title: Suppression of human hepatocellular cancer cell proliferation by Brucea javanica oil-loaded liposomes via induction of apoptosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a type of malignancy with high incidence and poor prognosis. Brucea javanica is extracted from Simaroubaceae plants. It is found to have low toxicity but high anti-cancer efficiency. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of Brucea javanica oil-loaded liposomes (BJOL) on human hepatocellular cancer cell line HepG2. The related molecular mechanisms were determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morphologic changes of HepG2 cells were observed by transmission electron microscope after treatment with BJOL in vitro. Cell proliferation was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay after cell treatment with different doses of BJOL. Flow cytometry was performed. Nude mice were divided into 4 groups randomly and treated with different doses of BJOL. The apoptosis hepatocellular carcinoma was detected by TUNEL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proliferation of HepG2 was inhibited significantly by BJOL in a dose-dependent manner (2.5 mg/l or 5 mg/l). Compared with the animal models treated with the negative control, the animal models in the BJOL group had higher weight and lower metastasis rates (p < 0.01). The rate of apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue of the BJOL groups was increased when compared with the control group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brucea javanica oil-loaded liposomes inhibits proliferation of HepG2. The effect appears to be dose-dependent, possibly by inducing apoptosis of cancer cells.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Yue
authors: Hospital of Luonan, Luonan, China.
authors: Yumin
authors: Y
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Shi
authors: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Zuoren
authors: Z
authors: Wang
keywords: Brucea javanica oil-loaded liposomes; apoptosis; hepatocellular carcinoma