Abstract
Sutherlandia frutescens (SF), a medicinal plant indigenous to South Africa, is traditionally used to treat a diverse range of illnesses, including cancer and viral infections. The biologically active compounds of SF are polar, thus renal elimination increases susceptibility to toxicity in that organ. This study investigated the antioxidant potential, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptotic induction by SF extracts on proximal and distal tubule epithelial cells. Cell viability was determined using the MTT assay. Mitochondrial membrane potential was determined using a flow cytometric JC-1 Mitoscreen assay. Cellular glutathione and apoptosis were measured using the GSH-Glo™ Glutathione assay and Caspase-Glo® 3/7 assay, respectively. The IC50 values from the cell viability results for LLC-PK1 and MDBK were 15 mg/mL and 7 mg/mL, respectively. SF extracts significantly decreased intracellular glutathione in LLC-PK1 (p less than 0.0001) and MDBK (p less than 0.0001) cells, while lipid peroxidation increased in treated LLC-PK1 (p less than 0.0001) and MDBK (p less than 0.0001) cells. JC-1 analysis showed that SF extracts promoted mitochondrial membrane depolarization in both LLC-PK1 and MDBK cells by up to 80% (p less than 0.0001). The activity of caspase 3/7 increased in both LLC-PK1 (11.9-fold; p less than 0.0001) and MDBK (2.2-fold; p less than 0.0001) cells. SF extracts at high concentrations appear to increase oxidative stress, to alter mitochondrial membrane integrity, and to promote apoptosis in renal tubule epithelia.
Highlights
Toxicology has been termed “the science of poisons” (Langman and Kapur, 2006)
Sutherlandia frutescens is one of approximately 3 000 medicinal plants that is utilised daily to treat a wide range of illnesses in our population
The conclusions drawn from the current study indicate that Sutherlandia frutescens (SF) is not cytotoxic to renal tubule epithelial cells at low concentrations
Summary
Toxicology has been termed “the science of poisons” (Langman and Kapur, 2006). This science engages studying the properties of chemicals and the impact of these molecules on living organisms. Toxicology differs from other sciences with the absence of a single goal but its diversification has allowed for the interspersion of ideas and concepts from academe, industry as well as government. This gives the discipline of toxicology a unique but highly advantageous slant (Amdur et al, 1991)
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