Pharmacological effects of ethanol leaf extract of Indigofera macrophylla against brain and kidney cancer induced by Cacodylic acid in Wistar rats

Extracts of medicinal plants have a wide variation of applicability in health challenges, including cancer management and treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate the pharmacological potential of Indigofera macrophylla ethanolic extract in the amelioration of brain and kidney cancer in a cancer-induced animal model. Brain and kidney cancer were induced by daily oral administration of 50, 100 and 200 ppm cacodylic acid for 28 days. Treatments were carried out using different dosages of I. macrophylla plant extracts. Brain and kidney organs were harvested for biochemical analyses, chemical profiling was determined by UPLC–QTOF-HR/MS, and a computer-based simulation was used for configuration matching of bioactive compounds. Investigations revealed that extract modulates triglyceride, cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein. In brain tissues, BACE, TAU, BAX, IL-6 and HO-1 genes were downregulated. In the kidney, TNF-α, caspase 3, caspase 9, NGAL, IL-6 at 200 mg/kg I. macrophylla were up-regulated. Bioactive compounds identified include kaempferol, quercetin, stigmasterol, and myricetin; these compounds may be responsible for the extract’s activities against brain and kidney cancer. Molecular docking simulations reveal bioactive compound having high degree of alignment with protein templates in molecular database. Ethanolic extract of I. macrophylla could therefore be used to improve cancer complications. Key words: Indigofera macrophylla, ethanolic extract, brain and kidney, animal model, biochemical analyses and chemical profiling, UPLC–QTOF-HR/MS, computer-based simulation, bioactive compound.