Research Article
Etetor Eshiet R, Jinqiu Zhu an
Abstract
Prior investigations into the therapeutic potential of Lyophilized extracts of Brickellia cavanillesii (LBC) are indicative of its possible biologic benefit in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DB). This manuscript employs in vitro toxicological techniques to explore the effect of LBC on the gene expression of human carcinoma liver cells (HepG2); and attempts to predict a mechanism of action using apoptosis as a therapeutic index. The effect of LBC on the expression of genes associated with human apoptosis pathway and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT 2) were determined using quantitative gene array and real-time PCR (RT2qPCR) respectively. HepG2 cells were exposed to concentrations of LBC (0 mg/mL [control]), 0.2 mg/mL for the apoptosis study; 0 mg/mL (control), 0.02 mg/mL, 0.2 mg/mL for the GLUT 2 study), in the absence of FBS 2 h, 4 h, 6 h and 24 h respectively. Results obtained show that several antiapoptotic genes were significantly up-regulated while some apoptotic genes were significantly down-regulated. The most significant up-regulation was by BCL2L1 with a fold change of 46.57; Bcl2l is reputed to be an apoptosis inhibitor. Data acquired from the GLUT 2 gene expression study suggest that LBC may induce GLUT 2 gene expression.