title: Ultrasonication processed Panax ginseng berry extract induces apoptosis through an intrinsic apoptosis pathway in HepG2 cells.
abstract: Ginseng's major active components, ginsenosides, have been known to show anti-cancer, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory activities. Ultrasonication processed Panax ginseng berry extract (UGB) contains various ginsenosides. The components are different from Panax ginseng berry extract (GBE). This study was aimed to investigate the cytotoxic mechanism of UGB in HepG2 cells, human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. HepG2 cells were treated with UGB (0, 10, 20 μg/ml). Cell growth and cellular apoptosis were evaluated by MTT assay and Annexin V/Pi staining, respectively. Intracellular Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were also determined by 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFDA) staining. The expressions of Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3, the apoptotic markers, were evaluated by Western Blot. UGB dose-dependently inhibited cell growth and induced apoptotic cell death. Intracellular ROS levels were increased. UGB increased the expression of the cleaved form of caspase-3. Furthermore, UGB induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells through Bax activation and Bcl-2 inhibition. In conclusion, UGB induced apoptosis through an intrinsic pathway in HepG2 cells suggesting that UGB might play a role as a novel substance for anti-cancer effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 156-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyunwoo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 156-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jinhyung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Medical Food & Nutrition, Semyung University, Jecheon, Choongbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Kwon
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 156-756, Republic of Korea. udsohn@cau.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Uy Dong
authors.initials: UD
authors.lastname: Sohn
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013010:Sonication; D000069453:Ultrasonic Waves; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C494826:BAX protein, human; C000595707:BCL2 protein, human; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D053148:Caspase 3
keywords: Anti-cancer effect; Apoptosis; HepG2 cells; UGB