Agrimonia pilosa ethanol extract induces apoptotic cell death in HepG2 cells.

BACKGROUND

Agrimonia pilosa (AP) has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for treating various cancers and diseases in Asian countries.

METHODS

Cell viability along with caspase-3/-7, caspase-8 and caspase-9 activity were measured to detect apoptosis. The activity of the apoptotic factors bcl-2, bcl-xl, mcl-1, XIAP, BID, BIK, caspase-3, caspase-9 and PARP were measured by Western blotting. FACS analysis was used to analyze the cell cycle.

RESULTS

APE inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells. Growth inhibition was associated with increased caspase activity and sub-G1 apoptotic fractions. When we measured the affect of APE on intracellular signaling, APE stimulated the apoptotic factors bcl-2, bcl-xl, mcl-1, XIAP, BID, BIK, caspase-3, caspase-9 and PARP in HepG2 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that APE induces programmed cell death (apoptosis) in HepG2 cells and demonstrates one of the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of the extract reported in previous studies.