AIM: The increased consumption of traditional medicinal plants has been driven by the notion that herbal products are safe and efficient. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and the protective effect of a hydroalcoholic extract of Desmodium adscendens (DA) on liver (HEPG2) and kidney (LLCPK1) cells.
METHODS: A hydroalcoholic extract of DA was used. HEPG2 or LLCPK1 cells were treated with different does of DA, and viability test (MTS), cytotoxicity assay (LDH release) and study of the cell morphology were used in order to determine effects of DA on these two cells.
RESULTS: A viability test (MTS), a cytotoxicity assay (LDH release) and a study of the cell morphology revealed that pretreatment with 1 mg/ml or 10 mg/ml DA did not alter viability or LDH release in HEPG2 or LLCPK1 cells. However, DA at the dose of 100 mg/ml significantly decreased cell viability, by about 40% (P
Key words: Desmodium adscendens, toxicity, cytoprotection, glucose-induced stress, HEPG2, LLCPK1
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