Safety of Desmodium adscendens extract on hepatocytes and renal cells. Protective effect against oxidative stress

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 hydro alcoholic extract of Desmodium adscendens (DA) on liver (HEPG2) and kidney (LLC-PK1) cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hydro alcoholic extract of DA was used. HEPG2 or LLC-PK1 cells were treated with different does of DA, and viability test (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium [MTS]), cytotoxicity assay lactate dehydrogenase (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 LLC-PK1 cells. However, DA at the dose of 100 mg/ml significantly decreased cell viability, by about 40% (P < 0.05). Further, MTS studies revealed that DA 1 mg/ml or 10 mg/ml protected LLC-PK1 cells against a glucose-induced oxidative stress of 24 h (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hence, the lowest concentrations of DA (1 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml) were safe for HEPG2 and LLC-PK1 and protective against an oxidative stress in LLC-PK1 cells. These data suggest that DA extracts used as a traditional herbal as food health supplements should be used at the lowest dosage.