CURCUMA CAESIA: A POTENTIAL DRUG CANDIDATE AGAINST NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD)

English

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a critical global health challenge characterized by excessive lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, leading to steatosis, inflammation and potential progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), if left untreated, may progress to severe conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite extensive research into its pathogenesis, effective therapeutic interventions remain limited. This study investigates the hepatoprotective potential of Curcuma caesia Roxb. rhizome extract in the management and mitigation of NAFLD progression and development using an in-vitro HepG2 cell model. The C. caesia extract was found to be rich in nutraceutical compounds including flavonoids and phenolic acid, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. NAFLD like conditions were induced using two types of fatty acid mixtures, S1 (oleic acid and palmitic acid) to model moderate steatosis, and S2 (oleic acid, elaidic acid, myristic acid and palmitic acid) to trigger advanced steatosis with apoptosis. It was analysed that the post treatment of C. caesia significantly improved cell viability, reduced lipid accumulation with enhanced cell cycle proliferation, particularly in S1-induced steatosis. Adding to this, ultrastructural analyses via scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) confirmed the restorative effects of the extract on cellular morphology and integrity. Furthermore, immunofluorescence studies demonstrated activation of the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway, while qRT-PCR and ELISA assays showed downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), indicating attenuation of oxidative stress and inflammation. These findings suggest that C. caesia Roxb. rhizome extract exhibits therapeutic potential in early and moderate stages of NAFLD by promoting hepatocyte regeneration and mitigating inflammatory responses. Further in-vivo studies are warranted to validate these findings.