The Biologic Potential of Lyophilized Extracts of Brickellia cavanillesii (Asteraceae): Apoptosis and Glut 2 Gene Expression

Abstract

Prior investigations into the therapeutic potential of Lyophilized extracts of Brickellia cavanillesii (LBC) are indicative of its possible biologic benefit in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DB). This manuscript employs in vitro toxicological techniques to explore the effect of LBC on the gene expression of human carcinoma liver cells (HepG2); and attempts to predict a mechanism of action using apoptosis as a therapeutic index. The effect of LBC on the expression of genes associated with human apoptosis pathway and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT 2) were determined using quantitative gene array and real-time PCR (RT2qPCR) respectively. HepG2 cells were exposed to concentrations of LBC (0 mg/mL [control]), 0.2 mg/mL for the apoptosis study; 0 mg/mL (control), 0.02 mg/mL, 0.2 mg/mL for the GLUT 2 study), in the absence of FBS 2 h, 4 h, 6 h and 24 h respectively. Results obtained show that several antiapoptotic genes were significantly up-regulated while some apoptotic genes were significantly down-regulated. The most significant up-regulation was by BCL2L1 with a fold change of 46.57; Bcl2l is reputed to be an apoptosis inhibitor. Data acquired from the GLUT 2 gene expression study suggest that LBC may induce GLUT 2 gene expression.

Obesity and Weight Management: The Efficacy of Herbal Products as Therapeutic Agents

“…While there may be several techniques used in combating obesity, this paper focuses primarily on methodologies employed by complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners, particularly herbalism. The utilization of herbal products in disease therapy dates back to early man and remains unabated today [18][19][20]. Although a host of herbal remedies are used to assuage the health consequences and comorbidities of obesity, several exist that may possess biologic benefit in weight management.…”

“…falls easily into this category of foods. Scientific quantitative, qualitative, proteomic and genomic investigations into the efficacy of B. cavanillesii, and other members of the Brickellia genus, demonstrate the potential of certain members of the Asteraceae family as therapeutic agents [18][19][20][44][45][46][47]. Moreover, a plethora of scientific data exists that illustrate the extensive use of the herbal tea preparations of several plants, and other categories of food, as functional foods [48].…”