Abstract
Drosera rotundifolia has been traditionally used for the treatment of respiratory diseases in phytotherapy and homeopathy. The mechanisms of action recognized so far are linked to the known effects of specific components, such as flavonoids, but are not completely understood. In this study, the biological functions of D. rotundifolia were explored in vitro following the treatment of bronchial epithelial cells, which are the potential targets of the pharmacological effects of the herbal medicine. To do so, the whole plant ethanolic extract was 1000-fold diluted in water (D. rotundifolia 3×) and added to a 16HBE human cell line culture for 3 h or 6 h. The effects on gene expression of the treatments and corresponding controls were then investigated by RNA sequencing. The differentially expressed genes were validated through RT-qPCR, and the enriched biological functions involved in the effects of treatment were investigated. D. rotundifolia 3× did not impair cell viability and was shown to be a stimulant of cell functions by regulating the expression of dozens of genes after 3 h, and the effects were amplified after 6 h of treatment. The main differentially expressed genes encoded ligands of epithelial growth factor receptor, proteins involved in xenobiotic detoxification and cytokines, suggesting that D. rotundifolia 3× could stimulate self-repair systems, which are impaired in airway diseases. Furthermore, D. rotundifolia 3× acts on a complex and multifaceted set of genes and may potentially affect different layers of the bronchial mucosa.
Highlights
Drosera rotundifolia has been traditionally used for the treatment of respiratory diseases in phytotherapy and homeopathy
The concentration of polyphenols in the D. rotundifolia ethanolic extract was estimated to be 7.1 × 10−3 mol/L in terms of the gallic acid equivalents. This concentration corresponds to approximately 1.2 mg/mL of total polyphenols, which in turn corresponds to a concentration of 12 μg/mL in the D. rotundifolia 3× test sample and 1.2 μg/mL (7.1 × 10−6 mol/L) in the final cell culture
Functional genomic research was performed to explore the effects of a medicinal plant traditionally used for respiratory diseases on its potential target cells in vitro, i.e., bronchial epithelial cells
Summary
Drosera rotundifolia has been traditionally used for the treatment of respiratory diseases in phytotherapy and homeopathy. The general action on the respiratory system of D. rotundifolia was described in the homeopathic Materia M edica[8] and includes profuse expectoration and a spasmodic, paroxysmal, dry, and irritative cough, similar to whooping cough, and the plant is often included as a component in homeopathic complexes used for upper respiratory tract ailments. The efficacy of such remedies for the relief of symptoms or the improvement of quality of life was analysed in clinical studies, which reported positive results[5,9,10,11,12]. Differentiated 16HBE cells simulate many of the activities of the bronchial epithelium and are considered a good model for basic studies
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