Effect of Some Natural Products on Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The Pharmacological potential, such as antioxidant, anti- inflammatory and antibacterial activities of Ambrosia maritime (Demsisa) and Trigonella foenumgraecum (fenugreek) leaves and oil are well known so, the present study was designed aiming at highlighting the effect of Ambrosia maritime and Trigonella foenumgraecum leaves and oil on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. HepG2 cells were examined and molecular mechanisms were also investigated. Treatment with an apoptosis- inducing concentrations of (Demsisa) and (fenugreek) leaves and oil caused typical morphological changes and apoptotic blebbingin HepG2 cells. The apoptotic process triggered by them involved the up regulation of p53 and the down regulation of Bcl-2 and CDK4. The mRNA and protein expression levels of apoptosis-associated factors Bcl-2, p53 and CDK4 were therefore evaluated by qRT-PCR. the coordinate performance of these molecules is crucial for controlling life and death of cell. Our results demonstrated preliminary screening of anticancer activity of Demsisa and fenugreekextracts and oil against HepG2 cells, which can be further used for the development of a potential therapeutic anticancer agent. Demsisa extract was the most virulent one while anti-cancer activity decreased from Trigonella leaves to Trigonella oil respectively. Keywords: HepG2 cells -Apoptosis-p53- Bcl-2-cdk4- anticancer activity