Exploring the potential of Inula viscosa extracts for antioxidant, antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on human liver cancer cells and a molecular docking study

Abstract

In folk medicine, Inula viscosa (Asteraceae) has been traditionally utilized for treating various ailments, including diabetes, bronchitis, diarrhea, rheumatism, and injuries. In this study, we aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant, antiproliferative, and apoptotic properties of I. viscosa leaf extracts. Extraction was performed using solvents of varying polarities. Antioxidant activity was determined using Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. The results revealed that aqueous ethanol (70%) and aqueous ethyl acetate (70%) extracts contained high levels of phenols (645.58 ± 8.77 mg CE/g) and flavonoids (180.69 ± 1.54 mg QE/g), respectively. Aqueous ethanol (70%) extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity with IC50 of 572.74 μmol TE/g DW (μmol Trolox equivalent in 1g of dry extract) in the ABTS assay and 76 862.06 μM TE/g DW in the FRAP test. All extracts showed a considerable dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on cancerous HepG2 cells (P < 0.05). The aqueous ethanol extract demonstrated the highest inhibitory effect (IC50 = 1.67 mg/ml). Treatment with aqueous ethanol (70%) and pure ethyl acetate extracts significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells to 8 and 6%, respectively, in HepG2 cells (P < 0.05). Additionally, the aqueous ethanol extract significantly elevatedreactive oxygen species (ROS) levels (53%) in HepG2 cells. The molecular docking study identified paxanthone and banaxanthone E as the compounds that exhibited the highest binding affinities with BCL-2. This study demonstrated the potent antioxidant, antiproliferation, and intracellular ROS production of I. viscosa leaf extracts. Further studies should be conducted to identify the active compounds involved.

Disrupting the Racial and Ethnic Disparity in Diabetes: New Treatments and Solutions

“…National retail chains, such as Walmart, have also made this affordable over-the-counter treatment available, allowing easy access to this patient population in need of care, especially those with no insurance or those with high deductibles. Inula viscosa (compositae) is known in traditional medicine for a large range of biological activities including antipyretic, anti-bacterial and antifungal activity [32]. It has been used to treat diabetes, bronchitis, diarrhea, rheumatism, and injuries, among other ailments.…”