Background:
Despite significant advances in therapeutic interventions, liver cancer is the leading cause of cancer
mortality in the world. Potential phytochemicals have shown to be promising agents against many life-threatening diseases
because of their low toxicity and potential effectiveness.
Objective:
The current study aims to an in vitro investigation of the anticancer activity of Apricot Extract (AE) and Amygdalin Containing Fraction (ACF), additionally studying their therapeutic effects in DMBA-induced liver carcinogenesis
mice model to highlight their related biochemical and molecular mechanisms.
Methods and Results:
Amygdalin was isolated from the seeds of P. armeniaca L. Male mice received AE or ACF, DMBA,
DMBA+AE, DMBA+ACF, and vehicles. The oxidative stress and antioxidant markers, cell proliferation by flow cytometric
analysis of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) expression, angiogenesis marker (VEGF), inflammatory marker
(TNF-α), apoptotic, anti-apoptotic and autophagy genes expression (caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Beclin-1) were investigated.AE
and ACF were found to stimulate the apoptotic process by up-regulating caspase-3 expression and down-regulating Bcl-2
expression. They also reduce VEGF and PCNA levels and increasing the antioxidant defense system. Moreover, AE and
ACF treatments also inhibit HepG2 and EAC cell proliferation and up-regulate Beclin-1 expression.
Conclusion:
This study provides evidence that, in DMBA-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, the key proteins involved in the proliferation, angiogenesis, autophagy, and apoptosis are feasible molecular targets for hepatothrapeutic potential using AE and ACF.