title: Induction of apoptosis by ethanolic extract of Corchorus olitorius leaf in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells via a mitochondria-dependent pathway.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, No. 701, Sec. 3, Zhongyang Rd., Hualien City, 970, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Jung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shang-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Meng-Yu
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yu-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shih-Fang
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: Jong-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chyuan
authors.forename: Hsue-Yin
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D032381:Corchorus / Q000737:chemistry*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D000431:Ethanol