Synergistic anticancer effect of A. absinthium extract and Taxol on human liver cancer cell line

Abstract

Liver cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death globally. among of the most widely used medicinal plants of the Artemisia genus belongs to the Compositae (Asteraceae) family; Artemisia absinthium is one of the important species of this genus. In the present study, the ability of A. absinthium extract alone and in combination with Taxol to induce apoptosis in HepG2 cell line was investigated.

In this experimental study, first A. absinthium methanolic extract was prepared, then, the cytotoxic effect of combined use of A. absinthium extract with Taxol on HepG2 cells proliferation was investigated using MTT test; DAPI staining and flow cytometry analysis were also used to evaluate apoptosis in treated cells; Changes in the expression level of apoptotic genes were evaluated by Real-time PCR; Quantitative data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA at a significant level of p <0.05.

The results of the MTT test showed that the combination of A. absinthium extract with Taxol inhibits the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Morphological observations obtained from DAPI method and the results of flow cytometry analysis showed an increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells in the treatment groups. Analysis of the Real-time PCR showed an increase in the expression of apoptotic genes in the treatment groups.

The findings of this study showed that the combined use of A. absinthium extract with taxol inhibits the proliferation of HepG2 cancer cells and induces apoptosis.

Keywords: Liver cancer, Artemisia absinthium, Taxol, Apoptosis