The Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Centella Asiatica on Transdifferentiation of Rat Full-Term Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells into Neural Stem Cells

Ding, Kah Wen (2022) The Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Centella Asiatica on Transdifferentiation of Rat Full-Term Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells into Neural Stem Cells. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

The incidence of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), featured with progressive neuronal cell death, is alarming. Unfortunately, there is no definitive treatment for NDs. One potential treatment is neuro-transplantation where neural stem cells (NSCs) have been marked as the prospective source for it. However, obtaining brain-sourced NSCs is challenging. Alternatively, obtaining NSCs from non-brain sources would significantly overcome the challenge. The highly potent stem cells derived from amniotic fluid (AFSCs) can be transdifferentiated into NSCs, but the process needs a specific inducer to generate high-quality NSCs. Centella asiatica (CA) consumed traditionally as a memory tonic could be the potential candidate inducer for transdifferentiation of AFSCs into NSCs. Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect of ethanolic extract of CA (EECA) treatment in promoting transdifferentiation of rat full-term amniotic fluid stem cell line (R3) into NSCs based on the number of good qualities neurospheres and molecular assessment of specific marker expression on the transdifferentiated NSCs. Methodology: R3 was cultured in ESM before being transdifferentiated into NSCs with or without EECA treatment for 48 hours via monolayer adherent culture technique. Four groups were included in this study: 1) untreated R3 (negative control), 2) R3 with 50µM dBcAMP (positive control), 3) 1µg/mL of EECA and 4) 10µg/mL of EECA. The differentiated NSCs from all groups were subjected to form neurospheres for three days and evaluated for their size and number. RNA was extracted from NSCs to assess the expression of the NSC-specific marker (Sox1) using RT-qPCR. The housekeeping gene (GAPDH) was used to measure the relative expression of the marker. Results & Discussion: EECA treatment enhanced the transdifferentiation of R3 into NSCs. EECA treatment groups had greater expression of Sox1 and a higher number of good-quality neurospheres (of diameter 100 - 150µm) than the untreated and 50µM dBcAMP treatment group. Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest the potential of EECA as an inducer for producing quality NSCs from amniotic fluid stem cells, mammalian non-brain cells, as a prospective source for neuro-transplantation.

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Depositing User:	Ms. Nor Safa'aton Saidin
Date Deposited:	22 Aug 2023 04:41
Last Modified:	22 Aug 2023 04:42
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/1349

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