Anticancer Effects of Typhae Pollen on HepG2 Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• Published in: Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 261 - 270
• Main Authors: Joo, Jeong-Hyun, Kim, Kyung-Soon, Choi, Hong-Sik, Kim, Seung-Mo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 한의병리학회 31.08.2018
• Subjects: 한의학; HepG2; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Anti-cancer; Typhae Pollen
• ISSN: 1738-7698; 2288-2529
• DOI: 10.15188/kjopp.2018.08.32.4.261

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor activities of Typhae pollen (TP) by confirming in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo anti-tumor and immune-modulatory effect with anti-cachexia effect. The MTT assay is used in HepG2 cell to detect potential cytotoxic activities of aqueous extract of Typhae pollen (TPe). After HepG2 tumor cell implantation, eight mice per groups were assigned to six groups. Three different dosages of TPe (500, 250 and 125 ㎎/㎏) were orally administered in the amount of 10 ㎖/㎏ and sorafenib also administered 20㎎/㎏, every day for 35 days from 28 days after the tumor cell implantation. We observed the changes on body weights, tumor volume and weights, lymphatic organ, serum interferon (IFN)-γ levels, splenocytes and peritoneal NK cell activity, splenic tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10 contents. Periovarian fat weights, serum IL-6 levels, thicknesses of deposited periovarian adipose tissue and mean diameters were also detected to monitor the tumor-related anticachexic effects. In tumor masses, the immunoreactivities of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (cleaved PARP) - apoptotic marks, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were additionally observed by immunohistochemistry. The results were compared with sorafenib. Decreases of COX-2 were demonstrated in sorafenib and TPe treated mice and also increases of iNOS in tumor masses were observed in TPe, not in sorafenib. TPe increased periovarian fat pad weights compared with tumor-bearing controls and sorafenib treated mice. TPe showed increases of splenic TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-1β, serum IFN-γ and NK cell activities corresponding to increases of spleen weights, lymph node weights and non-atrophic changes of lymph nodes. Our results show oral treatment of TPe 500, 250 and 125 ㎎/㎏ has potent in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities through modest cytotoxic effects, immunomodulatory effects and apoptotic activities in HepG2 tumor cells. In addition, TPe can prevent cancer related cachexia. KCI Citation Count: 0