Immune boosting and ameliorative properties of aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina Delile against MSG-induced genotoxicity: An in-silico and in-vivo approach.
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Date
0210
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Heliyon
Abstract
Vernonia amygdalina (VA) is popularly consumed as food and as medicine due to its nutritional
and bioactive constituents. This study assessed the anti-genotoxic effect of aqueous leaf extract of
VA against monosodium (MSG) –induced genotoxicity. Crude extraction and phytochemical
analysis were done using standard methods. In silico studies was done using compounds in the
extract against Bcl-2, NF-kB 50, DNA polymerase lambda, DNA ligase, superoxide dismutase
(SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). Twelve rats were divided into three
groups with four rats in each group. Group I was fed on food and water, group II received MSG (4
g/kg) per body weight (pbw) intraperitoneally, group III received MSG (4 g/kg) pbw intraperi
toneally followed by oral dose of VA leaf extract (250 mg/kg) per body weight. The number of the
micronucleated red blood cells and white blood cells were determined from blood smears
microscopically. Results showed that aqueous extract of VA contained in mg/100 g alkaloids
(7.04 ± 0.16), saponins (3.91 ± 0.13), flavonoid (1.64 ± 0.16), phenol (3.40 ± 0.12) and tannins
(0.07 ± 0.32). In silico studies revealed high binding interaction (ΔG > 8.6) of vernoniosides D
and E with all the tested proteins. There was a reduction in the number of micronucleated cells,
neutrophils and eosinophils of the treated group compared to the MSG group, while there was an
increase in the lymphocyte count. The anti-genotoxic effects of VA leaf extract might be attributed
to the synergistic interaction of the various bioactive components in the extract. VA could be a
potential plant for the prevention of cancer and other diseases that attenuate the immune system.