Polyherbal Medicine Divya Sarva-Kalp-Kwath Ameliorates Persistent Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Biochemical and Pathological Liver Impairments in Wistar Rats and in HepG2 Cells

Livogrit prevents Amiodarone-induced toxicity in experimental model of human liver (HepG2) cells and Caenorhabditis elegans by regulating redox homeostasis

Treatment with cationic amphiphilic drugs like Amiodarone leads to development of phospholipidosis, a type of lysosomal storage disorder characterized by excessive deposition of phospholipids. Such disorder in liver enhances accumulation of drugs and its metabolites, and dysregulates lipid profiles, which subsequently leads to hepatotoxicity. In the present study, we assessed pharmacological effects of herbal medicine, Livogrit, against hepatic phospholipidosis-induced toxicity. Human liver (HepG2) cells and in vivo model of Caenorhabditis elegans (N2 and CF1553 strains) were used to study effect of Livogrit on Amiodarone-induced phospholipidosis. In HepG2 cells, Livogrit treatment displayed enhanced uptake of acidic pH-based stains and reduced phospholipid accumulation, oxidative stress, AST, ALT, cholesterol levels, and gene expression of SCD-1 and LSS. Protein levels of LPLA2 were also normalized. Livogrit treatment restored Pgp functionality which led to decreased cellular accumulation of Amiodarone as observed by UHPLC analysis. In C. elegans, Livogrit prevented ROS generation, fat-6/7 gene overexpression, and lysosomal trapping of Amiodarone in N2 strain. SOD-3::GFP expression in CF1553 strain normalized by Livogrit treatment. Livogrit regulates phospholipidosis by regulation of redox homeostasis, phospholipid anabolism, and Pgp functionality hindered by lysosomal trapping of Amiodarone. Livogrit could be a potential therapeutic intervention for amelioration of drug-induced phospholipidosis and prevent hepatotoxicity.

Neuroprotection by Polyherbal Medicine Divya-Medha-Vati Against Scopolamine-Induced Cognitive Impairment Through Modulation of Oxidative Stress, Acetylcholine Activity, and Cell Signaling

Alzheimer disease is associated with cognitive impairments and neuronal damages. In this study, Scopolamine, a model drug used for the generation of Alzheimer-like symptoms induced cognitive dysfunction in C57BL/6 mice. It also elevated acetylcholine esterase (AcHE) activity, and reduced antioxidant (superoxide dismutase and catalase) activity in cortex tissue. Scop reduced neuronal density and increased pyknotic neurons in hippocampus tissue. In mouse neuroblastoma (Neuro2a) cells, Scop triggered a dose-dependent loss of cell viability and neurite outgrowth reduction. Scop-treated Neuro2a cells showed oxidative stress and reduction in mRNA expression for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor-1 (NGF-1), and Synapsin-1 (SYN-1) genes. Mice treated with Divya-Medha-Vati (DMV), an Ayurvedic polyherbal medicine showed protection against Scop-induced cognitive impairment (Morris Water Maze Escape Latency, and Elevated Plus Maze Transfer Latency). DMV protected against Scop-induced AcHE activity, and loss of antioxidant activities in the mice brain cortex while sustaining neuronal density in the hippocampus region. In the Neuro2a cells, DMV reduced Scop-induced loss of cell viability and neurite outgrowth loss. DMV protected the cells against induction of oxidative stress and promoted mRNA expression of BDNF, NGF-1, and SYN-1 genes. Phytochemical profiling of DMV showed the presence of Withanolide A, Withanolide B, Bacopaside II, Jujubogenin, Apigenin, Gallic acid, Caffeic acid, and Quercetin that are associated with antioxidant and neurostimulatory activities. In conclusion, the study showed that Divya-Medha-Vati was capable of promoting neuronal health and inhibiting Alzheimer-like cognitive dysfunction through enhanced antioxidant activities and modulation of neuronal activities.

A systematic review on multipotent carcinogenic agent, N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), its major risk assessment, and precautions

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) as a possible carcinogen and mutagenic substances, placing it in category 2A of compounds that are probably harmful to humans. It is found in nature and tobacco smoke, along with its precursors, and is also synthesized endogenously in the human body. The oral or parenteral administration of a minimal quantity of NDEA results in severe liver and kidney organ damage. The NDEA required bioactivation by CYP450 enzyme to form DNA adduct in the alkylation mechanism. Thus, this bioactivation directs oxidative stress and injury to cells due to the higher formation of reactive oxygen species and alters antioxidant system in tissues, whereas free radical scavengers guard the membranes from NDEA-directed injury in many enzymes. This might be one of the reasons in the etiology of cancer that is not limited to a certain target organ but can affect various organs and organ systems. Although there are various possible approaches for the treatment of NDEA-induced cancer, their therapeutic outcomes are still very dismal. However, several precautions were considered to be taken during handling or working with NDEA, as it considered being the best way to lower down the occurrence of NDEA-directed cancers. The present review was designed to enlighten the general guidelines for working with NDEA, possible mechanism, to alter the antioxidant line to cause malignancy in different parts of animal body along with its protective agents. Thus, revelation to constant, unpredictable stress situations even in common life may remarkably augment the toxic potential through the rise in the oxidative stress and damage of DNA.

Livogrit Prevents Methionine-Cystine Deficiency Induced Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis by Modulation of Steatosis and Oxidative Stress in Human Hepatocyte-Derived Spheroid and in Primary Rat Hepatocytes

The prevalence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), characterized by fatty liver, oxidative injury, and inflammation, has considerably increased in the recent years. Due to the complexity of NASH pathogenesis, compounds which can target different mechanisms and stages of NASH development are required. A robust screening model with translational capability is also required to develop therapies targeting NASH. In this study, we used HepG2 spheroids and rat primary hepatocytes to evaluate the potency of Livogrit, a tri-herbal Ayurvedic prescription medicine, as a hepatoprotective agent. NASH was developed in the cells via methionine and cystine-deficient cell culture media. Livogrit at concentration of 30 µg/mL was able to prevent NASH development by decreasing lipid accumulation, ROS production, AST release, NFκB activation and increasing lipolysis, GSH (reduced glutathione), and mitochondrial membrane potential. This study suggests that Livogrit might reduce the lipotoxicity-mediated ROS generation and subsequent production of inflammatory mediators as evident from the increased gene expression of FXR, FGF21, CHOP, CXCL5, and their normalization due to Livogrit treatment. Taken together, Livogrit showed the potential as a multimodal therapeutic formulation capable of attenuating the development of NASH. Our study highlights the potential of Livogrit as a hepatoprotective agent with translational possibilities.

Livogrit, a herbal formulation of Boerhavia diffusa, Phyllanthus niruri and Solanum nigrum reverses the thioacetamide induced hepatocellular toxicity in zebrafish model

Research studies in the past years have shown encouraging therapeutic potential of herbal medicines in liver ailments. Livogrit is a well characterized formulation prepared by mixing extracts of plants, Boerhavia diffusa, Phyllanthus niruri and Solanum nigrum in precise ratios. Our study demonstrates the curative role of Livogrit in thioacetamide (TAA) induced zebrafish model of hepatotoxicity. This is a systematic study, wherein we first screened Livogrit for an effective dose and treatment time-course. Once established, we conducted subsequent experiments to compare the hepatoprotective effects of Livogrit with a reference drug, prednisone. We evaluated a wide range of liver function variables including, albumin, AST, bilirubin, creatinine, platelet clotting factor, INR and sodium blood serum to assess the degree of liver dysfunctionality. Results from screening experiments suggested that Livogrit treatment for 14 days at an effective dose (ED3-142 μg/kg) significantly revamped the deviated serum biochemistry. The experiments comparing prednisone and Livogrit demonstrated that the treatment with the herbal formation was more effective against TAA-induced hepatotoxicity. Liver function parameters indicating hepatic dysfunctionality showed better recovery with Livogrit as compared to prednisone. Furthermore, we enumerated a scoring method for assessing degree of liver dysfunctionality based on the values of bilirubin, creatinine and INR. The herbal formulation in comparison to prednisone successfully restored the liver dysfunction index to low risk. The liver cytology showed a decline in the hepatocyte cell death that further corroborated the promising curative potential of Livogrit.

The Therapeutic Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Inflammatory Diseases Caused by Virus, Especially on Those Caused by COVID-19

Inflammasomes are large multimolecular complexes best recognized because of their ability to control activation of caspase-1, which in turn regulates the maturation of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-1 β (IL-1β). IL-1β was originally identified as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, capable of inducing local and systemic inflammation as well as a fever response reaction in response to infection or injury. Excessive production of IL-1β is related to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Both coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are characterized by excessive inflammatory response. For SARS, there is no correlation between viral load and worsening symptoms. However, there is no specific medicine which is available to treat the disease. As an important part of medical practice, TCM showed an obvious therapeutic effect in SARS-CoV-infected patients. In this article, we summarize the current applications of TCM in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Herein, we also offer an insight into the underlying mechanisms of the therapeutic effects of TCM, as well as introduce new naturally occurring compounds with anti-coronavirus activity, in order to provide a new and potential drug development strategy for the treatment of COVID-19.

Tri-Herbal Medicine Divya Sarva-Kalp-Kwath (Livogrit) Regulates Fatty Acid-Induced Steatosis in Human HepG2 Cells through Inhibition of Intracellular Triglycerides and Extracellular Glycerol Levels

Steatosis is characterized by excessive triglycerides accumulation in liver cells. Recently, application of herbal formulations has gained importance in treating complex diseases. Therefore, this study explores the efficacy of tri-herbal medicine Divya Sarva-Kalp-Kwath (SKK; brand name, Livogrit) in treating free fatty acid (FFA)-induced steatosis in human liver (HepG2) cells and rat primary hepatocytes. Previously, we demonstrated that cytosafe SKK ameliorated CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity. In this study, we evaluated the role of SKK in reducing FFA-induced cell-death, and steatosis in HepG2 through analysis of cell viability, intracellular lipid and triglyceride accumulation, extracellular free glycerol levels, and mRNA expression changes. Plant metabolic components fingerprinting in SKK was performed via High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC). Treatment with SKK significantly reduced the loss of cell viability induced by 2 mM-FFA in a dose-dependent manner. SKK also reduced intracellular lipid, triglyceride accumulation, secreted AST levels, and increased extracellular free glycerol presence in the FFA-exposed cells. SKK normalized the FFA-stimulated overexpression of SREBP1c, FAS, C/EBPα, and CPT1A genes associated with the induction of steatosis. In addition, treatment of rat primary hepatocytes with FFA and SKK concurrently, reduced intracellular lipid accumulation. Thus, SKK showed efficacy in reducing intracellular triglyceride accumulation and increasing extracellular glycerol release, along with downregulation of related key genetic factors for FFA-associated steatosis.