A Flow Cytometric Analysis of DNA Content and Cell Cycle Distribution in Lipopolysaccharide-induced Caco-2 Cell Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treated with water extract of Shunthi choorna (powder of dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale Rosc.)

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which encompasses Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. This persistent inflammation can result in ongoing cycles of tissue damage and repair, which may lead to cellular stress and DNA damage over time. As a consequence, mutations can occur, increasing the risk of colorectal cancer. The sustained inflammation fosters genomic instability and abnormal cell growth, creating an environment that supports the progression of mutated cells toward cancer.This study examines the effects of a water extract of Sunthi choorna (the powdered form of the dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale Rosc.) on the cell cycle phases of Lipopolysaccharide-induced (LPS) Caco-2 cells. The analysis was conducted using DNA content analysis and cell cycle distribution assessed through flow cytometry.

During the G0/G1 phase, the percentage of cells in the control group was 61.7%, in LPS-induced cells was 63.7%, and in treated cells was 76.3%, suggesting cell cycle arrest by the water extract of Sunthi choorna. For the S phase, percentages were 12.7% in controls, 17.8% in LPS-induced, and 13.2% in treated cells, indicating that the extract may limit inflammation-induced DNA synthesis. In the G2/M phase, treated cells showed a reduction to 10.3% compared to controls, pointing to reduced mitotic entry. The increase in cellular debris (73% in treated cells) suggests heightened cell death, likely through apoptosis.

Overall, these findings position water extract of Sunthi choorna (powder of dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale Rosc.) as a promising natural agent for cell cycle regulation, with potential therapeutic applications in managing inflammation and preventing cancer progression.