title: Effects of Ixeris Chinensis (Thunb.) Nakai boiling water extract on hepatitis B viral activity and hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and hepatocellular carcinoma are major diseases that affect the Taiwanese population. Therefore, the development of an alternative herbal medicine that can effectively treat these diseases is a research target. In this study, we tested Ixeris Chinensis (Thunb.) Nakai boiling water extract (ICTN BWE) in vitro and analysed its effects on the HBV and liver cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a human liver cancer cell line (Hep3B, a cell line that continuously secretes HBV particles into a medium) as an experimental model for the screening of various ICTN BWE concentrations and their effects on the HBV in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that 75 µg/mL ICTN BWE downregulated the relative expression of the hepatitis B virus surface antigens (HBsAg) to 77.1%. Using the human liver cancer cell lines HuH-7 and HepG2, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-zyl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and tumour clonogenic assays, we then showed that ICTN BWE inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma growth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluorescent microscopy of DAPI(4',6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole)-stained nuclei and DNA fragmentation assays confirmed the inhibitory effects of ICTN BWE on liver tumour cell growth through induction of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Technology, College of Medical Sciences and Technology, Yuanpei University, HsinChu City 30015, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ko-Nien
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Technology, College of Medical Sciences and Technology, Yuanpei University, HsinChu City 30015, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Tao
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering and Health, College of Health Sciences, Yuanpei University, HsinChu City 30015, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chung-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Internal Medicine Department, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, 50006, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis; D019659:Asteraceae; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Ixeris Chinensis (Thunb.) Nakai; antihepatitis B virus; antihepatocellular carcinoma; apoptosis; herbal medicine