Hydroalcoholic Extract Induces Apoptosis and Alters and Gene Expression in Hela Cervical Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND

Inappropriate activation of the proto-oncogene LIN28B and inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor, have been shown to have a critical role in tumorigenesis. Previous research has shown therapeutic potential for the use of herbal plants as an alternative strategy for cancer treatment. C. Koch is a plant that has been traditionally used for its medicinal properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effect of hydroalcoholic extract () on HeLa cervical cancer cells and its effect on and expression.

METHODS

The cytotoxic activity of was evaluated on HeLa cells using a trypan blue exclusion assay. The Annexin V/PI double staining assay was used to evaluate the apoptosis-inducing effect of the extract. The expression of and mRNA was measured using the real-time-PCR method.

RESULTS

Treatment with was shown to induce cytotoxicity in both time and concentration-dependent manners (P<0.05). The proposition of HeLa cells undergoing apoptosis increased with increasing concentrations of (P<0.05). The mRNA levels of p53 increased following 12, 24, and 48 hours of AWHE treatment whereas the mRNA levels of were significantly decreased after 4 to 12 hours of treatment (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our findings confirmed the pro-apoptotic function of on the cervical cancer HeLa cell line. This indicates that targeting the LIN28B signaling cascade may be a promising therapeutic strategy for cervical cancer. Further research is required to understand the therapeutic effects of in primary human cervical cancer cells and a pre-clinical cervical cancer model.