Investigation of Cytotoxicity and Lipid-lowering Effects of Rivea hypocrateriformis Desr. Leaf Extracts on HepG2 Cells: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

Background and Purpose Chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease as well as type 2 diabetes, are associated with hyperlipidemia, characterized by high blood lipid levels. HepG2 cells, a human liver cancer cell line, have become a popular model for evaluating the effectiveness of drugs in treating hyperlipidemia. These cells are preferred due to their ability to mimic liver cell physiology and easy maintenance in culture. Methods In this study, HEP, HEC, HEA, and HEE extracts of Rivea hypocrateriformis were tested on HepG2 cells for cytotoxicity using the MTT assay. The IC50 values of the extracts were determined and compared to analyze their toxicity. Microscopic images of the cell lines were also examined to observe any structural changes induced by the extracts. Results and Conclusion The results showed that both HEC and HEE extracts exhibited significant toxicity on HepG2 cells at the highest concentration of 500 µg/ml. Gradual decreases in concentration led to a gradual rise in % cell viability. The IC50 values of HEC and HEE were calculated to be 61.49 µg/ml and 87.08 µg/ml, respectively, indicating that HEC was slightly more toxic than HEE. According to the results obtained using the vanilla method, HEC and HEE extracts markedly reduced lipid content compared to the oleic acid-induced group. The gene expression regulation of AMPK, FAS, LDL receptor, and HMG-CoA was investigated using the RT-PCR method. The results showed that the extract-treated groups exhibited higher AMPK and LDL receptor gene expression. In contrast, the HEE extract showed higher activity than HEC in suppressing the FAS gene. Overall, the findings suggest that HEC and HEE extracts have potential as anticancer and lipid-lowering agents. Detailed research is needed to understand how the active constituents work.