Abstract
Crinum zeylanicum (C. zeylanicum) is commonly used in African folk medicine to treat cardiovascular ailments. In the present study, we investigated the cytotoxic effect of the leaf methanol extract of C. zeylanicum (CZE) using mouse pluripotent stem cells (mPSCs). mPSCs and their cardiomyocytes (CMs) derivatives were exposed to CZE at different concentrations. Cell proliferation, differentiation capacity, and beating activity were assessed using xCELLigence system and microscopy for embryoid body (EB) morphology. Expression of markers associated with major cardiac cell types was examined by immunofluorescence and quantitative RT-PCR. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were assessed by dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate staining. The results showed that the plant extract significantly reduced cell proliferation and viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. This was accompanied by a decrease in EB size and an increase in intracellular ROS. High concentrations of CZE decreased the expression of some important cardiac biomarkers. In addition, CZE treatment was associated with poor sarcomere structural organization of CMs and significantly decreased the amplitude and beating rate of CMs, without affecting CMs viability. These results indicate that CZE might be toxic at high concentrations in the embryonic stages of stem cells and could modulate the contracting activity of CMs.
Highlights
Biodiversity plays a significant role in human well-being and health through its impact on food and medicine production
Our results demonstrate that C. zeylanicum (CZE) might be toxic at high concentrations in the embryonic stages of stem cells and could modulate the contracting activity of cardiomyocytes (CMs)
The results showed that CZE at concentrations above 1 μg/mL induced significant (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, Figure 1C) and concentrationdependent decreases in cell index index (CI) 48 h and 72 h post-treatment compared to untreated cells
Summary
Biodiversity plays a significant role in human well-being and health through its impact on food and medicine production. Traditional medicine has a long history and still plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of various diseases. It is estimated that about 80% of the world’s population from developing nations still rely on plant-derived medicines for their health care [1]. There has been a growing interest in traditional medicine and its relevance to public health in developing countries. With the appearance of the new coronavirus in 2019, known as the SARS-CoV-2, and as the world looks towards science for the development of a truly effective therapy, several countries with a long history of traditional medicine practice (such as many African countries) have increased their interest in herbal/plant medicines. The therapeutic use of plants and their derivatives has been veiled by inadequate scientific research, lack of standardization, and poor documentation [3,4]
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