Wormwood used to induce apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Researchers from South Korea have found that Artemisia capillaris, commonly known as wormwood, can inhibit the spread of hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing apoptosis. The study, which appeared in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, used an ethanol fraction of A. capillaris to determine its anti-cancer properties and its mode of action.

• In traditional medicine, A. capillaris has been used t o protect the liver and prevent inflammation.
• The team obtained an ethanol fraction (LAC117) of A. capillaris using its dried leaves and tested its ability to protect against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In addition, they also investigated the underlying mechanisms for this biological activity.
• LAC117 was subjected to MTT and BrdU assays to assess its anti-proliferative effect, while Western blot and immunohistochemistry from in vivo mouse grafts were used to determine its apoptotic effect on cleaved PARP and caspase-3 expressions.
• The findings revealed that LAC117 was able to inhibit the proliferation of human HCC cell lines (HepG2 and Huh7) and induce apoptosis in both TUNEL-positive cells and cleaved caspase-3 and PARP expressions.
• This effect was observed following a decrease in XIAP expressions and an increase in cytochrome c releases in the mitochondria. It also affected the PI3K/AKT pathway in HCC, which let to tumor suppression and spread.

The study indicates that LAC117 significantly reduces apoptosis and inhibits the growth of human HCC cells.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

Learn more about natural ways to beat cancer at Cancer.news.

Journal Reference:

Kim J, Jung KH, Yan HH, Cheon MJ, Kang S, Jin X, Park S, Oh MS, Hong SS. ARTEMISIA CAPILLARIS LEAVES INHIBIT CELL PROLIFERATION AND INDUCE APOPTOSIS IN HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2018;18(147). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-018-2217-6