Andrographis paniculata leaf extract prevents thioacetamide-induced liver cirrhosis in rats

Effectiveness of curcumin nanoparticles in rat liver fibrosis caused by thioacetamide

Although curcumin possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cytoprotective qualities, its low absorption limits its medicinal uses. Before examining how curcumin influenced rats' liver fibrosis when thioacetamide (TAA) was produced, the current study employed nanoparticles (NPs) to improve curcumin bioavailability. Sixty mature rats were separated into six groups (Group 1, control; Group 2, curcumin; Group 3, curcumin nanoparticles; Group 4, TAA; Group 5, TAA + curcumin; Group 6, TAA + curcumin NPs). TAA administration caused considerable increases in serum liver enzymes associated with a remarkable depletion in the levels of albumin and total protein relative to the control. In addition, a significant elevation in malonaldehyde (MDA) level with a significant depletion in the antioxidant enzymes activity was detected. Also, TAA had a significant effect on the inflammation markers represented by the elevation in tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) and DNA damage. Administration of curcumin or curcumin NPs in TAA-intoxicated rats significantly (p < .001, p < .0001) alleviates liver injury by correcting antioxidant status, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress. The results of comparing TAA-intoxicated rats treated with curcumin NPs to TAA-intoxicated rats treated with bulk curcumin revealed that the ameliorative effect of nanocurcumin was stronger. These observations concluded that nanoparticle formulation can increase curcumin bioavailability and solubility, enhancing its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficiency, resulting in greater potential against thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Hepatoprotective effects of Gynura procumbens against thioacetamide-induced cirrhosis in rats: Targeting inflammatory and oxidative stress signalling pathways

Gynura procumbens is an edible flowering plant that has been utilized as traditional therapy for numerous diseases. The current experiment investigates the hepatoprotective potentials of the ethanol extract of Gynura procumbens leaf (EEGPL) against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver cirrhosis in rats. Thirty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 clusters: A, rats received orally 10% Tween 80 and intraperitoneal (i.p) inoculation of sterile distal water; B, rats received orally10% Tween 80; C, rats received orally daily 50 mg/kg of silymarin, while groups; D and E, rats received orally daily doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg of EEGPL, respectively. Furthermore, B-E clusters received 200 mg/kg thioacetamide (i.p) three times a week for 60 days. The liver gross morphology of rats that received only TAA (B) revealed irregular rough surface layers compared to smoother livers of rats that received EEGPL. Histopathology of group B revealed clear hepatic necrosis and fibrous connective tissue, which were significantly reduced in C-E groups. EEGPL treatment caused a significant down-regulation of PCNA and α-SMA protein expressions. Antioxidant (SOD and CAT) enzymes in hepatic homogeneity were meaningfully lower, and MDA levels were significantly higher in TAA controls compared to those of C-E groups. Moreover, EEGPL treatment caused a reduction of TNF-α and IL-6 and increased expression of IL-10 cytokines. Therefore, the hepatoprotective potentials of EEGPL might be contributed to its modulation of detoxification enzymes, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities.

Small RNA sequencing and identification of Andrographis paniculata miRNAs with potential cross‑kingdom human gene targets

Cross-species post-transcriptional regulatory potential of plant derived small non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) has been well documented by plenteous studies. MicroRNAs are transferred to host cells via oral ingestion wherein they play a decisive role in regulation of host genes; thus, miRNAs have evolved as the nascent bioactive molecules imparting pharmacological values to traditionally used medicinal plants. The present study aims to investigate small RNA profiling in order to uncover the potential regulatory role of miRNAs derived from Andrographis paniculata, one of the most widely used herb by tribal communities for liver disorders and document the pharmacological properties of A. paniculata miRNAs. In this study, high-throughput sequencing method was used to generate raw data, ~ 60 million sequences were generated from A. paniculata leaves. Using computational tools and bioinformatics approach, analyses of 3,480,097 clean reads resulted in identification of 3440 known and 51 putative novel miRNAs regulating 1365 and 192 human genes respectively. Remarkably, the identified plausible novel miRNAs apa-miR-5, apa-miR-1, apa-miR-26, and apa-miR-30 are projected to target significant host genes including CDK6, IKBKB, TRAF3, CHD4, MECP2, and ADIPOQ. Subsequent annotations revealed probable involvement of the target genes in various pathways for instance p38-MAPK, AKT, AMPK, NF-Kβ, ERK, WNT signalling, MYD88 dependant cascade, and pathways in cancer. Various diseases such as human papilloma virus infection, Alzheimer's, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver, Alcoholic liver diseases, HepatoCellular Carcinoma (HCC), and numerous other cancers were predominantly found to be linked with target genes. Our findings postulate novel interpretations regarding modulation of human transcripts by A. paniculata miRNAs and exhibit the regulation of human diseases by plant-derived miRNAs. Though our study elucidates miRNAs as novel therapeutic agents, however, experimental validations for assessment of therapeutic potential of these miRNAs are still warranted.

Simvastatin Induces Apoptosis And Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma Induced In Rats

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequent primary aggressive cancer, a crucial cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Simvastatin is a well-known safe cholesterol-lowering medication that has been recently shown to suppress cancer progression. Apoptosis is a well-organized and controlled cellular process that happens both physiologically and pathologically leading to executing cell death. Apoptosis is frequently downregulated in cancer cells. In the present study, we aimed to test the effect of simvastatin on HCC progression. HCC was induced in experimental rats by means of diethylnitrose amine (DEN) and thioacetamide (TAA) injections. Gross examination and liver index along with biochemical analysis of hepatic function were evaluated. Serum alpha-feto protein (AFP) concentration was measured by ELISA. Histopathological examination was used for assessing necroinflammatory scores and fibrosis degree. Apoptosis was assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Simvastatin was found to induce apoptosis successfully in HCC and improve liver fibrosis, overall hepatic function, and necroinflammatory score. Simvastatin, therefore, may be a potential adjunctive therapeutic option in clinical settings of treating HCC.

Histopathological Evaluation of Annona muricata in TAA-Induced Liver Injury in Rats

This research in vivo assessed the impact of the ethanolic extract of Annona muricata (A. muricata) on the histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and biochemistry of thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver cirrhosis in Sprague Dawley rats. The rats, gavaged precisely with two doses of A. muricata (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) with TAA, presented a substantial reduction in the liver index and hepatocyte propagation, with much lower cell injury. These groups showed meaningfully down-regulated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the liver and spleen, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) in liver parenchymal tissue. The liver homogenate displayed enhanced antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, along with a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The serum levels of bilirubin, total protein, albumin, and liver enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were returned to normal and were similar to that of the normal control and silymarin with TAA-treated groups. Oral acute toxicity revealed no evidence of any toxic symbols or mortality in rats, indicating the safety of A. muricata. Therefore, the normal microanatomy of hepatocytes, the clampdown of PCNA, α-SMA, TGF-β, improved antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), and condensed MDA with repairs of liver biomarkers validate the hepatoprotective effect of A. muricata.

Changes in Mitochondria-Related Gene Expression upon Acupuncture at LR3 in the D-Galactosamine-Induced Liver Damage Rat Model

Hepatic diseases, such as hepatonecrosis, hepatitis, and hepatocirrhosis, are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and increased reactive oxygen species generation and inflammation, ultimately leading to liver failure. In this study, we examined if acupuncture at LR3 can affect mitochondria-related gene expression in a liver damage model of experimentally induced acute liver failure (ALF). ALF was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine (D-GalN) in experimental rats, who then received either sham (ALF), manual acupuncture (MA), electroacupuncture (EA), or silymarin (PC, positive control) treatment. Liver tissues were extracted from experimental and untreated control rats for histopathological analysis and expression profiling of genes involved in mitochondrial function. Of the 168 mitochondria-related genes profiled, two genes belonging to the solute-carrier transporter family (Slc25a15 and Slc25a25) and Ndufb7 were upregulated. Gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase was more downregulated in MA than ALF. Furthermore, MA reversed D-GalN-induced inflammatory cell infiltration, destruction of hepatic cell plates, and increase in the levels of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α. MA at LR3 can reduce the risk of D-GalN-induced ALF by inducing the expression of metabolic and inflammation-related genes and regulating proinflammatory factor production in hepatic mitochondria.

Selenium nanoparticles and quercetin suppress thioacetamide-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats: Attenuation of inflammation involvement

The current study investigates the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of selenium (Se) formulated as nanoparticles (SeNPs) and in combination with quercetin (QCT) against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. ​​​​​​Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups (n = 12). Three control groups; normal, SeNPs; group received SeNPs only and HCC; group received TAA. In addition, three preventive groups; SeNPs + TAA, QCT + TAA, and QCT + SeNPs + TAA. Induction of HCC was detected histopathologically and by the raise of the serum level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Oxidative stress was evaluated by the hepatic levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA) spectrophotometrically. The oncogenic pathway of p53/β-catenin/cyclin D1 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The inflammatory markers; interleukin-33 (IL-33), IL-6, and IL-1β were assessed by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay. SeNPs prevented the elevation of serum AFP and hepatic IL-33, IL-1β, and IL-6 in comparison to HCC or QCT + TAA groups. SeNPs + TAA exhibited a lower positive hepatic staining of p53, β-catenin, and cyclin D1 in comparison to HCC or QCT + TAA groups. Moreover, SeNPs improved the overall oxidative balance indicated by low hepatic MDA and enhanced GSH and GPx when compared to HCC or QCT + TAA groups. ​​SeNPs alone and in combination with QCT were found to suppress the progression of HCC in rats via the enhancement of the oxidative stress and then inflammatory status and the prevention of the deregulation of the oncogenic axis pathway of p53/β-catenin/cyclin D.

Hepatoprotective effects of methanolic extract of green tea against Thioacetamide-Induced liver injury in Sprague Dawley rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Since ancient times, herbal medicines have been applied in the treatment of cancer. Tea, derivative from the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze plant is the most popular beverage globally after water and is available in various forms. Green tea has been expansively investigated for its beneficial properties of cancer prevention and therapy. The goal of the research: The current study was conducted to evaluate the hepaprotective character of methanolic green tea extract and its mechanism of action contrary to thioacetamide (TAA)-produced liver fibrosis of Sprague Dawley rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty rodents were equally placed in 5 clusters including normal control, TAA group as a positive control, silymarin as standard drug control, and treatment groups consisting of high dose and a low dose Camellia sinensis. Rats in experimental clusters by mouth fed with C. sinensis at 250 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg daily for 2 months. After 60 days, all rats were sacrificed. Blood specimens were gathered for liver biochemical examination. Livers of all groups were dissected out and subjected to histopathological examination through the Hematoxylin and Eosin stain, Masson trichrome, and immunohistochemistry stains (PCNA). Liver tissue homogenate was also analyzed for antioxidant activity parameters.

RESULTS

Gross morphological examination showed a regular liver architecture in C. sinensis fed collections compared to the TAA sets. Histology of rat's liver fed with C. sinensis showed an important decrease in the liver index with hepatic cells propagation, mild cellular injury, and immunostaining showed significant down-expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). TAA produced liver fibrosis through a significant increase in serum alanine transferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin. Total protein and albumin also decreased in the TAA group. Moreover, the reduction of antioxidant enzyme activity including superoxide dismutase and catalase as well as the increase in malondialdehyde was detected in the TAA control group. Meanwhile, an abnormal level of liver biochemical parameters was restored closer to the normal levels in serum of the C. sinensis-fed clusters. In addition, C. sinensis fed assemblies showed elevated antioxidative enzymes activity with a reduction in malondialdehyde level comparable to the levels in silymarin-treated rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Green tea potentially inhibited the progression of liver cirrhosis, down -regulation of PCNA proliferation, prevented oxidation of hepatocytes, recovered SOD and CAT enzymes, condensed MDA and reduced cellular inflammation.

In vivo hepatoprotective effect of Morinda elliptica stem extract against liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide

Morinda elliptica L. (Rubiaceae) is a phytomedicinal herb, used to treat gastrointestinal complications in Peninsular Malaysia. The study evaluates the in vivo hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of M. elliptica stem in thioacetamide (TAA) induced liver fibrosis in male Sprague Drawly rats. Thirty adult rats were divided into five groups of six rats each. Rats of the normal control group received intraperitoneal injections (i. p.) of vehicle 10% Tween-20, 5 ml/kg, and hepatotoxic group 200 mg/kg TAA three times per week respectively. Three supplementary groups were treated with TAA plus daily oral silymarin (50 mg/kg) or M. elliptica (250 or 500 mg/kg). After 8 weeks of treatment, all rats were sacrificed. Liver fibrosis was assessed by gross macroscopic and microscopic tissue analysis, histopathological, and biochemical analysis. The livers of the TAA treated group showed uniform coarse granules, hepatocytic necrosis with lymphocytes infiltration. Contrary, the livers of M. elliptica treated groups (250 and 500 mg/kg) were much smoother and the cell damage was much lesser. The livers of M. elliptica treated groups rats showed elevated activity of SOD and CAT with a significant decrease in MDA level at p < .0001. The level of liver damage parameters, that is, ALP, ALT, and AST, bilirubin, total protein, and albumin were restored to the normal comparable to silymarin. M. elliptica stem extract significantly promoted normal rat liver architecture with significant perfections in biochemical parameters. The molecular contents of M. elliptica with hepatoprotective influence could be discovered, is the future prospective of this study.

Application of virus-induced gene silencing in Andrographis paniculata, an economically important medicinal plant

Kalmegh [Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees] is one of the most studied medicinal plants for pharmaceutical properties and phytochemistry. However, functional genomics studies in kalmegh are so far limited due to the unavailability of a robust tool for gene silencing. Here, we tested the application of virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in kalmegh using the well-known Tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-based vectors and achieved targeted silencing of phytoene desaturase (ApPDS) which is essential in plants for carotenoid biosynthesis that protects chlorophyll from photooxidation. ApPDS silencing in kalmegh leaves developed a typical photobleaching phenotype. The silencing of ApPDS was confirmed by analysing ApPDS transcript level and determining chlorophyll content in the leaves of VIGS seedlings. The analysis revealed ~30% reduction in chlorophyll content, and 40 to 60% reduction in ApPDS transcript level in the leaves of VIGS seedlings. These findings clearly demonstrated the applicability of VIGS in kalmegh using TRV-based vectors. The VIGS protocol presented in this study might be useful for studying gene function related to medicinal and agricultural traits in kalmegh.

Hepatoprotective Plants from Bangladesh: A Biophytochemical Review and Future Prospect

Liver diseases are quite prevalant in many densely populated countries, including Bangladesh. The liver and its hepatocytes are targeted by virus and microbes, as well as by chemical environmental toxicants, causing wide-spread disruption of metabolic fuctions of the human body, leading to death from end-stage liver diseases. The aim of this review is to systematically explore and record the potential of Bangladeshi ethnopharmacological plants to treat liver diseases with focus on their sources, constituents, and therapeutic uses, including mechanisms of actions (MoA). A literature survey was carried out using Pubmed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases with articles reported until July, 2020. A total of 88 Bangladeshi hepatoprotective plants (BHPs) belonging to 47 families were listed in this review, including Euphorbiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Compositae families contained 20% of plants, while herbs were the most cited (51%) and leaves were the most consumed parts (23%) as surveyed. The effect of BHPs against different hepatotoxins was observed via upregulation of antioxidant systems and inhibition of lipid peroxidation which subsequently reduced the elevated liver biomarkers. Different active constituents, including phenolics, curcuminoids, cucurbitanes, terpenoids, fatty acids, carotenoids, and polysaccharides, have been reported from these plants. The hepatoameliorative effect of these constituents was mainly involved in the reduction of hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation through activation of Nrf2/HO-1 and inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathways. In summary, BHPs represent a valuable resource for hepatoprotective lead therapeutics which may offer new alternatives to treat liver diseases.

A tablet derived from Andrographis paniculata complements dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine treatment of malaria in pregnant mice

OBJECTIVES

The use of standard antimalarial drugs, such as dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHP) for the treatment of malaria during pregnancy is limited due to the risk of teratogenicity. The alternative is therefore required although few exist. Here we show a phytopharmaceutical drug derived from Andrographis paniculata (AS201-01), which is effective as herbal antimalarial both in vitro and in vivo and may be a suitable alternative when used in complementary treatment with DHP.

METHODS

Plasmodium berghei infected pregnant BALB/c mice were divided into four groups: G1 (negative control), G2 (AS201-01), G3 (DHP), and G4 (combination of DHP and AS201-01). Pheripheral blood was collected during therapy for counting parasitemia. Placental samples were analyzed for the expression of IFN-γ, TNF- α, IL-10, placental parasite counts and foetal morphology.

RESULTS

Groups G4 and G3 both showed a 100% inhibition of peripheral parasitemia. However, the treatment in G4 was found to be less effective than that in G2 and G3 in preventing placental parasitemia. The G4 treatment was able to reduce the expression of IFN-γ and IL-10, whereas TNF-α was not significantly different from the control group. Foetal morphologic abnormalities were observed in all groups except G2; G4 showed lower percentage of abnormalities compared to G3 and G1.

CONCLUSIONS

A combination of A. paniculata tablet (AS201-01) with DHP has the potential to reduce the toxicity of DHP in malaria treatment.

Evaluation of catacholase mimicking activity and apoptosis in human colorectal carcinoma cell line by activating mitochondrial pathway of copper(II) complex coupled with 2-(quinolin-8-yloxy)(methyl)benzonitrile and 8-hydroxyquinoline

To evaluate the cytotoxic potential of metal-based chemotherapeutic candidate towards the colorectal cancer, we have synthesized a new copper(II) complex [Cu(qmbn)(q)(Cl)] (1) (where, qmbn = 2-(quinolin-8-yloxy)(methyl)benzonitrile and q = 8-hydroxyquinoline) and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray, Powder-XRD, FTIR and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The structural analysis reveals that copper(II) ions exist in a distorted square pyramidal (τ = ~0.1), with ligation of a chloride ion, oxygen atom and two nitrogen atoms at equatorial position and one oxygen atom at apical position. The cytotoxicity potential of complex 1 was executed against human colorectal cell lines (HCT116), which showed that 1 induces mitochondrion-mediated apoptotic cell death via activation of the Bax (pro-apoptotic protein) caspases-3 and 9 proteins. Interestingly, complex 1 was found to be a good candidate as electron-transfer catalyst which mimics catacholase with high turnover frequency (k_cat = 1.03 × 10² h^-1) for the conversion of the model substrate 3,5-di-tertbutylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) to 3,5-di-tertbutylquinone (3,5-DTBQ). Furthermore, molecular docking studies revealed that complex 1 was successfully localized inside the binding pocket of protein kinase (Akt), which validate the mechanism and mode of interaction of 1 that displayed cytotoxic activity experimentally. The obtained outcomes reveal that the complex 1 could be utilized as an encouraging perspective in the development of new therapeutic candidate for colon cancer.

Variations of rhizospheric soil microbial communities in response to continuous Andrographis paniculata cropping practices

BACKGROUND

Changes of soil microbial communities are one of the main factors of continuous cropping problem. Andrographis paniculata has been reported to have replant problem in cultivation. However, little is known about the variations of rhizosphere soil microbial communities of A. paniculata under a continuous cropping system. Here, Illumina MiSeq was used to investigate the shifts of rhizospheric bacterial and fungal communities after continuous cropping of A. paniculata.

RESULTS

The bacterial diversity increased whereas the fungal diversity decreased in rhizosphere soil after consecutive A. paniculata monoculture; and the soil microbial community structure differed between newly plant soil and continuous cropped soil. Taxonomic analyses further revealed that the bacterial phyla Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Bacteroidetes and the fungal phyla Zygomycota, Ascomycota and Cercozoa were the dominant phyla across all soil samples. The relative abundance of phyla Acidobacteria and Zygomycota were significantly increased after continuous cropping. Additionally, the most abundant bacterial genus Pseudolabrys significantly decreased, while the predominant fungal genus Mortierella increased considerably in abundance after continuous cropping.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results revealed the changes on diversity and composition of bacterial and fungal communities in rhizospheric soil under continuous cropping of A. paniculata. These data contributed to the understanding of soil micro-ecological environments in the rhizosphere of A. paniculata.

Classification of Andrographis paniculata extracts by solvent extraction using HPLC fingerprint and chemometric analysis

Objective

Andrographis paniculata, widely used as an antidiabetic in Indonesian traditional medicines (jamu), contains chemical compounds whose concentration is related to its therapeutic effects. The concentration of solvents used for extraction will also affect the number of compounds extracted. Therefore, a quality control method is needed to ensure consistency in quantifying these compounds in A. paniculata to improve its therapeutic application. High-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint analysis combined with chemometrics was used to evaluate extracts from different solvent extraction treatments. The content of andrographolide, the main bioactive compound in A. paniculata, and the level of α-glucosidase inhibition activity, an indicator of its antidiabetic activity, were also determined.

Results

Fingerprint chromatograms of A. paniculata extracts from different treatments exhibited a similar pattern with several peaks in common, only differing in area and intensity value. The A. paniculata extracts were classified using HPLC fingerprint and principal component analysis to allow grouping according to their respective solvent extraction treatments. The highest andrographolide content and α-glucosidase inhibition activity occurred in the 50% ethanol extract and the lowest in the water extract. HPLC fingerprint analysis could be used for identifying A. paniculata extracts based on solvent extraction, thus improving quality control for their therapeutic application.

Dietary α-Lactalbumin protects against thioacetamide-induced liver cirrhosis by maintaining gut-liver axis function in rats

We tested the hypothesis that α-lactalbumin inhibits the disruption of intestinal barrier function and liver cirrhosis by restoring gut-liver axis function in thioacetamide (TAA) -treated rats. Rat diets were supplemented with α-lactalbumin replacing 50% of dietary protein. After consuming α-lactalbumin for one week, rats were intraperitoneally injected with TAA twice a week for 14 weeks. The α-lactalbumin-enriched diet significantly inhibited the elevation of plasma alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and hyaluronic acids. The supplement significantly reduced plasma lipopolysaccharide levels and increased occludin mRNA level. Hepatic fibrosis and regenerative nodules was developed and intestinal villi were shortened by TAA; α-Lactalbumin attenuated these histopathological changes. These results indicated that α-lactalbumin improved intestinal barrier function, suppressing endotoxin levels. These data also suggested that α-lactalbumin ameliorated the impairment of the gut-liver axis by TAA, inhibiting the development of liver cirrhosis.

Amelioration of hepatic function, oxidative stress, and histopathologic damages by Cassia fistula L. fraction in thioacetamide-induced liver toxicity

Cassia fistula L. (Caesalpinioideae) is a highly admirable medicinal plant and is traditionally recommended for the treatment of rheumatism, liver disorders, jaundice, and other inflammatory diseases. This study was designed to investigate the hepatoprotective properties of ethyl acetate fraction from C. fistula leaves in an animal model. Treatment with thioacetamide significantly elevated the level of serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (1.75-fold), alkaline phosphatase (4.07-fold), and total bilirubin (2.29-fold) as compared to the control. It was found that pretreatment of fraction followed by consecutive 2 days thioacetamide reduced the conversion of thioacetamide carcinogen to its reactive metabolites by phase I enzymes and increased the level of detoxification phase II along with antioxidative enzymes. The histopathological studies revealed the hepatoprotective nature of the fraction in restoring the normal architecture of thioacetamide-intoxicated damaged liver. The fraction showed downregulation in the expression level of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR pointing towards its chemopreventive potential. The HPLC analysis of the fraction had shown the dominance of three phenolic compounds namely, catechin, epicatechin, and chlorogenic acid. The above studies comprising histopathological, immunohistochemical, and hepatic enzymes are strong indicative of the potential protective ability of ethyl acetate fraction phytoconstituents against thioacetamide-induced toxicity. Graphical abstract.

Involvement of TLR4/ CXCL9/ PREX-2 pathway in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the promising role of early administration of lactobacillus plantarum in Wistar rats

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Improvement of gut microbiota may help in preventing the progression of cirrhosis. We supposed that Lactobacillus Plantarum (L. Plantarum) protects the cirrhotic liver through suppression of TLR4/ CXCL9/ PREX-2.

METHODOLOGY

Rats were divided into two groups. Group I, lasts for six weeks and Group II lasts for 12 weeks. Each group was subdivided into: naïve, Lactobacillus Plantarum (L. Plantarum), thioacetamide (TAA) and TAA + L. Plantarum. Liver function tests, α fetoprotein (AFP) levels, CXCL9, PREX-2 and TLR4 expression were assessed. Histological studies were performed.

RESULTS

TAA induced significant deterioration in liver functions and increased AFP. There was periportal cirrhosis, vacuolated hepatocytes, decrease hepatocyte parrafin-1 (hep par-1) expression, increase proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive nuclei and cytokeratin AE1/AE3. The PCR results showed significant increase in TLR4, CXCL9 and PREX-2 expression. Early administration of L. Plantarum significantly decreased the expression of TLR4, CXCL9 and PREX-2 together with improvement in liver function and prevented the pathological changes.

CONCLUSIONS

The cirrhotic complications induced by TAA are through activation of TLR4/ CXCL9/ PREX-2 pathway and could be prevented by the early administration of L. Plantarum.

Protective Effects of Nutria Bile against Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Injury in Mice

Several eradication programs have been developed and executed to curb alien invasive species that tend to damage the ecological environments they colonize; however, only few studies have evaluated the utilization of carcasses of these species after eradication. Nutria (Myocastor coypus) is an invasive rodent species targeted by eradication programs in many countries. We noted that nutria produce large amounts of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in their bile. UDCA is a unique component responsible for the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects exerted by bear bile. Therefore, we sought to examine the medicinal utility of nutria carcasses by investigating the hepatoprotective effect of their bile in mice. C57BL/6 mice were injected with thioacetamide (TAA), which induced liver damage by increasing Kupffer cell infiltration. Administration of nutria bile reduced hepatic inflammation, improved hepatic function, and increased the levels of senescence marker protein 30 (an indicator of hepatocyte viability). Our results show that nutria bile exerts protective effects against TAA-induced liver injury in mice, suggesting that nutria carcasses may be used for the treatment of liver injuries.

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study to assess the efficacy of Andrographis paniculata standardized extract (ParActin®) on pain reduction in subjects with knee osteoarthritis

Andrographis paniculata Wall (Acanthaceae) is becoming more recognized for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to assess the efficacy of an andrographolide-containing supplement, ParActin® (300 and 600 mg daily), on Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain reduction in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Joint stiffness, physical function, changes in the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire, a fatigue scale, and safety were also evaluated. A total of 103 male and female patients with I-II osteoarthritis of the knee joint were assessed. Patients treated with 300 or 600 mg/day of ParActin® showed a significant reduction in pain at days 28, 56, and 84 compared with a placebo group. WOMAC stiffness scores, physical function score, and the fatigue score showed a significant improvement in both ParActin®-treated groups compared with the placebo group. At the end of the study, the quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire) and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) scores showed significant improvements in both ParActin®-treated groups compared with the placebo group. Overall, it can be concluded that ParActin® in 300 and 600 mg/day dosages were found to be effective and safe in reducing pain in individuals suffering from mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis.

Molecular mechanism and research progress on pharmacology of traditional Chinese medicine in liver injury

CONTEXT

Liver disease is a common threat to human health, caused by a variety of factors that damage the liver. Recent studies have shown that active ingredients (for example: flavonoids, saponins, acids, phenols, and alkaloids) from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can have hepatoprotective benefits, which represents an attractive source of drug discovery for treating liver injury.

OBJECTIVE

We reviewed recent contributions on the chemically induced liver injury, immunological liver damage, alcoholic liver injury, and drug-induced liver injury, in order to summarize the research progress in molecular mechanism and pharmacology of TCM, and provides a comprehensive overview of new TCM treatment strategies for liver disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant literature was obtained from scientific databases such as Pubmed, Web of Science. and CNKI databases on ethnobotany and ethnomedicines (from January 1980 to the end of May 2018). The experimental studies involving the antihepatic injury role of the active agents from TCM and the underlying mechanisms were identified. The search terms included 'liver injury' or 'hepatic injury', and 'traditional Chinese medicine', or 'herb'.

RESULTS

A number of studies revealed that the active ingredients of TCM exhibit potential therapeutic benefits against liver injury, while the underlying mechanisms appear to contribute to the regulation of inflammation, oxidant stress, and pro-apoptosis signaling pathways.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The insights provided in this review will help further exploration of botanical drugs in the development of liver injury therapy via study on the effective components of TCM.

Overview of pharmacological activities of Andrographis paniculata and its major compound andrographolide

Andrographis paniculata (A. paniculata) is a medicinal plant traditionally used as anti-inflammation and anti-bacteria herb. Andrographolide, the major active component of A. paniculata, exhibits diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-diabetes, and other activities. In this article, we comprehensively review the therapeutic potential of A. paniculata and andrographolide focusing on the mechanisms of action and clinical application. We systemically discuss the structure-activity relationship of andrographolide and derivatives. Despite the various pharmacological activities and formula of A. paniculata and andrographolide, we propose further development of more structural derivatives of andrographolide with reduced toxicity and increased therapeutic efficacy is still needed for the clinical application of this ancient mighty herb and its major component.

Effects of Sambiloto Ethanol Extract on Fatty Liver, SGOT/SGPT Levels and Lipid Profile of Wistar Strain White Rat (Rattus norvegicus) Exposed to High-Fat Diet

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of ethanol extract of sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata) on fatty liver percentage, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) level and lipid profile of wistar strain white rat exposed to high fat diet. The study used randomized post test only control group design. Total sample was 50 male wistar strain rats (Rattus norvegicus) divided randomly into 5 groups (randomization). The normality test used was Kolmogorov Smirnov test (a=0.05). The homogeneity test used was Levene test (a=0.05). The comparative test was done using Anova test (analysis of variance) (a=0.05) or Brown-Forsythe test (a=0.05). The correlation test was done using Pearson test (a=0.05). The administration of sambiloto ethanol extract with doses of 100, 200 and 400 milligrams (mg)/kilogram (kg) body weight (BW) decreased the percentage of fatty liver (r=-0.950), SGOT (r=-0.964)/SGPT (r=(R=-0.973)/LDL (low-density lipoprotein) (r=-0.960) and increased HDL (high-density lipoprotein) levels (r=-0.923)=0.956) in white rats exposed to a high-fat diet. In conclusion, increased dose of ethanol extract of sambiloto can decrease the percentage of fatty liver, SGOT/SGPT and total cholesterol/TG/LDL and increase HDL level of white rats exposed to high fat diet.

Treatment and management of liver diseases by Khmer traditional healers practicing in Phnom Penh area, Cambodia

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Liver disorders are a major health problem in Cambodia, where some patients prefer to seek treatment from traditional healers. The aim of the study was to document the knowledge and practices of these healers in four Southern Cambodian provinces.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An ethnopharmacological survey was carried out from September 2015 to January 2016 in Cambodian urban and rural areas. Thirty-three Khmer traditional healers (KTH) were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire including socio-demographic data, healer's formation and their professional practice conditions, perception of liver diseases (types and causes of liver disorders, diagnostic methods and symptoms of liver problems), dietary recommendations given to patients, and herbal remedies used to treat them. For each medicinal plant mentioned in herbal remedies, the local name, part of the plant, mode of preparation and administration, and their properties, according to the healers, were recorded. The plants mentioned by the traditional therapists were collected and later identified by specialists.

RESULTS

Different types of liver disease are identified by the healers, and diagnosis was mostly based on reading medical records, and by observing the yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes. A total of 42 herbal remedies including 83 medicinal plants belonging to 40 families were mentioned for treating liver disorders. The most predominant families were Leguminosae and Poaceae. Among the plants reported, Cananga latifolia, Andrographis paniculata, Smilax aff. glabra, Gomphrena celosioides, Passiflora foetida and Physalis minima were the most cited species. A large part of the herbal remedies used were multi-ingredient recipes, and were prepared mainly by a decoction administered orally. Plants are combined in multi-ingredient recipes, and selected on the basis of their properties (trocheak, psah, somrap mé rok, ktchol) which originate from Khmer medical concepts. Most of the plants used by healers have a wide ethnobotanical use for liver disorders, and have been studied for their hepatoprotective activity and related activities on the liver.

CONCLUSION

In the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases, KTH have incorporated biomedical concepts and new practices, which suggest that they could be defined as neotraditional healers. Medicinal plants constitute the core of traditional medicine practice by these healers, and these plants play a very important role in the health care of people with liver problems in Cambodia. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the integration of healers in national health care programs for the development of combined therapies. Furthermore, two plant species (i.e. Cananga latifolia and Willughbeia edulis) were found to be widely used for treating liver disorders in our survey, and should be studied for their pharmacological potential for liver problems.

Antiinflammatory and Hepatoprotective Medicinal Herbs as Potential Substitutes for Bear Bile

Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) commonly prescribe medicinal formulations relying on the purported synergism of a combination of plant species, sometimes incorporating animal parts and minerals. Bear bile, obtained from either wild or farmed bears, is a commonly used constituent of traditional medicine formulations. With several bear species now listed under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora as threatened with extinction and with bear farming being actively campaigned against on ethical grounds, it is important to seek and promote alternatives to the use of bear bile as medicine. This chapter describes and evaluates the scientific data relating to the efficacy of bear bile and potential alternatives to its use, including the use of bile from other animal species, the use of synthetic chemical alternatives, and the use of herbal substitutes. Scientific studies have confirmed the efficacy of bear bile as an antiinflammatory and a hepatoprotective agent. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), the active component of bear bile is used in a synthetic form in Western medicine and can serve as an alternative to bear bile in the treatment and management of certain cholestatic liver conditions. In TCM practice, bile from domesticated animal species (such as cattle, chicken, and pig) has been used as a substitute for bear bile. Following evaluation of TCM literature and pharmacological/clinical data, the authors propose six plant species, either as single herbs or in combination, Gardenia jasminoides (zhī zi; ), Scutellaria baicalensis (huáng qín; ), Coptis chinensis (huáng lián, ), Phellodendron amurense (huáng băi; ), Andrographis paniculata (chuan xin lian; ), and Rheum palmatum (dà huang; ), two medicinal Kampo formulations, Orengedokuto, Dia-Orengedokuto (which originated from traditional Chinese herbal formula Huanglian Jiedu Tang, ), and two individual phytochemicals (berberine and andrographolide) as alternatives to bear bile. The proposed herbal alternatives are frequently found listed in traditional formulations also containing bear bile, usually with different therapeutic roles ascribed to them. The existing evidence base for the effectiveness of herbal alternatives is sufficiently strong for TCM practitioners and consumers to consider using these without the addition of bear bile. This consideration is driven by the imperative to protect populations of bears from overexploitation in the wild and when farmed. However, for the identified alternatives to be accepted by users, it is essential that researchers and TCM practitioners collaborate effectively to initiate consumer behavior change.

Comparative study of herbal plants on the phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant activities and toxicity on cells and zebrafish embryo

Natural antioxidants derived from plants have shown a tremendous inhibitory effect on free radicals in actively metabolizing cells. Overproduction of free radicals increases the risk factor of chronic diseases associated with diabetes, cancer, arthritis and cardiovascular disease. Andrographis paniculata, Cinnamon zeylanicum, Curcuma xanthorrhiza, Eugenia polyantha and Orthosiphon stamineus are ethnomedicinal plants used in the Asian region to treat various illnesses from a common fever to metabolic disease. In this study, we have quantified the total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC) in these plants and its inhibitory effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radicals as well as the cytotoxicity effect on cell lines proliferation and zebrafish embryogenesis. Results showed that Cinnamon zeylanicum and E. polyantha have the highest phenolic and flavonoid content. Furthermore, both herbs significantly inhibited the formation of DPPH and ABTS free radicals. Meanwhile, O. stamineus exhibited minimum cytotoxicity and embryotoxicity on tested models. Good correlation between IC50 of 3T3-L1 cells and LC50 embyrotoxicity was also found. This study revealed the potent activity of antioxidant against free radical and the toxicology levels of the tested herbal plants.

Amomum cardamomum L. ethyl acetate fraction protects against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury via an antioxidant mechanism in rats

Background

Medicinal herb-derived drug development has become important in the relief of liver pathology. Amomun cardamomum is traditionally used therapeutically in Korea to treat various human ailments including dyspepsia, hiccupping, and vomiting. We investigated to assess the protective effect of A. cardamomum on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver damage through antioxidant activity in hepatic tissues of Sprague–Dawley rats.

Methods

Antioxidant properties of different fractions from A. cardamomum from ethanol extracts were evaluated by an in vitro free radical scavenging systems. The protective effect of the ethyl acetate fraction from A. cardamomum (EAAC) against CCl₄-induced cytotoxicity was determined by a cell viability assay using HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells. In vivo study, the influence of EAAC concentrations of 100 and 200 mg/kg following CCl₄-induced hepatic injury was assessed. Serum levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined, as was lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA). Effect of EAAC on liver detoxification enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), total glutathione (GSH), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was measured in rat liver homogenates. Liver cytochrome P450 (CYP2E1) expression level was determined by quantification of mRNA.

Results

Phytochemical analysis of A. cardamomum indicated that EAAC was enriched in total polyphenol and total flavonoid. Most of the tannins were confined to the hexane fraction. Hepatoprotective properties of EAAC were evident, with significantly reduced serum levels of GOT, GPT, and ALP compared with the control group. Improved hepatic antioxidant status was evident by increased SOD, GSH, and GST enzymes in rat liver tissue. Liver lipid peroxidation induced by CCl₄ was apparent by increased intracellular MDA level. EAAC suppressed lipid peroxidation as evidenced by the significant decrease in MDA production. Expression of CYP2E1 was also significantly decreased at the higher concentration of EAAC, indicating the hepatoprotective efficacy of EAAC on acute liver damage.

Conclusion

These results indicated that EAAC has a significant hepatoprotective activity on CCl₄-induced acute hepatic injury in rats, which might be derived from its antioxidant properties and CYP2E1 downregulation.

The Role of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants in Liver Diseases

A complex antioxidant system has been developed in mammals to relieve oxidative stress. However, excessive reactive species derived from oxygen and nitrogen may still lead to oxidative damage to tissue and organs. Oxidative stress has been considered as a conjoint pathological mechanism, and it contributes to initiation and progression of liver injury. A lot of risk factors, including alcohol, drugs, environmental pollutants and irradiation, may induce oxidative stress in liver, which in turn results in severe liver diseases, such as alcoholic liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Application of antioxidants signifies a rational curative strategy to prevent and cure liver diseases involving oxidative stress. Although conclusions drawn from clinical studies remain uncertain, animal studies have revealed the promising in vivo therapeutic effect of antioxidants on liver diseases. Natural antioxidants contained in edible or medicinal plants often possess strong antioxidant and free radical scavenging abilities as well as anti-inflammatory action, which are also supposed to be the basis of other bioactivities and health benefits. In this review, PubMed was extensively searched for literature research. The keywords for searching oxidative stress were free radicals, reactive oxygen, nitrogen species, anti-oxidative therapy, Chinese medicines, natural products, antioxidants and liver diseases. The literature, including ours, with studies on oxidative stress and anti-oxidative therapy in liver diseases were the focus. Various factors that cause oxidative stress in liver and effects of antioxidants in the prevention and treatment of liver diseases were summarized, questioned, and discussed.

Andrographis paniculata transcriptome provides molecular insights into tissue-specific accumulation of medicinal diterpenes

Background

Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) has been widely exploited in traditional medicine for the treatment of infectious diseases and health disorders. Ent-labdane-related diterpene (ent-LRD) specialized (i.e., secondary) metabolites of kalmegh such as andrographolide, neoandrographolide and 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide, are known for variety of pharmacological activities. However, due to the lack of genomic and transcriptomic information, underlying molecular basis of ent-LRDs biosynthesis has remained largely unknown. To identify candidate genes of the ent-LRD biosynthetic pathway, we performed comparative transcriptome analysis using leaf and root tissues that differentially accumulate ent-LRDs.

Results

De novo assembly of Illumina HiSeq2000 platform-generated paired-end sequencing reads resulted into 69,011 leaf and 64,244 root transcripts which were assembled into a total of 84,628 unique transcripts. Annotation of these transcripts to the Uniprot, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZy) databases identified candidate transcripts of the ent-LRD biosynthetic pathway. These included transcripts that encode enzymes of the plastidial 2C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway which provides C5 isoprenoid precursors for the ent-LRDs biosynthesis, geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase, class II diterpene synthase (diTPS), cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and glycosyltransferase. Three class II diTPSs (ApCPS1, ApCPS2 and ApCPS3) that showed distinct tissue-specific expression profiles and are phylogenetically related to the dicotyledon ent-copalyl diphosphate synthases, are identified. ApCPS1, ApCPS2 and ApCPS3 encode for 832-, 817- and 797- amino acids proteins of 55–63 % identity, respectively. Spatio-temporal patterns of transcripts and ent-LRDs accumulation are consistent with the involvement of ApCPS1 in general (i.e., primary) metabolism for the biosynthesis of phytohormone gibberellin, ApCPS2 in leaf specialized ent-LRDs biosynthesis and ApCPS3 in root diterpene biosynthesis. Moreover, simple sequence repeats (SSRs) that might assist in genotyping and developing specific chemotypes were identified in transcripts of the specialized metabolic pathways, including ent-LRDs.

Conclusions

Comparative analysis of root and leaf transcriptomes disclosed novel genes of the ent-LRD biosynthetic pathway, including three class II diTPSs that showed discrete spatio-temporal expression patterns; thus, suggesting their participation into distinct diterpene metabolic pathways of kalmegh. Overall, these results will be useful in understanding molecular basis of the medicinal ent-LRDs biosynthesis and developing breeding strategies for improving their yields.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1864-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The chemopreventive potential of Curcuma purpurascens rhizome in reducing azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci in rats

Curcuma purpurascens BI. rhizome, a member of the Zingiberaceae family, is a popular spice in Indonesia that is traditionally used in assorted remedies. Dichloromethane extract of C. purpurascens BI. rhizome (DECPR) has previously been shown to have an apoptosis-inducing effect on colon cancer cells. In the present study, we examined the potential of DECPR to prevent colon cancer development in rats treated with azoxymethane (AOM) (15 mg/kg) by determining the percentage inhibition in incidence of aberrant crypt foci (ACF). Starting from the day immediately after AOM treatment, three groups of rats were orally administered once a day for 2 months either 10% Tween 20 (5 mL/kg, cancer control), DECPR (250 mg/kg, low dose), or DECPR (500 mg/kg, high dose). Meanwhile, the control group was intraperitoneally injected with 5-fluorouracil (35 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days. After euthanizing the rats, the number of ACF was enumerated in colon tissues. Bax, Bcl-2, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein expressions were examined using immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses. Antioxidant enzymatic activity was measured in colon tissue homogenates and associated with malondialdehyde level. The percentage inhibition of ACF was 56.04% and 68.68% in the low- and high-dose DECPR-treated groups, respectively. The ACF inhibition in the treatment control group was 74.17%. Results revealed that DECPR exposure at both doses significantly decreased AOM-induced ACF formation, which was accompanied by reduced expression of PCNA. Upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2 suggested the involvement of apoptosis in the chemopreventive effect of DECPR. In addition, the oxidative stress resulting from AOM treatment was significantly attenuated after administration of DECPR, which was shown by the elevated antioxidant enzymatic activity and reduced malondialdehyde level. Taken together, the present data clearly indicate that DECPR significantly inhibits ACF formation in AOM-treated rats and may offer protection against colon cancer development.

The chemopotential effect of Annona muricata leaves against azoxymethane-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci in rats and the apoptotic effect of Acetogenin Annomuricin E in HT-29 cells: a bioassay-guided approach

Annona muricata has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of cancer and tumors. This study evaluated the chemopreventive properties of an ethyl acetate extract of A. muricata leaves (EEAML) on azoxymethane-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats. Moreover, the cytotoxic compound of EEAML (Annomuricin E) was isolated, and its apoptosis-inducing effect was investigated against HT-29 colon cancer cell line using a bioassay-guided approach. This experiment was performed on five groups of rats: negative control, cancer control, EEAML (250 mg/kg), EEAML (500 mg/kg) and positive control (5-fluorouracil). Methylene blue staining of colorectal specimens showed that application of EEAML at both doses significantly reduced the colonic ACF formation compared with the cancer control group. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed the down-regulation of PCNA and Bcl-2 proteins and the up-regulation of Bax protein after administration of EEAML compared with the cancer control group. In addition, an increase in the levels of enzymatic antioxidants and a decrease in the malondialdehyde level of the colon tissue homogenates were observed, suggesting the suppression of lipid peroxidation. Annomuricin E inhibited the growth of HT-29 cells with an IC50 value of 1.62 ± 0.24 μg/ml after 48 h. The cytotoxic effect of annomuricin E was further substantiated by G1 cell cycle arrest and early apoptosis induction in HT-29 cells. Annomuricin E triggered mitochondria-initiated events, including the dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential and the leakage of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. Prior to these events, annomuricin E activated caspase 3/7 and caspase 9. Upstream, annomuricin E induced a time-dependent upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2 at the mRNA and protein levels. In conclusion, these findings substantiate the usage of A. muricata leaves in ethnomedicine against cancer and highlight annomuricin E as one of the contributing compounds in the anticancer activity of A. muricata leaves.