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Apoptotic activity of ethanol extract from Styrax Japonica Siebold et al Zuccarini in HepG2 cells
1Molecular Biochemistry Laboratory, Biotechnology Research Institute & Center for the Control of Animal Hazards Using Biotechnology (BK21), Chonnam National University, 300 Yongbong-Dong, Gwang-ju 500-757, South Korea.
Ethnopharmacological Relevance:
Styrax japonica Siebold et al Zuccarini (SJSZ) has been used to heal inflammation and bronchitis as an herbal plant in Korea.
Aims Of The Study:
The purpose of the present study is to determine whether the ethanol (EtOH) extract of SJSZ induces the programmed cell death (apoptosis) in human hepatoma HepG2 cells.
Materials And Methods:
It was evaluated cytotoxicity using MTT assay, amount of intracellular reactive oxygen species (iROS) and Ca(2+) using fluorescence. Activities of apoptotic relevant factors [Bid, cytochrome c, caspase-9, -3, and poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)] were measured by Western blot.
Results:
The results in this study indicated that ethanol extract of SJSZ (75 microg/ml) stimulates to increase amount of iROS, Ca(2+), and the apoptotic relevant factors [Bid, cytochrome c, caspase-9, -3, and poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in the HepG2 cells.
Conclusion:
The results in this study indicated that ethanol extract of SJSZ (75 microg/ml) induces programmed cell death (apoptosis) in the HepG2 cells. Therefore, we speculate that ethanol extract of SJSZ could be used for healing of hepatocarcinoma as one of chemotherapeutic agents.