title: A novel herbal formulation "LiverCare" differentially regulates primary rat hepatocyte and hepatocarcinoma cell proliferation in vitro.
abstract: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plays an important role in hepatocyte proliferation. HGF expression is regulated by various signaling molecules and nuclear receptors. In the present study, LiverCare(®) (LC), a novel polyherbal formulation (The Himalaya Drug Company, Bangalore, India), was evaluated for its efficacy, using co-cultures of primary rat hepatocytes-non-parenchymal cells (NPCs) and human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2). The rate of primary hepatocyte co-culture proliferation was significantly and dose-dependently increased by LC as determined by [(3)H]thymidine incorporation into newly synthesized DNA and cell proliferation assay. LC also increased HGF expression in primary hepatocyte co-culture. Albumin and urea content remained constant during proliferation of hepatocyte co-cultures in the presence of LC with decreased activity of alanine aminotransferase. It is interesting that LC inhibited incorporation of [(3)H]thymidine into DNA in HepG2 cells. LC enhanced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α expression during hepatocyte proliferation, whereas tumor necrosis factor-α expression remained unaffected. In conclusion, our study clearly showed that LC differentially regulates primary rat hepatocytes and human hepatocarcinoma cell proliferation. LC may be a promising candidate for treating degenerative liver diseases by enhancing liver regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, The Himalaya Drug Company, Makali, Bangalore, India. drsvidyashankar@indiatimes.com
authors.forename: Satyakumar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vidyashankar
authors.forename: Sandeep R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Varma
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azeemudin
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Godavarthi
authors.forename: Nandakumar S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Krishna
authors.forename: Pralhad Sadashiv
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Patki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D008934:Mitogens; D047493:PPAR alpha; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D004247:DNA