title: Human kidney proximal tubule cells are vulnerable to the effects of Rauwolfia serpentina.
abstract: Rauwolfia serpentina (or Snake root plant) is a botanical dietary supplement marketed in the USA for maintaining blood pressure. Very few studies have addressed the safety of this herb, despite its wide availability to consumers. Its reported pleiotropic effects underscore the necessity for evaluating its safety. We used a human kidney cell line to investigate the possible negative effects of R. serpentina on the renal system in vitro, with a specific focus on the renal proximal tubules. We evaluated cellular and mitochondrial toxicity, along with a variety of other kidney-specific toxicology biomarkers. We found that R. serpentina was capable of producing highly detrimental effects in our in vitro renal cell system. These results suggest more studies are needed to investigate the safety of this dietary supplement in both kidney and other target organ systems.
authors.affiliation: Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment (OARSA), Division of Toxicology (DOT), Neurotoxicology and in vitro Toxicology Branch (NIVTB), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), 8301 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel, MD, 20708, USA. miriam.mossoba@fda.hhs.gov.|MOD-1 Laboratories, US FDA, 8301 Muirkirk Rd., HFS-025, Lab 1406, Laurel, MD, 20708, USA. miriam.mossoba@fda.hhs.gov.
authors.forename: Miriam E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Mossoba
authors.affiliation: Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment (OARSA), Division of Toxicology (DOT), Neurotoxicology and in vitro Toxicology Branch (NIVTB), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), 8301 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel, MD, 20708, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.affiliation: Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment (OARSA), Division of Toxicology (DOT), Neurotoxicology and in vitro Toxicology Branch (NIVTB), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), 8301 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel, MD, 20708, USA.
authors.forename: Sanah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vohra
authors.affiliation: Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment (OARSA), Division of Toxicology (DOT), Neurotoxicology and in vitro Toxicology Branch (NIVTB), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), 8301 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel, MD, 20708, USA.
authors.forename: Paddy L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Wiesenfeld
authors.affiliation: Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment (OARSA), Division of Toxicology (DOT), Neurotoxicology and in vitro Toxicology Branch (NIVTB), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), 8301 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel, MD, 20708, USA.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sprando
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D055316:Cystatin C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D000072596:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 1; D006801:Humans; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011926:Rauwolfia / Q000737:chemistry*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C525030:CST3 protein, human; D055316:Cystatin C; C491143:HAVCR1 protein, human; D000072596:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 1; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D014635:Valproic Acid; D002945:Cisplatin
keywords: HK-2; Kidney proximal tubule; Nephrotoxicity; Rauwolfia serpentina