Edible leaf extract of Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. (Convolvulaceae) attenuates doxorubicin-induced liver injury via inhibiting oxidative impairment, MAPK activation and intrinsic pathway of apoptosis

•Edible extract of Ipomoea aquatica inhibited doxorubicin induced hepato-toxicity.•The extract reduced doxorubicin induced redox stress in hepatocytes and rat livers.•The extract reduced doxorubicin induced MAPK activation.•The extract reduced doxorubicin induced intrinsic pathway of apoptosis.•Presence of phyto-antioxidants in the extract may attribute in protective effect.

Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. (Convolvulaceae) is an aquatic vegetable traditionally employed against toxic effects of xenobiotics. The present study has been designed to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the beneficial role of the edible (aqueous) leaf extract of I. aquatica (AEIA) against doxorubicin (Dox)-induced liver injury. AEIA exhibited a dose-dependent (∼400 μg/ml) increase in cell viability against Dox (1 μM) in isolated rodent hepatocytes. AEIA (400 μg/ml) prevented the Dox-induced increase in ROS, redox imbalance, and activation of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) and intrinsic pathway of apoptosis in hepatocytes. In the in vivo assay, administration of AEIA (100 mg/kg, p.o.) against Dox (3 mg/kg, i.p.) also reduced the oxidative impairment, DNA fragmentation, ATP formation, and up-regulated the mitochondrial co-enzymes Qs in the liver tissues of Wistar rats. Histological assessments were in agreement with the biochemical findings. Substantial quantities of phyto-antioxidants in AEIA may mediate its beneficial function against Dox-induced liver injury.