title: In VitroProtective Effects ofLycium barbarumBerries Cultivated in Umbria (Italy) on Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.
abstract: Lycium barbarumis a famous plant in the traditional Chinese medicine. The plant is known to have health-promoting bioactive components. The properties ofLycium barbarumberries cultivated in Umbria (Italy) and their effect on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) have been investigated in this work. The obtained results demonstrated that theLycium barbarumberries from Umbria region display high antioxidant properties evaluated by total phenolic content and ORAC method, on hydrophilic and lipophilic fractions. Moreover, on HepG2 cell lineLycium barbarumberries extract did not change cell viability analyzed by MTT and Trypan blue exclusion assay and did not induce genotoxic effect analyzed by comet assay. Furthermore, it was demonstrated, for the first time, that the berries extract showed a protective effect on DNA damage, expressed as antigenotoxic activityin vitro. Finally,Lycium barbarumberries extract was able to modulate the expression of genes involved in oxidative stress, proliferation, apoptosis, and cancer. In particular, downexpression of genes involved in tumor migration and invasion (CCL5), in increased risk of metastasis and antiapoptotic signal (DUSP1), and in carcinogenesis (GPx-3 and PTGS1), together with overexpression of tumor suppressor gene (MT3), suggested that UmbrianLycium barbarumberries could play a protective role against hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Perugia, Via Fabretti 48, 06122 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: M R
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5344-4890
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ceccarini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Perugia, Via Fabretti 48, 06122 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9940-4544
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vannini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Perugia, Via Fabretti 48, 06122 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cataldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Perugia, Via Fabretti 48, 06122 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5038-8619
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Perugia, Via Fabretti 48, 06122 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8769-883X
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villarini
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fioretti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Perugia, Via Fabretti 48, 06122 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5745-5343
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Albi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Perugia, Via Fabretti 48, 06122 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beccari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Perugia, Via Fabretti 48, 06122 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1562-4495
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Codini
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000517:prevention & control*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D032305:Lycium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts