Chemical Characterization and Differential Lipid-Modulating Effects of Selected Plant Extracts from Côa Valley (Portugal) in a Cell Model for Liver Steatosis
Background/Objectives: Côa Valley, located in the northeast of Portugal, harbors more than 500 medicinal plant species. Among them, four species stand out due to their traditional uses: <i>Equisetum ramosissimum</i> Desf. (hemorrhages, urethritis, hepatitis), <i>Rumex scutatus</...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Pharmaceuticals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/1/39 |
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| Summary: | Background/Objectives: Côa Valley, located in the northeast of Portugal, harbors more than 500 medicinal plant species. Among them, four species stand out due to their traditional uses: <i>Equisetum ramosissimum</i> Desf. (hemorrhages, urethritis, hepatitis), <i>Rumex scutatus</i> L. subsp. <i>induratus</i> (Boiss. and Reut.) Malag. (inflammation, constipation), <i>Geranium purpureum</i> Vill., and <i>Geranium lucidum</i> L. (pain relief, gastric issues). Given their rich ethnomedicinal history, we evaluated their protective effects on an in vitro model of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Methods: Decoction (D) and hydroalcoholic (EtOH80%) extracts were prepared and chemically characterized. Their safety profile and effects on lipid accumulation were assessed in palmitic acid (PA)-treated HepG2 cells using resazurin, sulforhodamine B, and Nile Red assays. Results: Chemical analysis revealed diverse phenolic compounds, particularly kaempferol derivatives in <i>E. ramosissimum</i>. All extracts showed minimal cytotoxicity at 25–50 µg/mL. At 100 µg/mL, only <i>E. ramosissimum</i> extracts maintained high cell viability. In the lipotoxicity model, <i>E. ramosissimum</i> decoction demonstrated the most potent effect, significantly reducing PA-induced neutral lipid accumulation in a dose-dependent manner, while other extracts showed varying degrees of activity. Conclusions: These findings highlight <i>E. ramosissimum’s</i> decoction, rich in kaempferol derivatives, as particularly effective in reducing lipid accumulation in this MASLD cell model while also providing a comprehensive characterization of traditionally used plants from the Côa Valley region. |
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| ISSN: | 1424-8247 |