Apoptotic activity of ethanol extract from Styrax Japonica Siebold et al Zuccarini in HepG2 cells.
BACKGROUND
Styrax japonica Siebold et al Zuccarini (SJSZ) has been used to heal inflammation and bronchitis as an herbal plant in Korea.


OBJECTIVE
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.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Lee
Jin
J
Molecular 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.
Lim
Kye-Taek
KT
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000431:Ethanol; D005638:Fruit; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D032362:Styrax
D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000431:Ethanol