Essential oil from Euphorbia esula inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells via mitochondrial dysfunction

Croton matourensis Aubl. (synonym Croton lanjouwensis Jabl.), popularly known as “orelha de burro”, “maravuvuia”, and/or “sangrad’água”, is a medicinal plant used in Brazilian folk medicine as a depurative and in the treatment of infections, fractures, and colds. In this work, we investigated the chemical composition and in vitro cytotoxic and in vivo antitumor effects of the essential oil (EO) from the leaves of C. matourensis collected from the Amazon rainforest. The EO was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus and characterized qualitatively and quantitatively by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC–FID), respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity of the EO was assessed in cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HCT116, HepG2, and HL-60) and the non-cancer cell line (MRC-5) using the Alamar blue assay. Furthermore, annexin V-FITC/PI staining and the cell cycle distribution were evaluated with EO-treated HepG2 cells by flow cytometry. In vivo efficacy of the EO (40 and 80 mg/kg/day) was demonstrated in C.B-17 severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice with HepG2 cell xenografts. The EO included β-caryophyllene, thunbergol, cembrene, p-cymene, and β-elemene as major constituents. The EO exhibited promising cytotoxicity and was able to cause phosphatidylserine externalization and DNA fragmentation without loss of the cell membrane integrity in HepG2 cells. In vivo tumor mass inhibition rates of the EO were 34.6% to 55.9%. Altogether, these data indicate the anticancer potential effect of C. matourensis.

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(‐)‐Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate Ameliorates Insulin Resistance and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in HepG2 Cells: Involvement of Bmal1

Molecular Nutrition & Food Research ◽

10.1002/mnfr.201700440 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 61 (12) ◽

pp. 1700440 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Yashi Mi ◽

Guoyuan Qi ◽

Yuqi Gao ◽

Runnan Li ◽

Yiwen Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Insulin Resistance ◽

Mitochondrial Dysfunction ◽

Hepg2 Cells

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Pink Lotus Essential Oil and Alleviates on Free Fatty Acid Induced Steatosis in HepG2 Cells via PI3K/Akt and NF-κB Pathways

Journal of Oleo Science ◽

10.5650/jos.ess21228 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 71 (1) ◽

pp. 95-104

Author(s):

Runzhou Sun ◽

Ruixin Xiao ◽

Pengfei Lv ◽

Feifei Guo ◽

Yanling Gong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Free Fatty Acid ◽

Essential Oil ◽

Hepg2 Cells

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Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Effects of the Red Ginseng Essential Oil in H2O2-Treated HepG2 Cells and CCl4-Treated Mice

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms13022314 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 2314-2330 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

Min-Ji Bak ◽

Mira Jun ◽

Woo-Sik Jeong

Keyword(s):

Essential Oil ◽

Hepg2 Cells ◽

Red Ginseng ◽

Hepatoprotective Effects

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Cyperus articulatus L. (Cyperaceae) Rhizome Essential Oil Causes Cell Cycle Arrest in the G2/M Phase and Cell Death in HepG2 Cells and Inhibits the Development of Tumors in a Xenograft Model

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules25112687 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (11) ◽

pp. 2687

Author(s):

Mateus L. Nogueira ◽

Emilly J. S. P. de Lima ◽

Asenate A. X. Adrião ◽

Sheila S. Fontes ◽

Valdenizia R. Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Gas Chromatography ◽

Cell Death ◽

Liver Cancer ◽

Essential Oil ◽

Cell Cycle Arrest ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Hepg2 Cells ◽

Cycle Arrest

Cyperus articulatus L. (Cyperaceae), popularly known in Brazil as “priprioca” or “piriprioca”, is a tropical and subtropical plant used in popular medical practices to treat many diseases, including cancer. In this study, C. articulatus rhizome essential oil (EO), collected from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, was addressed in relation to its chemical composition, induction of cell death in vitro and inhibition of tumor development in vivo, using human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells as a cell model. EO was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus and characterized qualitatively and quantitatively by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID), respectively. The cytotoxic activity of EO was examined against five cancer cell lines (HepG2, HCT116, MCF-7, HL-60 and B16-F10) and one non-cancerous one (MRC-5) using the Alamar blue assay. Cell cycle distribution and cell death were investigated using flow cytometry in HepG2 cells treated with EO after 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation. The cells were also stained with May–Grunwald–Giemsa to analyze the morphological changes. The anti-liver-cancer activity of EO in vivo was evaluated in C.B-17 severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice with HepG2 cell xenografts. The main representative substances of this EO sample were muskatone (11.6%), cyclocolorenone (10.3%), α-pinene (8.26%), pogostol (6.36%), α-copaene (4.83%) and caryophyllene oxide (4.82%). EO showed IC50 values for cancer cell lines ranging from 28.5 µg/mL for HepG2 to >50 µg/mL for HCT116, and an IC50 value for non-cancerous of 46.0 µg/mL (MRC-5), showing selectivity indices below 2-fold for all cancer cells tested. HepG2 cells treated with EO showed cell cycle arrest at G2/M along with internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. The morphological alterations included cell shrinkage and chromatin condensation. Treatment with EO also increased the percentage of apoptotic-like cells. The in vivo tumor mass inhibition rates of EO were 46.5–50.0%. The results obtained indicate the anti-liver-cancer potential of C. articulatus rhizome EO.

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