BOERAVINONE B AND CHEBULINIC ACID AMELIORATE ASPARTAME INDUCED TOXICITY IN HEPG2 CELLS BY REGULATING CELL DEATH PATHWAYS

Aspartame is the most common artificial sweetener which is known to induce oxidative stress. Our goal was to determine whether Boeravinone B and Chebulinic acid protect HepG2 cells against Asp-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 on a multifarious level. In this investigation we have addressed ameliorative role of BB and CA in due course of Asp exposure by evaluating biochemical and molecular parameters. We found that Aspartame induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells through elevation of ROS and RNS which was further attenuated by BB and CA. Associated levels of SOD, CAT, GPx, Protein carbonyls, Lipid peroxides and Caspase 3/7 in Asp treated cells were found to be risen but BB and CA supplementation restored these back to normal. It was revealed from fluorescence microscopy as well as flow cytometric analysis that BB and CA reversed the proportion of apoptotic, necrotic as well as autophagic cells which was found to be triggered during Asp exposure. mRNA expression of marker genes associated with Apoptosis, Necrosis and Autophagy was observed to be upregulated in stressed cells which was modulated positively by BB-CA phytotherapy. Thus BB and CA protected HepG2 cells from undergoing cell death pathways and ultimately improved a cellular health.