Hydroalcoholic Extract of Fumaria Parviflora L. Can Potentially Detoxificate HepG2 Cell Line Following Carbon Tetrachloride Exposure

Background: Fumaria Parviflora L. (FP) is a well-known herb in Iranian traditional medicine, widely used for gastrointestinal diseases. Additionally, the detrimental effects of carbon tetrachloride (CT) on the liver and kidneys have been scientifically established. Objectives: This study was designed to assess the therapeutic effects of FP on HepG2 cells exposed to CT toxicity. Methods: After treatment with hydroalcoholic extract of the FP plant and/or CT, cell viability (using the MTT technique and lactate dehydrogenase assay) and apoptosis (using the diphenylamine assay and Annexin V/PI staining) were investigated. The ratio of BCL2/BAX mRNA expression levels was measured using real-time PCR. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: A significant (P < 0.05) reduction in cell viability was observed at doses of 100 and 200 µg/mL of FP in HepG2 cells. The decreased survival rate following CT exposure was concentration-dependent and significant (P < 0.05). The IC50 of CT was determined to be 1.05 μg/mL for 24 hours. Effective detoxification associated with CT was found at 6.25 µg/mL in both the pre-treatment and simultaneous treatment groups. Cell apoptosis was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased following FP administration in CT-treated cells, with an increase in the ratio of BCL2/BAX mRNA expression levels. Conclusions: The hydroalcoholic extract of FP demonstrated hepatoprotective effects on CT-treated HepG2 cells.