Anticancer Activity of L.: Possible Involvement of Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway.

Liver cancer is the most common cause of mortality in men and women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the methanolic extract of aerial parts of L (LS) for its anticancer activity on HCC cell lines. Human HCC cell lines, Huh-7 and HSC-T6 were used for cytotoxicity assay, determination of ROS and gene expression analysis (p53, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9). Western blotting was used to assess ERK, AKT, and Caspase-3 activation. HPLC-MS analysis was also performed to determine the phytochemicals present in LS-M extract. LS-M extract has increased the expression of proapoptotic genes, including , , and and down-regulated the activation of ERK and Akt. The caspase-3 activity as well as the ROS generation were significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner compared to control. The carotenoids, lutein and beta carotene present in LS-M extract exhibited anticancer activity. In overall, the methanolic extract of LS induces apoptosis in Huh-7 as well as in HSC-T6 cells possibly involving a ROS-mediated mitochondrial signaling pathway. The methanolic extract of LS induces apoptosis in Huh-7 as well as in HSC-T6 cells possibly involving a ROS-mediated mitochondrial signaling pathway[Formula: see text].