EC Pharmacology and Toxicology

Research Article Volume 13 Issue 9 - 2025

Desmodium triflorum Mitigates Palmitate-Induced mTOR Activation and Oxidative Stress in HepG2 Cells

Rejiya Chellappan Sobitham1, RajeshRamachandran2, Vishnu Sasidharan Lathakumari3, Ganga Gopalakrishnan1, Annie Abraham4 and Manju Lekshmy5*

1Department of Biochemistry and Industrial Microbiology, Sree Ayyappa College, Chenganur, Kerala, India

2Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centre for Research in Molecular Biology and Applied Science, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

3Department of Biochemistry, Sree Narayana College for Women, Kollam, Kerala, India

4Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

5Department of Botany and Biotechnology, St. Xavier’s College, Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

*Corresponding Author: Manju Lekshmy, Department of Botany and Biotechnology, St. Xavier’s College, Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Received: August 06, 2025; Published: September 01, 2025



Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains a predominant etiology of chronic hepatic disease, accompanied by no definitive pharmacological therapies currently available. This study investigates the antisteatotic potential of Desmodium triflorum (Grona triflora) ethanolic extract (ET-DT) in palmitic acid (PA) induced HepG2 cell model of hepatic steatosis. Phytochemical profiling confirmed the presence of alkaloids, phenols, and flavonoids in ET-DT. Palmitic acid exposed HepG2 cells exhibited reduced viability (assessed via 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay), elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, and increased reactive oxygen species ROS, all of which were mitigated by ET-DT co-treatment (25 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL). ET-DT restored glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase activity, indicating enhanced antioxidant capacity. A reduction in lipid accumulation was observed in a dose-dependent manner by Oil Red O staining, while Sirius Red staining demonstrated decreased collagen deposition in ET-DT-treated groups. Reverse transcriptase PCR analysis showed that ET-DT suppressed PA-induced upregulation of mammalian target of Rapamycin (mTOR) gene expression. These findings suggest that Desmodium triflorum extract ameliorates PA-induced steatosis through antioxidant, antifibrotic, and mTOR pathway modulation, highlighting its therapeutic potential for NAFLD management.

 Keywords: NAFLD; Desmodium triflorum; NAFLD; HepG2; Palmitic Acid; LDH Leakage; mTOR

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Manju Lekshmy., et al. “Desmodium triflorum Mitigates Palmitate-Induced mTOR Activation and Oxidative Stress in HepG2 Cells”. EC Pharmacology and Toxicology  13.9 (2025): 01-15.

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