBS2411 at the doses of 25 mg/kg body weight (BW) and 50 mg/kg BW, and the Positive control group treated with sucralfate at the dose of 100 mg/kg BW. Gastroprotective effect was measured by the ulcerative lesion index, ulcer surface area, percentage of lesion area, and cure ratio. Hematological and histopathological analyses were also conducted to gain additional data regarding the gastroprotective effect of DLBS2411 in the rats' stomachs.

Results

DLBS2411 was found to contain not less than 15% of total phenolic compounds. Treatment with DLBS2411 at doses of 25 mg/kg BW and 50 mg/kg BW significantly reduced the percentage of ulcer area in rats. The percentage of ulcer area for the Negative control group and both doses in the DLBS2411 treatment group reached 22.64±6.82%, 6.75±4.41%, and 6.18±4.63%, respectively. Ulcer surface area in the treatment groups and Positive control group also decreased. Histopathological data showed that gastric epithelial cells in the Negative control group were more severely ulcerated than in the treatment group of DLBS2411 and the Positive control group.

Conclusion

This study showed that DLBS2411 at the dose of 50 mg/kg BW was more effective in protecting the stomach lining than DLBS2411 at the dose of 25 mg/kg BW, as measured by percentage of ulceration inhibition and the ulcerative lesion index.

Upregulation of endogenous erythropoietin expression by DLBS6747, a bioactive fraction of Ipomoea batatas L. leaves, via increasing HIF1α transcription factor in HEK293 kidney cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ipomoea batatas L., locally known as ubi jalar, is widely used in Indonesia and other countries as a folk remedy for various chronic diseases, including anemia-associated chronic kidney disease by increasing hematological parameters such as packed cell volume, white blood cells and platelet counts.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of DLBS6747, a bioactive fraction of I. batatas L. leaves, on increasing EPO expression through the upregulation of HIF1α.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Effect of DLBS6747 on EPO expression and its transcription factor, HIFs, was evaluated in normoxia and hypoxia conditions. Effect of DLBS6747 on several genes involved in EPO expression were evaluated in a time-course manner using conventional and real-time PCR, while the protein level were revealed using western blot and ELISA. The involvement of HIF1α was also confirmed by HIF1α siRNA.

RESULTS

Administration of DLBS6747 increased transcriptional activity of EPO through the regulation of its transcriptional factors, which include HIF1α, HIF2α and NFᴋB. The effect was found to be dependent on oxygen availability, wherein DLBS6747-increased EPO expression was found to be more significant in hypoxic condition. In normoxia and hypoxia, 40 μg/mL DLBS6747 increased HIF1α and HIF2α expressions at mRNA level, wherein the peak appeared in 12 h treatment (up to 7.9- and 8.6-folds, respectively). On the other hand, increased protein level was only found in hypoxia, where the highest HIF1α expression was observed at 6 h (7.5-folds increase) and started to decrease after the hours, while HIF2α was found to be increased time-dependently (up to 13.8-folds in 24 h). The mechanism of action of DLBS6747 as erythropoietin stimulating agent is more likely to affect the regulation of HIF1α, as confirmed by HIF1α siRNA which showed that DLBS6747 failed to increase EPO expression during co-incubation with HIF1α siRNA. DLBS6747 treatment also decreased NFᴋB time-dependently in normoxia, while no NFᴋB was detected in hypoxia, which revealed mimicking hypoxia activity of DLBS6747 to increase EPO expression.

CONCLUSION

These findings showed convincing evidences that DLBS6747 increases endogenous EPO production primarily via upregulation of its transcription factors, especially HIF1α, in human embryonic kidney HEK293 cells. This is the first molecular report that reveals the mechanism of action of natural-based erythropenia drug in different oxygen availability.

Protective Effect of Phaleria macrocarpa Water Extract (Proliverenol) against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Rats: Role of TNF-α and TGF-β1

Phaleria macrocarpa is one of the Indonesian herbal plants which has been shown to have a hepatoprotective effect. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of water extract of mahkota dewa (Phaleria macrocarpa) in liver fibrosis and to elucidate its mechanism of action. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) for 8 weeks to induce liver fibrosis. Rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=5), i.e., control group, CCl4 group, CCl4 + NAC group, CCl4 + various doses of water extract of Phaleria macrocarpa (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg body weight). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), liver histopathology, malondialdehyde (MDA), ratio GSH/GSSG, Tumor Necrosis Factor- (TNF-) α, and Transforming Growth Factor- (TGF-) β ₁ were analyzed. This study demonstrated that water extract of Phaleria macrocarpa and NAC significantly protected CCl₄-induced liver injury as demonstrated by reduced AST, ALT, ALP, and fibrosis percentage compared with the CCl₄-only group. In addition, water extract of Phaleria macrocarpa and NAC significantly reduced the levels of MDA, TNF-α, and TGF-β ₁ as well as increasing the ratio of GSH/GSSG. Water extract of Phaleria macrocarpa prevents CCl₄-induced fibrosis in rats. The prevention of liver fibrosis was at least in part through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and through its capacity to inhibit hepatic stellate cells (HSC) activation by reducing fibrogenic cytokine TGF-β ₁.