Induction of Apoptosis by Ethanolic Extract of Corchorus olitorius Leaf in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HepG2) Cells via a Mitochondria-Dependent Pathway

Molecules

Chia-Jung Li⁴  Shang-Yu Huang¹  Meng-Yu Wu⁵  Yu-Ching Chen¹  Shih-Fang Tsang²  Jong-Ho Chyuan³ 

[1] Department of Life Sciences, Tzu Chi University, No. 701, Sec. 3, Zhongyang Rd., Hualien City, 970, Taiwan;Department of Anatomy, Tzu Chi University, No. 701, Sec. 3, Zhongyang Rd., Hualien City, 970, Taiwan;Crop Improvement Section, Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, No. 150, Sec. 3, Gian Rd., Gian Village, Gian Township, Hualien County, 973, TaiwanInstitute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, No. 701, Sec. 3, Zhongyang Rd., Hualien City, 970, Taiwan;;School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, No. 701, Sec. 3, Zhongyang Rd., Hualien City, 970, Taiwan

关键词: Corchorus olitorius L.;    HepG2 cells;    mitochondria;    apoptosis;   

DOI  :  10.3390/molecules17089348

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Corchorus olitorius L., is a culinary and medicinal herb, widely used as a vegetable in several countries in Asia. Many studies have shown that C. olitorius contains several antioxidants and exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities in various in vitro and in vivo settings. Recently, C. olitorius has been approved for its antitumor activity; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of ethanol extract of C. olitorius (ECO) on the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells and gain some insights into the underlying mechanisms of its action. We found that HepG2 cells, treated with ECO for 24 h at a concentration higher than 12.5 μg/mL, displayed a strong reduction in cell viability, whereas normal FL83B hepatocytes were not affected. DNA fragmentation and nuclear condensation were evidenced by the increased subG1 population of ECO-treated HepG2 cells. ECO triggered the activation of procaspases-3 and -9 and caused the cleavage of downstream substrate, poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), followed by down-regulation of the inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase (ICAD) signaling. Moreover, the increased release of cytochrome c from mitochondria with decreased membrane potential demonstrated the apoptosis induced through the caspases cascade. Our findings indicated that ECO might be effective against hepatocellular carcinoma through induction of apoptosis via mitochondria-dependent pathway.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.