Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2026
High Content Screening Analysis to Evaluate the Toxicological Effects of Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents HPHC
Published on: May 10, 2016
Carbon dots prepared from ginger exhibiting efficient inhibition of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Chi-Lin Li1, Chung-Mao Ou, Chih-Ching Huang
1Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan. changht@ntu.edu.tw.
Abstract:
Fluorescent carbon nanodots (C-dots; 4.3 ± 0.8 nm) from fresh tender ginger juice provide high suppression of the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2), with low toxicity to normal mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A) and normal liver cells (FL83B). The inhibition is selective to HepG2 over other tested cancer cells, including human lung cancer cell line (A549), human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231), and human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). Western blot results reveal that the C-dots up-regulate the expression of p53 protein only in the HepG2 cell line. The 50% inhibiting concentration (IC50) value of the C-dots on HepG2 cells is 0.35 mg mL-1. Image cytometry results show significant uptake of C-dots by HepG2 cells that induce intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS, 18.2-fold increased), while other cells remain almost the same in ROS levels after treatment with C-dots (1.11 mg mL-1). The C-dots trigger the pro-apoptotic factor to promote HepG2 cell apoptosis. The C-dots effectively inhibit the growth of tumors in nude mice (104 ± 14 vs. 3.7 ± 0.2 mg with and without treatment within 14 days).
Insights
Fluorescent carbon nanodots from ginger selectively inhibit liver cancer (HepG2) growth with low toxicity. These C-dots upregulate p53, increase reactive oxygen species, and induce apoptosis in cancer cells.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a significant global health challenge.
- Developing novel, targeted therapies with minimal side effects is crucial.
- Carbon nanodots (C-dots) are emerging as promising nanomaterials for biomedical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anti-cancer properties of fluorescent carbon nanodots derived from ginger extract.
- To evaluate the selectivity and efficacy of these C-dots against hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2).
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of C-dot-induced cancer cell death.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of fluorescent C-dots from ginger juice.
- In vitro cytotoxicity assays on HepG2, MCF-10A, FL83B, A549, MDA-MB-231, and HeLa cell lines.
- Western blot analysis for p53 protein expression.
- Image cytometry to assess C-dot uptake and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.
- In vivo tumor growth inhibition study in nude mice.
Main Results:
- C-dots demonstrated high suppression of HepG2 cell growth with low toxicity to normal cells.
- Selective inhibition of HepG2 cells over other tested cancer cell lines was observed.
- C-dots upregulated p53 expression specifically in HepG2 cells.
- Significant ROS production and apoptosis induction were noted in HepG2 cells.
- In vivo studies showed effective inhibition of tumor growth in nude mice.
Conclusions:
- Ginger-derived C-dots exhibit potent and selective anti-cancer activity against hepatocellular carcinoma.
- The mechanism involves p53 upregulation, ROS generation, and apoptosis induction.
- C-dots represent a potential therapeutic agent for liver cancer with favorable safety profile.
