The aim of the current study is to investigate the anti-cancer activity of propolis on liver cancer, with a mechanistic approach. Ethanol extract of the collected propolis was prepared using maceration technique and anti-cancer activity of the extract was investigated on liver hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2 and Hep3B cells) by focusing on viability, intracellular ROS level, total antioxidant status and apoptosis through caspase-3 activity. Total flavonoid content, total phenolic content and ferric reducing antioxidant potential values of the propolis were determined as 505.12 ± 10.08 (mg QE/g), 308.72 ± 5.33 (mg GAE/g) and 247.64 ± 7.27 (mg Tro/g), respectively. Ethanol extract of the propolis induced statistically significant (p < 0.01) decreases in viability of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, HepG2 and Hep3B cells, as evidenced by IC50 values (e.g. IC 50 values of 72 h treated HepG2 and Hep3B cells were 25.62 ± 1.50 and 31.74 ± 2.72 μg/mL, respectively). These powerful cytotoxic effects are caused by statistically significant (p < 0.01) decrease in intracellular ROS level by natural antioxidants such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, as well as statistically significant (p < 0.01) increase in apoptosis induced by caspase-3 activity. These results suggest the great potential of propolis as a potent anti-tumor compound in liver cancer treatment for further researches.
Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, propolis, flavonoid, polyphenols, ROS, caspase-3
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