Drosera rotundifolia induces gene expression changes in human bronchial epithelial cells 16HBE

16HBE cells were incubated for 3 or 6h with a homeopathic preparation of Drosera r. or the solvent control and the transcriptome was analyzed by RNA sequencing. The expression changes of the main statistically significant genes were validated through follow-up experiments using RT-qPCR. Compared with the control solution, Drosera r. changed the expression of dozens of genes already after 3h and this effect was amplified after 6 hours of treatment. The main target genes were some ligands of epithelial growth factor receptor (EREG, AREG, EPGN), genes involved in xenobiotic detoxification (CYP1B1, TIPARP) and chemokines. The network of the main biological functions included epithelial cell proliferation, regulation of angiogenesis, cell chemotaxis, and wound healing. Drosera r. acts on a complex and faceted set of genes, potentially involved in different layers of the bronchial mucosa. The global effect of the plant in 16HBE epithelial cells is a mild stress response that primes the epithelial reparative process and recruits the innate cell defense. Overall design: Evaluation of differential expressed genes by 16HBE cells upon Drosera 3x treatment