Anti-Inflammatory and Cell Survival Effects of Harpagophytum Procumbens (Devil’s Claw) on ARPE-19 Cells
Abstract
Background: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects of Harpagophytum procumbens on human adult retina pigment epithelium cells (ARPE-19) under oxidative stress conditions
Methods: ARPE-19 cells were cultured under standard conditions and divided into four groups including (I) control (untreated), (II) hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), (III) Harpagophytum procumbens, and (IV) H₂O₂ + Harpagophytum procum-bens. ARPE-19 cells were exposed to hydrogen peroxide to induce oxidative damage. The effects of Harpagophytum pro-cumbens extract were assessed by measuring tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), and apoptotic activity.
Results: Treatment with Harpagophytum procumbens significantly reduced pro-inflammatory (TNF-α), pro-angiogenic (VEGF-A), and oxidative DNA damage markers (8-OHdG, PARP-1), while also attenuating apoptosis in stressed ARPE-19 cells (p<0.001).
Conclusions: To our knowledge this study is the first to demonstrate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and anti-apoptotic effects of Harpagophytum procumbens on ARPE-19 cells, suggesting its potential as a complementary therapy for retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), in which oxidative stress, inflammation, and neovascularization play key pathogenic roles.
Keywords
Harpagophytum, macular degeneration, cell culture tecniques
Supporting Institution
No funding was received for this study.
Ethical Statement
The study was carried out on human adult retina pigment epithelium cells (ARPE-19). According to the institutional guidelines, the use of established cells does not require ethical approval.
Thanks
There are no acknowledgements.
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