• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.382-388
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• 1999

The effects of citrus flavonoids, hesperidin and naringin, on the lipid metabolism were investigated in cultured human hepatocyte HePG2 cells. HepG2 cells were cultured for 6 h and 24 h to the control medium or the media containing hespridin and narigin, which concentrations were 0.5 and 5.0 mg/$m\ell$. There were no significant effects on cell proliferation and cellular protein content, except for increased in these parameters by adding both citrus flavonoids (0.5 mg/$m\ell$). The cellular content of triacylglycerol after 6 h incubation with 0.5 mg/$m\ell$ hesperidin and naringin was markedly increased, and after 24 h incubation that was decreased in both citrus flavonoids supplementation. The supplementation of 5.0 mg/$m\ell$ hesperidin caused a marked decrease in the cellular cholesterol content following 6 h incubation, and that was also reduced markdly, in a dose-dependent manner, during incubation for 24 h. However, there was no significant difference in the cellular cholesterol content in medium supplemented with naringin. The effect of hesperidin and naringin on acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity was studied in vivo and in vitro. The data confirmed that hesperidin inhibit ACAT activity in vivo and in vitro, whereas naringin had no such effect on ACAT activity in vivo but not in vitro. The present study suggests that hesperidin reduces the cellular triacyglycerol and cholesterol contents in human hepatocyte HepG2 cells.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.273-279
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying apoptosis induced by a broussochalcone B (BCB) from Broussonetia papyrifera in HepG2 cells. The results showed that BCB treatment for 24 hr significantly inhibited cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, and induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. More so, BCB treatment triggered the cleavage of caspase-8, -9, -3, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), increase of Bax level, and decrease of Bcl-2 expression. A general caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) blocked BCB-induced cell death. Furthermore, BCB treatment caused reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, an antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) blocked BCB-induced ROS production and cell death. Therefore, these results indicate that BCB-induced apoptosis is mediated by a caspase dependent pathway and ROS production in HepG2 cells.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.241-246
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to examine the ameliorating effect of black ginseng on the growth of the HepG2 cell transplanted tumor in BALB/c nude mice. 27 male BALB/c nude mice (all six weeks old) were randomly divided into three groups: the control group, the first treatment group (HepG2300RG, using 300 mg/kg red ginseng), and the second treatment group (HepG2300BG, using 300 mg/kg black ginseng). The HepG2300BG in the HePG2 cells showed increased mean survival time than that of red ginseng group. The size and volume of the tumor in the 300BG group showed significant reduction compared to those of the HepG2300RG group (p<0.05). The body weight and liver weight of the HepG2300RG group was not significantly different with control and HepG2300BG group. The serum levels of ALT and AST in the HepG2300RG and HepG2300BG group were significantly lower than those of the control group. In conclusion, these results suggest that the black ginseng may have possible anti-tumor activities.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.553-560
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• 2012

Hizikia fusiformis, a brown alga that is widely consumed in Korea, Japan, and China, possesses a number of potentially beneficial compounds, including antioxidants and anticoagulants. However, the molecular mechanisms of H. fusiformis in hepatoma cells have not been elucidated. This study investigated the antiproliferative effect and mechanism of action of a glycoprotein from H. fusiformis (HFGP) in HepG2 human hepatoma cells. In an MTS assay, 25 ${\mu}g/mL$ HFGP inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells by $52.36{\pm}2.37%$. HFGP caused the dose-dependent growth inhibition of HepG2 cells by inducing apoptosis and a sub-G1 phase arrest. The antiproliferative activity of HFGP was confirmed based on the expression of several apoptosis-related proteins, which was assessed by Western blot analysis. The expressions of Fas, Fas-associated death domain protein, Bax, and Bad was significantly up-regulated in HFGP-treated cells, and HFGP induced the translocation of Bax to mitochondria and the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol. Therefore, HFGP might be useful in the treatment of liver cancer.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.329-332
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• 2006

Ethanolic extract of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) was examined for the cellular toxicity on HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Treatment with Aloe vera extract resulted in DNA fragmentation but not LDH release, suggesting an apoptosis instead of necrosis. Aloe vera induced cytotoxicity was mediated by decrease in ATP levels, whereas GSH depletion, increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$, or activation of caspase-3/7 could not be observed with statistical significance. No activation of caspase-3/7 suggests the possibility of caspase-independent apoptosis. Taken together, our results show that Aloe vera extract induce HepG2 apoptosis by ATP depletion-related impairment of mitochondria, which is caspase-independent.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.74-79
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• 2015

Objectives: Here we investigated the anti-lipogenic potential of kaurenoic acid (KA), a diterpene derived from Aralia continentalis, in a cellular model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with palmitate for 24h to induce intracellular lipid accumulation. To assess the influence of KA on steatotic HepG2 cells, various concentration of KA was co-administered. After palmitate treatment, Intracellular triglyceride content was measured. Expression level of several lipogenic genes, sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) were measured using Western-blot analyses or RT-PCR. Results: Palmitate markedly increased intracellular triglyceride level and expression of related lipogenic genes in HepG2 cells, and which was relieved by co-administered KA. Conclusions: It is conceivable that that KA may have a pharmacological potential to reduce lipid accumulation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 1997

The effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and its novel derivative, named as HS-1030, on the proliferation of HepG2, human hepatocellular carcinoma cells were investigated. Whereas UDCA had no significant effect in a concentration range we have tested, HS-1030 inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a concentration dependent manner. Surprisingly, HS-1030 had no effect on the proliferation of Human Chang liver cell which is a normal liver cell line. We also found that proliferation-inhibitory effect of HS-1030 was due to the induction of apoptosis of HepG2 cells, which was confirmed by observing the internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and morphological changes (ie., cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation and the formation of apoptotic bodies). These results suggest that HS-1030 may be a good candidate as a drug for the treatment of liver cancer.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.348-352
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• 2014

Black rice contains many biologically active compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of black rice extracts (whole grain extract, WGE and rice bran extract, RBE) on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-induced oxidative injury in HepG2 cells. Cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) concentrations were evaluated as biomarkers of cellular oxidative status. Cells pretreated with 50 and $100{\mu}g/mL$ of WGE or RBE were more resistant to oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner. The highest WGE and BRE concentrations enhanced GSH concentrations and modulated antioxidant enzyme activities (glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) compared to TBHP-treated cells. Cells treated with RBE showed higher protective effect compared to cells treated with WGE against oxidative insult. Black rice extracts attenuated oxidative insult by inhibiting cellular ROS and MDA increase and by modulating antioxidant enzyme activities in HepG2 cells.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.464-470
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• 2018

All the parts of the Cedrela sinensis A. Juss., including the seeds, roots, and leaves, have been known to exert medicinal effects. The C. sinensis and its major compound, quercetin, were previously reported to exhibit the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. However, the hepatoprotective effects of the C. sinensis leaves against the alcohol-induced oxidative stress in the HepG2 cells have not been studied. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activities and analyzed the flavonoid contents of the C. sinensis-leaf extract (CE). The total flavonoid contents of the CE is 1,874.5 mg/100 g dry weight (DW), while the total quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside (quercitrin) contents, which was identified as the major flavonol in the CE, is 1,456.0 mg/100 g DW. In the ethanol-stimulated HepG2 cells, the CE effectively prevented the cytotoxic effect and increased the gene expression of the antioxidant enzymes, such as the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and the glutathion peroxide (GPx). The level of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was significantly decreased in the CE-treated HepG2 cells. In conclusion, the C. sinensis extract suppressed the alcohol-induced oxidative stress in the HepG2 cells via the induced GPx and HO-1 gene expressions. It is expected the CE positive effects will likely be attributed to the flavonoids, like the quercetin, within the CE.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.117-130
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• 2008

Korean traditional medicine has been used for the treatment of the various diseases based on both oriental medicinal theory and clinical trials. Thus, the prescriptions of Korean traditional medicine would be useful for the development of new therapeutics. This research focuses on the fundamental study in Korean traditional prescriptions for the development of new hepatoprotective agents. We found two prescriptions. Injinho-Tang and Osumogwa-Tang, showed the significant DPPH free radical scavenging and hepatoprotective effect, respectively. It is well-known that free radical scavenging effect is related to the prevention of various pathological events including liver injury. This paper deals with hepatoprotective effects on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells, free radicals scavenging on both DPPH and superoxide of above two prescriptions. Hot water extract of Injinho-Tang did not show the significant hepatoprotective effect on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells, however, it shows the significant scavenging effects for both DPPH and superoxide radicals. On the other hand, all of the hot water extracts of constituent herbal drugs in Injinho-Tang exhibited the promising protective effect on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells. Of these, water extract of Rhei Rhizoma showed the most prominent effect on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells. Bioassay-guided fractionation of Rhei Rhizoma extract has furnished four compounds, and their chemical structures have been identified by comparison of their spectral data with those of literature as chrysophanol (1), emodin (2), 3,5-dihydroxy-4'- methoxystilbene (3), and rhapontigenin (4), respectively. Among the isolated compounds, compounds 2-4 revealed the significant hepatoprotective effect in vitro when their $EC_{50}$ values compare with that of silybin, as a positive control. It also exhibited that emodin possessed the most hepatoprotective effect among these active compounds. In case of Osumogwa-Tang, its hot water extract showed the moderate protective effect on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells. Hot water extract of Chaenomelis Fructus, one of the constituent herbal drug of this prescription, exhibited the significant hepatoprotective effect with $EC_{50}$ value of $7.8{\pm}0.1\;{\mu}g/ml$, however, it showed strong cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells above the concentration of $25\;{\mu}g/ml$. It was revealed that both hot water extract of Evodiae Fructus and its butanol soluble fraction showed the moderate hepatoprotective effect but concentration-dependent activity in Hep G2 assay system. Two quinolone alkaloids, evocarpine and dihydroevocarpine, also tested for their hepatoprotective effects on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells, however, these two compounds derived from the Evodiae Fructus as the major constituents did not show in vitro hepatoprotective effect. From these results, it would be necessary to further isolation of its hepatoprotective compounds from the butanol soluble fraction of the hot water extract of Evodiae Fructus.