INVESTIGATION OF THE HEPATOTOXIC EFFECTS OF SOME HERBAL PRODUCTS BY IN VITRO METHOD

Öz

Objective: This study investigated the hepatotoxic effects of the Ayurvedic plants Atractylis lancea, Stevia rebaudiana, and Senecio vulgaris exclusively through in vitro methods. Although many individuals use herbal products to support general health or relieve various symptoms, these products are often perceived as inherently safe due to their botanical origin. Such misconceptions may encourage their uncontrolled short- and long-term use, thereby posing potential health risks. In this context, the hepatotoxic potential of diterpene glycosides and pyrrolizidine alkaloids derived from Asteraceae species was examined in vitro using human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines to provide insights into their safety profiles. Material and Method: Two complementary cytotoxicity assays—MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase)—were applied to HepG2 cells cultured in vitro. Both assays are well-established, widely used, and reliable for assessing hepatocellular injury. Result and Discussion: The results emphasize the necessity of systematic toxicological evaluation of herbal products widely used in traditional medicine. Clarifying the mechanisms of xenobiotic-induced hepatotoxicity through in vitro studies is essential for risk assessment and for the predicting of potential health hazards. This study provides further insight into the hepatotoxic potential of Ayurvedic herbal products and highlights the need for cautious use within public health contexts.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ayurvedic plants
• hepatotoxicity
• HepG2 cells
• in vitro

Destekleyen Kurum

Ankara University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (Project No: TDK-2023-2853).

Proje Numarası

TDK-2023-2853

Etik Beyan

The authors declare that ethics committee approval was not required for this study.

Teşekkür

This study was supported by the Ankara University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (Project No: TDK-2023-2853).

BAZI BİTKİSEL ÜRÜNLERİN HEPATOTOKSİK ETKİLERİNİN İN VİTRO YÖNTEMLE ARAŞTIRILMASI

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, Ayurvedik bitkiler olan Atractylis lancea, Stevia rebaudiana ve Senecio vulgaris’in hepatotoksik etkileri yalnızca in vitro yöntemlerle araştırılmıştır. Günümüzde birçok birey, genel sağlığını desteklemek veya belirli semptomları hafifletmek amacıyla bitkisel ürünleri tercih etmektedir. Ancak bu ürünler, bitkisel kökenli olmaları nedeniyle çoğunlukla tamamen güvenli oldukları yönünde yanlış bir algıyla değerlendirilmektedir. Bu yanlış inanış, kısa ve uzun vadeli kontrolsüz kullanımı teşvik ederek potansiyel sağlık risklerini artırmaktadır. Bu bağlamda, Asteraceae familyasından elde edilen diterpen glikozitler ve pirolizidin alkaloidlerin hepatotoksik potansiyeli, insan hepatoselüler karsinom (HepG2) hücre hattı kullanılarak in vitro koşullarda incelenmiş ve güvenlik profilleri hakkında bilgi sunulmuştur. Gereç ve Yöntem: İki tamamlayıcı sitotoksisite testi-MTT (3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2,5-difeniltetrazolyum bromür) ve LDH (laktat dehidrogenaz)-in vitro koşullarda kültüre edilmiş HepG2 hücrelerine uygulanmıştır. Her iki test de hepatoselüler hasarı değerlendirmede iyi tanımlanmış ve yaygın olarak kullanılan yöntemlerdir. Sonuç ve Tartışma: Bulgular, geleneksel tıpta yaygın olarak kullanılan bitkisel ürünlerin sistematik toksikolojik açıdan değerlendirilmesinin önemini vurgulamaktadır. Kseno-biyotiklerin neden olduğu hepatotoksisitenin mekanizmalarının in vitro olarak aydınlatılması, risk değerlendirmesi ve potansiyel sağlık tehlikelerinin öngörülmesi açısından kritik öneme sahiptir. Bu çalışma, Ayurvedik bitkisel ürünlerin hepatotoksik potansiyeline dair mevcut bilgi birikimine katkı sağlamakta ve halk sağlığı bağlamında dikkatli kullanım gerekliliğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ayurvedik bitkiler
• hepatotoksisite
• HepG2 hücreleri
• in vitro

Destekleyen Kurum

Ankara Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinasyon Birimi tarafından desteklenmiştir (Proje No: TDK-2023-2853).

Proje Numarası

TDK-2023-2853

Etik Beyan

Yazarlar, bu çalışma için etik kurul onayının gerekli olmadığını beyan etmektedir.

Teşekkür

Bu çalışma, Ankara Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinasyon Birimi tarafından desteklenmiştir (Proje No: TDK-2023-2853).

Kaynakça

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