Alpinia Galanga Extract's (Vanillic acid) Protective Effects against Lead Acetate-Induced Toxicity in HEK293T Cells and Caenorhabditis Elegans

Der-An Tsao^1, , Kuei-Ling Huang², Yu-Hsin Wang², Chuang Yi Lin³, Fang-Tsu Liao⁴, Ching-Hsiao Lee⁴, Cheng-Kuang Wang⁴ and Huoy-Rou Chang^5,

¹Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Biotechnology, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

²Kuang Tien General Hospital, Taiwan

³Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pingtung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan

⁴Department of Medical Technology, Jen-teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Taiwan

⁵Department of Biomedical Engineering, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Cite this paper:
Der-An Tsao, Kuei-Ling Huang, Yu-Hsin Wang, Chuang Yi Lin, Fang-Tsu Liao, Ching-Hsiao Lee, Cheng-Kuang Wang and Huoy-Rou Chang. Alpinia Galanga Extract's (Vanillic acid) Protective Effects against Lead Acetate-Induced Toxicity in HEK293T Cells and Caenorhabditis Elegans. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2026; 14(10):195-203. doi: 10.12691/jfnr-14-10-1

Abstract

Lead is an environmental contaminant that impairs human organ and tissue function. The goal of this study is to employ natural compounds to reduce the damage that lead causes to human organ and tissue function. HEK293T cells were used in this study's research on proliferation, Annexin V, DNA fragmentation, cellular oxidative stress, reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blot. Caenorhabditis elegans were used in vivo to investigate behavioral and developmental status. The results showed that vanillic acid (Alpinia galanga extract) can reduce cell apoptosis and the oxidative stress induced by lead exposure in HEK293T cells. In HEK293T cells exposed to lead, vanillic acid decreased NF-κB gene and protein expression while increasing β-catenin protein expression. Following lead exposure, vanillic acid improved the Caenorhabditis elegans development trend. Vanillic acid can protect cells from lead-induced inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative responses while also regulating gene transcription factors to improve cell state. It can also enhance the growth performance of lead-exposed Caenorhabditis elegans, restoring growth rate and health condition during the developing stage. Both in vivo and in vitro test findings show that vanillic acid has the capacity to protect organisms from the harmful effects of lead exposure.

Keywords:
Alpinia galangal vanillic acid lead acetate HEK293T cells Caenorhabditis elegans

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