In-vitro evaluation of the cytotoxicity, mitotoxicity and lipotoxicity potentials of Helichrysum petiolare Hilliard & B.L. Burtt using HepG2 (C3A) Cell-lines

This study evaluated the hepatotoxicity (cytotoxicity, mitotoxicity and lipotoxicity) potentials of the boiled aqueous (BAQ), cold aqueous (CAQ) and ethanol (ETQ) extracts of Helichrysum petiolare using standard procedures that employed the use of C3A cell-lines. The results obtained showed negligible BAQ and CAQ cytotoxicities, which were further, corroborated by stability in the mitochondrial membrane potentials and were also congruent with the CAQ and BAQ results for steatosis and phospholipidosis. The data suggested a favourable CAQ and BAQ toxicity profiles with limited risks for hepatotoxicity. However, ETQ extract showed significantly high levels of cytotoxicity and lipotoxicity, and a low level of mitotoxicity. Our result suggested a potential risk of the ETQ extract for hepatotoxicity but appears partly independent of direct mitochondrial involvement.