The anti-hepatoma activity of Juniperus indica Bertol extract in vitro

Purpose: Juniperus indica Bertol is belong to Juniperus genus and Juniperus used to treat infections and diabetes in usage of herbal medicine, and scientific studies have proven that it has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. However, it is still not clear whether J. indica Bertol extract (JIB extract) has anti-hepatoma activity. Therefore, this study investigated the mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer activity of JIB extract in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most malignant cancers and its prevalence has increased over the past few years. Patients with HCC often do not respond effectively to chemotherapy; therefore, other therapeutic approaches are required to treat the disease. Methods: Using Juniperus indica Bertol extract (JIB extract) treated hepatoma cell lines and detected anticancer effects with MTT assay, cell cycle analysis, TUNEL assay, Western blot and statistical analysis to verify JIB extract suppressed hepatoma cell survival, anti-proliferation activities, cell cycle arrest and tumor apoptosis induction pathways. Results: Our results indicated that the anti-cancer activity of JIB extract in HCC involved blocking the cell cycle progression by reducing phosphorylated Rb and increasing p21 levels. Moreover, JIB extract triggered HCC cell death by inducing caspase dependent apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, JIB extract reduced VEGF/VEGFR1/VEGFR2 levels, which are associated with tumor angiogenesis and proliferation, and suppressed MMP2 levels to exert an antimetastatic capacity. Conclusion: JIB extract might be developed as an anti-cancer agent for clinical treatment or daily prevention.