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Hepatoprotective Activity of Syzygium Cumini Aqueous Leaf Extract Against DEN Using RT-PCR-Gene Expression and Molecular Docking Studies Using Zebrafish (Danio Rerio)
O. Zuha Kulsoom
Pages: 1-14 | First Published: 05 Jun 2026
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Abstract

Hepatic issues caused by oxidants and hazardous materials are one of the largest health concerns in the world, thereby highlighting demand for safer and effective natural treatment medicines. A zebrafish (Danio Rerio) was used as an experimental model for the current work to evaluate the molecular hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Syzygium cumini on Diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) induced liver injury. DEN is an effective carcinogenic and hepatotoxic agent that has a tendency to induce inflammation, oxidative stress and renal cell damage. Aqueous leaf extract of Syzygium cumini was administered to adult zebrafish that had been exposed to DEN to create hepatotoxic conditions to evaluate its molecular protection effect. To assess the regulation of oxidative stress and inflammation-related genes in liver tissues of the control and the treatment groups, Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) gene expression analysis was performed. The results between the leaf extract-treated groups and the DEN-induced groups indicated a significant change in the expression of stress-related genes, indicating the restoration of hepatic cellular integrity and antioxidant defense system. The results imply that Syzygium cumini's bioactive phytoconstituents may lessen liver damage caused by oxidative stress. To further elucidate the molecular mechanism of hepatoprotection, molecular docking studies were performed with certain phytocompounds present in the aqueous extract of leaves of D. donax against proteins associated with liver. This docking study result of good binding affinities and stable ligand-protein interactions validated the therapeutic potential of Syzygium cumini bioactive chemicals in the modification of hepatic damage pathways. Based on the findings of RT-PCR and molecular docking investigations, Syzygium cumini leaf extract shows promising hepatoprotective effect against DEN-induced liver damage in zebrafish. The study confirms that Syzygium cumini is a potential natural source for the development of therapeutic agent against liver diseases and supports the plant's traditional medicinal applications.

Keywords: Syzygium cumini, Zebrafish, RT-PCR, Molecular docking

 

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