GROWTH INHIBITORY ACTIVITY OF ELSHOLTZIA CILIATA (THUNB.) HYLAND EXTRACT ON LIVER CANCER CELLS HEPG2

Abstract

Liver cancer is the leading cancer causing death in the world. Studies on the anti-cancer potential of many other herbal species are of current interest. Elsholtzia ciliata (Thunb.) Hyland belongs to the genus Elsholtzia and is commonly used as a spice. It is also used as a remedy for colds and flu. However, its ability to inhibit liver cancer cells has not been studied. In this study, the methods of culture, cytotoxicity analysis, cell cycle and apoptosis are applied to evaluate the anti-cancer ability of Elsholtzia ciliata extract. The results showed that the leaf extract of Elsholtzia ciliata changed cell morphology at concentrations from 100 - 200 µg/mL compared to control. The extract effectively inhibited the proliferation of HepG2, the percentage of viable cells reduced to 41 ± 10.5% (at concentration of 100 µg/mL) and 20.4 ± 7.7% (at concentration of 200 µg/mL) compared to the control (P < 0.05). The extract stopped the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase (62.1 ± 3.5% vs 51.3 ± 4.2%, P < 0.05) and induced cellular apoptosis (P < 0.05). This study shows that Elsholtzia ciliata is a potential herb against liver cancer cells.