Efeito do extrato aquoso das folhas de Hancornia speciosa Gomes na esteatose hepática, uma avaliação in vitro

Abstract

Hepatic steatosis is characterized by the accumulation of triacylglycerols in hepatocytes and is the most prominent stage of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), whose progression is strictly related to oxidative stress. Bioactive compounds found in native plants from the Brazilian Cerrado represent a vast source of therapeutic resources useful for the treatment of the disease. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Hancornia speciosa Gomes (EAM) on an in vitro model of hepatic steatosis. The extract was obtained by infusion of the dried leaves in water bath at 72ºC for 10 minutes and its antioxidant capacity determined by the ORAC method was 260.04±65.76 µM equivalent of Trolox/g. The effect of the extract on the of HepG2 cells viability was evaluated by the MTT method at 12, 24 and 48h, and only the concentration of 1000 µg/mL at 48h was able to reduce it below 70%. Steatosis in HepG2 cells was induced by incubation with oleic: palmitic acids (2:1) at 1mM and qualitatively evaluated under microscope after coincubation with 50 and 100 µg/mL of EAM for 24h and subsequent Oil Red staining. No differences were observed in the presence of lipid droplets in both treatments with the extract. Hepatocellular damage was determined by the levels of aminotransferases in the culture supernatant with relevant reductions in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), promoted by incubation with the extract at 50 and 100 µg/mL in cells with steatosis. Although it has not altered the intracellular lipid content, a high antioxidant capacity and the reducing effect of ALT levels support the need for further studies to validate the therapeutic potential of mangabeira leaves in MAFLD.