The Biologic Potential of Lyophilized Extracts of Brickellia cavanillesii (Asteraceae): Apoptosis and Glut 2 Gene Expression

Prior investigations into the therapeutic potential of Lyophilized extracts of Brickellia cavanillesii (LBC) are indicative of its possible biologic benefit in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DB). This manuscript employs in vitro toxicological techniques to explore the effect of LBC on the gene expression of human carcinoma liver cells (HepG2); and attempts to predict a mechanism of action using apoptosis as a therapeutic index. The effect of LBC on the expression of genes associated with human apoptosis pathway and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT 2) were determined using quantitative gene array and real-time PCR (RT2qPCR) respectively. HepG2 cells were exposed to concentrations of LBC (0 mg/mL [control]), 0.2 mg/mL for the apoptosis study; 0 mg/mL (control), 0.02 mg/mL, 0.2 mg/mL for the GLUT 2 study), in the absence of FBS 2 h, 4 h, 6 h and 24 h respectively. Results obtained show that several antiapoptotic genes were significantly up-regulated while some apoptotic genes were significantly down-regulated. The most significant up-regulation was by BCL2L1 with a fold change of 46.57; Bcl2l is reputed to be an apoptosis inhibitor. Data acquired from the GLUT 2 gene expression study suggest that LBC may induce GLUT 2 gene expression.