Protective Effects of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> on HBV Genotypes C and H Transiently Transfected Huh7 Cells

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis B infection treatment implicates a long-lasting treatment. <i>M. oleifera</i> extracts contain compounds with antiviral, antioxidant, and antifibrotic properties. In this study, the effect of <i>M. oleifera</i> was evaluated in Huh7 cells expressing either HBV genotypes C or H for the antiviral, antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative responses. Huh7 cells were treated with an aqueous extract of <i>M. oleifera</i> (leaves) at doses of 0, 30, 45, or 60 <i>μ</i>g/mL. The replicative virus and <i>TGF-β1</i>, <i>CTGF</i>, <i>CAT</i>, <i>IFN-β1</i>, and pgRNA expressions were measured by real time. HBsAg and IL-6 titers were determined by ELISA. <i>CTGF</i>, <i>TGF-β1</i>, <i>IFN-β1</i>, and pgRNA expressions decreased with <i>M. oleifera</i> treatment irrespective of the HBV genotype. HBsAg secretion in the supernatant of transfected Huh7 cells with both HBV genotypes was decreased regardless of the dose of <i>M. oleifera</i>. Similar effect was observed in proinflammatory cytokine IL-6, which had a tendency to decrease at 24 hours of treatment. Transfection with both HBV genotypes strongly decreased <i>CAT</i> expression, which is retrieved with <i>M. oleifera</i> treatment. <i>M. oleifera</i> treatment reduced fibrosis markers, IL-6, and HBsAg secretion in HBV genotypes C and H. However, at the level of replication, only HBV-DNA genotype C was slightly reduced with this treatment.