title: Induction of apoptosis by pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) hull extract and its molecular mechanisms of action in human hepatoma cell line HepG2.
abstract: Several important Pistacia species such as P. vera have been traditionally used for treating a wide range of diseases (for instance, liver-related disorders). There is a relative lack of research into pharmacological aspects of pistachio hull. Hence, this study was aimed at investigating whether pistachio rosy hull (PRH) extract exerts apoptotic impacts on HepG2 liver cancer cell line. In order to evaluate cell viability and apoptosis in response to treatment with the extract, MTT assay and Annexin-V-fluorescein/propidium iodide (PI) double staining were performed, respectively. Moreover, molecular mechanism of apoptosis induced by the extract was determined using human apoptosis PCR array. Our findings showed that PRH extract treatment reduced cell viability (IC50 ~ 0.3 mg/ml) in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the extract significantly induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. In addition, quantitative PCR array results demonstrated the regulation of a considerable number of apoptosis-related genes belonging to the TNF, BCL2, IAP, TRAF, and caspase families. We observed altered expression of both pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes associated with the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis signaling pathways. These results suggest that the aqueous extract of PRH possesses apoptotic activity through cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effects on HepG2 cells.
authors.affiliation: Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center Rafsanjan Iran.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fathalizadeh
authors.affiliation: Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center Rafsanjan Iran.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bagheri
authors.affiliation: Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Molecular Medicine Research Center Rafsanjan Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khorramdelazad
authors.affiliation: Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center Rafsanjan Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kazemi Arababadi
authors.affiliation: Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Department of Microbiology and Immunology Rafsanjan Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jafarzadeh
authors.affiliation: Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Molecular Medicine Research Center Rafsanjan Iran.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mirzaei
authors.affiliation: Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Rafsanjan Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shamsizadeh
authors.affiliation: Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Molecular Medicine Research Center Rafsanjan Iran hajizadehus@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hajizadeh
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D056945:Hep G2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry; D027927:Pistacia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts