mRNA Expression of S1PR-1 in DMBA Induced Leukemia in Wistar Rats Treated with Ethanol Extract of Hydrocotyle Verticillata and Laportea Aestuans Leaves

Aim: Leukemia has been linked to mRNA expression of Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1(S1PR-1) and considering multiple reports on the roles of phytochemicals in Hydrocotyle verticillata and Laportea aestuans, this study aims to evaluate the effects of administration of ethanol extracts of the 2 plants in regulation of mRNA expression of S1PR-1 in leukemia induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(α) anthracene (DMBA) in rats.

Methods: Leukemia was induced by a series of subcutaneous injection of 27% of DMBA except for the normal and DMSO groups at interval of 4 days for two weeks. The ethanol extracts of the 2 plants with a standard drug was administered for 2 weeks and blood specimens collected by cardiac puncture under anesthesia with chloroform, from the respective groups and into an EDTA container after induction and extract treatments and Lymphocytes was then extracted. Total RNA was extracted and reverse transcribed. The cDNA was amplified on My IQ single color RTPCR yielding threshold cycles for the target and the house keeping genes which was used for mRNA expression fold of S1PR-1.

Results: The result shows that S1PR-1 was downregulated in the leukemia induced groups 3 to 9 of rats when compared to group 1 and 2. Conversely, after treatments the downregulated gene was found to be upregulated when given the extracts of H. verticillata, L. aestuans and the standard anti-leukemic drug treated groups. This upregulation was high with the standard drug, then the combined dose of 400mg of both extracts, the 400mg of L. aestuans, 400mg of H. verticillata, while 200mg of each of the extract of H. verticillata and L. aestuans was upregulated in the same manner.

Conclusion: This outcome of the present study has shown that the plant extracts upregulated the mRNA expression of S1PR1 in a leukemic rat hence can be used as an adjunct in leukemia treatment.