Effects of Terminalia arjuna bark extract on apoptosis of human hepatoma cell line HepG2.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of Terminalia arjuna (T. arjuna) extract on human hepatoma cell line (HepG2) and its possible role in induction of apoptosis.


METHODS
Human hepatoma cells were treated with different concentrations of ethanolic extract of T. arjuna and its cytotoxicity effect was measured by trypan blue exclusion method and lactate dehydrogenase leakage assay. Apoptosis was analyzed by light and fluorescence microscopic methods, and DNA fragmentation. The mechanism of apoptosis was studied with expression of p53 and caspase-3 proteins. Glutathione (GSH) content was also measured in HepG2 cells after T. arjuna treatment.


RESULTS
T. arjuna inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Apoptotic morphology was observed in HepG2 cells treated with T. arjuna at the concentrations of 60 and 100 mg/L. DNA fragmentation, accumulation of p53 and cleavage of procaspase-3 protein were observed in HepG2 cells after the treatment with T. arjuna. The depletion of GSH was observed in HepG2 cells treated with T. arjuna.


CONCLUSIONS
T. arjuna induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells in vitro. Apoptosis of HepG2 cells may be due to the DNA damage and expression of apoptotic proteins. Depletion of GSH may be involved in the induction of apoptosis of HepG2 cells.
Department of Pharmacology and Environmental Toxicology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai-600 113, Tamil Nadu, India.
Sarveswaran
S
Sivalokanathan
Marati Radhakrishnan
MR
Vijayababu
Maruthaiveeran Periyasamy
MP
Balasubramanian
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004249:DNA Damage; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D045022:Lactate Dehydrogenases / Q000032:analysis; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029766:Terminalia; D014343:Trypan Blue; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D045022:Lactate Dehydrogenases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D005978:Glutathione; D014343:Trypan Blue