Abstract

Lonicera japonica Thunb. (L. japonica T.) has been used in Korean traditional medicine for long time because of its anti-cancer and hepatic protective effect. In this study, we investigated polyphenolic extract in L. japonica T. using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) and its anti-cancer effect on hepatocarcinoma cells. Human HepG2 cell line was treated with various concentrations of polyphenolic extract. Apoptosis was detective by cell morphology, cell cycle analysis and immunoblot analysis. Polyphenolic extract inhibited cell proliferation at 48h in a dose-dependent manner. Polyphenolic extract affected HepG2 cell viability by inhibiting cell cycle progression at the G2/M transition and inducing apoptosis. Polyphenolic extract also decreased the expression of CDK1, CDC25C, cyclin B1, pro-caspases-3 and -9 and poly ADP ribose polymerase, and affected the levels of mitochondrial apoptotic-related proteins. The phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase ½ (ERK 1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p-38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were increased in HepG2 cells treated with polyphenolic extract, whereas Akt was dephosphorylated. These results indicate that inhibition of PI3K/Akt and activation of MAPKs are pivotal in G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of human hepatocarcinoma cells mediated by polyphenolic extract.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.