Andrographolide, A Novel Repressor of Hepcidin Gene Expression

Abstract

Introduction: Hepcidin is the most important factor in iron metabolism and plays a potential role in erythropoiesis. It is a small peptide hormone which is cysteine-rich and is mostly secreted by hepatic cells. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of andrographolide on the expression of hepatic hepcidin in an iron overload model. Materials and Methods: For the current study, 48 male Wistar rats were used in six groups. These groups included control group, andrographolide with 3.5 and 7 mg/kg doses groups, iron plus andrographolide groups with 3.5 and 7 mg/kg doses, and iron group. Hepcidin gene expression was performed by real-time method. Iron serum levels were measured by photometry. We used ANOVA and Kruskal Wallis to compare the means of the factors under investigation. Results: The results revealed that the quantitative expression levels of mRNA hepcidin decreased in all groups except in iron group compared with the control group. This decrease in andrographolide 7 mg/kg, iron plus andrographolide 3.5 mg/kg, and iron plus andrographolide 7 mg/kg groups was significant compared to the control group (p<0.05). The quantitative expression level of mRNA hepcidin significantly increased in iron group as compared to the control group (p<0.05). The findings also indicated that serum concentration of iron in groups with secondary iron overload significantly increased compared with the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Andrographolide with 3.5 and 7 mg/kg doses decreases the expression of hepcidin and increases iron serum levels in secondary iron overload model.

Keywords

• anaemia
• andrographis paniculata
• iron overload