Apoptosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Induced by Nanoencapsulated Polysaccharides Extracted from Antrodia Camphorata.
Antrodia camphorata is a well-known medicinal mushroom in Taiwan and has been studied for decades, especially with focus on anti-cancer activity. Polysaccharides are the major bioactive compounds reported with anti-cancer activity, but the debates on how they target cells still remain. Research addressing the encapsulation of polysaccharides from A. camphorata extract (ACE) to enhance anti-cancer activity is rare. In this study, ACE polysaccharides were nano-encapsulated in chitosan-silica and silica (expressed as ACE/CS and ACE/S, respectively) to evaluate the apoptosis effect on a hepatoma cell line (Hep G2). The results showed that ACE polysaccharides, ACE/CS and ACE/S all could damage the Hep G2 cell membrane and cause cell death, especially in the ACE/CS group. In apoptosis assays, DNA fragmentation and sub-G1 phase populations were increased, and the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased significantly after treatments. ACE/CS and ACE/S could also increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, induce Fas/APO-1 (apoptosis antigen 1) expression and elevate the proteolytic activities of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9 in Hep G2 cells. Unsurprisingly, ACE/CS induced a similar apoptosis mechanism at a lower dosage (ACE polysaccharides = 13.2 μg/mL) than those of ACE/S (ACE polysaccharides = 21.2 μg/mL) and ACE polysaccharides (25 μg/mL). Therefore, the encapsulation of ACE polysaccharides by chitosan-silica nanoparticles may provide a viable approach for enhancing anti-tumor efficacy in liver cancer cells.
Department of Food Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.
Jenq-Sheng
JS
Chang
Department of Food Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.
Hsiang-Ping
HP
Kuo
Department of Food Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.
Ke Liang B
KL
Chang
Department of Food Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.
Zwe-Ling
ZL
Kong
D000363:Agaricales / Q000737:chemistry; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D055491:Antrodia / Q000737:chemistry*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013624:Taiwan; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001685:Biological Factors; C491901:FAS protein, human; D011134:Polysaccharides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D019014:fas Receptor; D048271:Chitosan; D020169:Caspases