• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.764-771
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• 2016

Extracts from Artemisia annua Linné (AAE) have been known to possess various functions, including anti-bacterial, anti-virus, and anti-oxidant effects. However, the mechanism of those effects of AAE is not well-known. The aim of this study was to analyze the inhibitory effects of AAE on cell proliferation of the human hepatoma cell line (Hep3B) and to examine its effects on apoptosis. Activation by phosphorylation of Akt is cell proliferation through the phosphorylation of TSC2, mTOR, and GSK-3β. We suggested that AAE may exert cancer cell apoptosis through Akt/mTOR/GSK-3β signal pathways and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic proteins. For this, we examined the effects of extracts of AAE on cell proliferation according to treatment concentration. Treatment with AAE not only reduced cell viability, but also resulted in the induced release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). These results were determined with a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. Furthermore, we determined the effects of apoptosis through Hoechst 33342 staining, annexinⅤ-propidium iodide (PI) staining, 5,5′, 6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethyl-imidacarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) staining, and Western blotting. Our study showed that the treatment of liver cancer cells with AAE resulted in the inhibition of Akt, TSC2, GSK-3β-phosphorylated, Bcl-2, and pro-caspase 3 and the activation of Bim, Bax, Bak, and cleaved PARP expressions. These results indicate that AAE induced apoptosis by means of a mitochondrial event through the regulate of Akt/mTOR/GSK-3β signaling pathways.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.384-389
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• 2014

The objective of the present study was to investigate the chemical composition of anthocyanin-enriched extract of radiation-induced blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.) mutant (${\gamma}$-B201) as well as the protective effect of ${\gamma}$-B201 against oxidative stress in vitro. The cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity, and DNA damage were assessed by WST-1 assay, flow cytometry, and comet assay, respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities were determined by using a commercial kit. The in vitro results showed that ${\gamma}$-B201 increased the cell viability, reduction of lactate dehydrogenase release, and intracellular ROS scavenging capacity in hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-treated HepG2 cells. Furthermore, treatment with ${\gamma}$-B201 attenuated DNA damage in $H_2O_2$-treated HepG2 cells and treatment with ${\gamma}$-B201 restored the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in $H_2O_2$-treated HepG2 cells. In conclusion, the present study suggests that ${\gamma}$-B201 blackberry extract can exert a significant cytoprotective effect against $H_2O_2$-induced cell damage.