title: Pfaffosidic Fraction from Hebanthe paniculata Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Caspase-3-Induced Apoptosis in HepG2 Cells.
abstract: Hebanthe paniculata roots (formerly Pfaffia paniculata and popularly known as Brazilian ginseng) show antineoplastic, chemopreventive, and antiproliferative properties. Functional properties of these roots and their extracts are usually attributed to the pfaffosidic fraction, which is composed mainly by pfaffosides A-F. However, the therapeutic potential of this fraction in cancer cells is not yet entirely understood. This study aimed to analyze the antitumoral effects of the purified pfaffosidic fraction or saponinic fraction on the human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell line. Cellular viability, proliferation, and apoptosis were evaluated, respectively, by MTT assay, BrdU incorporation, activated caspase-3 immunocytochemistry, and DNA fragmentation assay. Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry and the cell cycle-related proteins were analyzed by quantitative PCR and Western blot. The cells exposed to pfaffosidic fraction had reduced viability and cellular growth, induced G2/M at 48 h or S at 72 h arrest, and increased sub-G1 cell population via cyclin E downregulation, p27(KIP1) overexpression, and caspase-3-induced apoptosis, without affecting the DNA integrity. Antitumoral effects of pfaffosidic fraction from H. paniculata in HepG2 cells originated by multimechanisms of action might be associated with cell cycle arrest in the S phase, by CDK2 and cyclin E downregulation and p27(KIP1) overexpression, besides induction of apoptosis through caspase-3 activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tereza Cristina
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cogliati
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andréia Oliveira
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Latorre
authors.affiliation: School of Pindamonhangaba, Avenida Nossa Senhora do Bom Sucesso 3344, Campo Alegre, 12420-010 Pindamonhangaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gokithi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akisue
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcia Kazumi
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nagamine
authors.affiliation: Section of Pharmacology, Division of Animal Biology, Biological Institute of São Paulo, Avenida Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves 1.252, Vila Mariana, 04014-002 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mitsue
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haraguchi
authors.affiliation: Section of Pharmacology, Division of Animal Biology, Biological Institute of São Paulo, Avenida Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves 1.252, Vila Mariana, 04014-002 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daiane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Soares
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sanches
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Lúcia Zaidan
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dagli