Moringa oleifera Lam Leaf Extract Stimulates NRF2 and Attenuates ARV-Induced Toxicity in Human Liver Cells (HepG2)

• Published in: Plants (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 7; p. 1541
• Main Authors: Ndlovu, Siqiniseko S, Chuturgoon, Anil A, Ghazi, Terisha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 03-04-2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Acids; Antioxidants; Antiretroviral agents; antiretroviral drugs; ATP; Bioactive compounds; Biocompatibility; Cytotoxicity; Drug therapy; Drugs; Emtricitabine; Extracellular levels; Free radicals; Glutathione; Hepatocytes; Hepatotoxicity; Herbal medicine; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Intracellular; Lamivudine; Leaves; Lipid peroxidation; Lipids; Liver; Medicinal plants; Metabolism; Mitochondria; mitochondrial toxicity; Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2; Moringa oleifera; mRNA; NRF2 signalling; Oxidants; Oxidation; Oxidative stress; Oxidizing agents; Peroxidation; Phosphorylation; Plant extracts; Polarization; Protein expression; Proteins; Scavenging; Superoxide dismutase; Tenofovir; Toxicity; antiretroviral drugs; Moringa oleifera; mitochondrial toxicity; antioxidants; oxidative stress; NRF2 signalling
• ISSN: 2223-7747; 2223-7747
• DOI: 10.3390/plants12071541

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that there are 37 million individuals living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide, with the majority in South Africa. This chronic disease is managed by the effective use of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. However, with prolonged use, ARV drug-induced toxicity remains a clinically complex problem. This study investigated the toxicity of ARV drugs on mitochondria and the NRF2 antioxidant pathway and its possible amelioration using
Lam (MO) leaf extracts. This medicinal plant has a range of functional bioactive compounds. Liver (HepG2) cells were treated with individual ARV drugs: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), Emtricitabine (FTC), and Lamivudine (3TC) for 96 h, followed by MO leaf extracts for 24 h. Intracellular ROS, cytotoxicity, lipid peroxidation, total and reduced glutathione (GSH), ATP, and mitochondrial polarisation were determined. Finally, protein (pNRF2, NRF2, SOD2, CAT, and Sirt3) and mRNA (
,
,
,
, and
) expression were measured using Western blot and qPCR, respectively. TDF, FTC, and 3TC significantly increased intracellular ROS and extracellular levels of both MDA and LDH. ARVs also reduced the GSH and ATP levels and altered the mitochondrial polarization. Further, ARVs reduced the expression of
,
,
,
,
and
mRNA and consequently pNRF2, NRF2, SOD2, Sirt3 and CAT protein. In contrast, there was a significant reduction in the extracellular MDA and LDH levels post-MO treatment. MO significantly reduced intracellular ROS while significantly increasing GSH, ATP, and mitochondrial membrane polarization. The addition of MO to ARV-treated cells significantly upregulated the expression of
,
,
,
,
,
, and
mRNA and pNRF2, NRF2, SOD2, Sirt3 proteins. Thus, MO ameliorates ARV-induced hepatotoxicity by scavenging oxidants by inducing the NRF2 antioxidant pathway. MO shows great therapeutic potential and may be considered a potential supplement to ameliorate ARV drug toxicity.