Cytotoxic Effects of Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus L.) Extract on Human Hepatocyte Cell Lines

Background: Arbitrary unsuitable consumption of Amaranthus caudatus L. (amaranth) extract has been reported in some patients with acute liver failure who were referred to Kerman Medical Centers. Also, some studies on rats have shown the hepatotoxic effects of amaranth extracts by increasing liver enzymes and serum bilirubin. Objectives: This study was performed to determine the cytotoxic and lethal effects of amaranth extract on human hepatocytes. Methods: After preparing amaranth extract and hepatocyte cells, the cells were incubated in four culture media, including Dulbecco’s modified eagle medium (DMEM) and a control culture medium, with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and penicillin, and streptomycin, and stored and frozen after growth and proliferation. Then the cells were exposed to 10, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL dilutions of amaranth extract and incubated for 24 hours. Finally, the percentage of cell growth and proliferation was measured by cell survival tests, including MTT and neutral red assay, and flow cytometry. Results: Using MTT and neutral red assay and flow cytometry during different stages of increasing the dose of amaranth extract and evaluating the average light absorbance, it was shown that the culture medium containing a dose of 200 μg/mL of amaranth extract had the most cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on hepatocytes. Conclusions: Due to the hepatotoxic effect of amaranth plant extracts in toxic doses and induction of jaundice and acute liver failure in some patients, arbitrary consumption of this plant should be limited.