The Potential of Purple Sweet Potato-based Food Bar as an Immunomodulator and Hepatoprotector Against Diethylnitrosamine-induced Mice

Abstract

The food bar’s effect as an immunomodulator and hepatoprotector in vivo was tested on male BALB/c mice induced with diethylnitrosamine (DEN). The experimental animals were treated using the Post-test Control Group Design method. Six groups of 30 mice each made up the sample: The negative control group of healthy mice fed with a normal diet (P0); the group of healthy mice given the food bar (P1); the positive control group of mice induced with DEN and given a normal diet (P2); the group of mice induced with DEN and given a normal diet + food bar at 11,700 mg/kg (P3); the group of mice induced with DEN and given a normal diet + food bar at 23,400 mg/kg (P4); and the group of mice induced with DEN given the food bar (P5). The observations conducted included the spleen, which was used for the analysis of immunomodulators on T CD4+CD25+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells with cytokines TNF-α, IFN-Ɣ, and IL-10, blood serum for the analysis of SGPT and SGOT, and liver organ for the analysis of SOD, MDA, and histopathology. The results of the immunomodulator testing showed that the administration of the food bar (P5) significantly (p < 0.05) resulted in the highest percentage of CD4+ T cells at 2.93 % and CD8+ T cells at 5.30 %, a lower percentage of CD8+ T cells expressing proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α at 0.27 % and IFN-γ at 0.29 %), a higher percentage of CD4+ T cells expressing CD25+, and CD25+ T cells expressing anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) at 2.83 %. This group also exhibited the lowest levels of SGPT and SGOT, a higher percentage of SOD, and a lower percentage of MDA compared to other groups. The food bar, based on the mix of purple sweet potato, mung beans, moringa leaves, and strawberries, also reduced liver damage, as demonstrated through histopathological testing.

HIGHLIGHTS   

• Food bar demonstrated effectiveness as an immunomodulator by increasing CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell populations, enhancing CD4+ T-cells expressing CD25+, elevating CD25+ expressing anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10), and reducing CD8+ T-cells suppressing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IFN-γ) in the spleens of DEN-induced mice
• The provision of the food bar as the main diet resulted in reduced levels of SGPT, SGOT, and hepatic MDA in DEN-induced mice and increased SOD activity in mice induced with 50 mg/kg of DEN
• Food bar based on purple sweet potato, green beans, moringa leaves, and strawberries was able to protect and reduce liver cell damage caused by DEN, as demonstrated by histopathology tests

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT