THE ANTI-PROLIFERATIVE EFFECT OF HESPERIDIN ON HEPATOCARCINOMA CELLS

Abstract

This study, investigates the antiproliferative effect of hesperidin on human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cell line. Different concentrations of hesperidin 25, 50 and 100 µM were used for different time intervals 24, 48 and 72 hrs, while untreated cells were served as control. The effects of different concentrations of hesperidin on HepG2 cell viability, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) gene expression and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were measured. The results of the cell viability assays showed that hesperidin concentrations exhibited a highly significant inhibition effect on HepG2 cell proliferation which was evidenced by reduction in viable cells count. The results were confirmed by microscopical observations of cell morphology. Furthermore, hesperidin suppressed the activity of NF-kB gene expression of HepG2 cells compared to the control. Also it caused a highly significant depression in the level of AFP in HepG2 cells compared with that of controls in time dependent manner. Therefore, the conclusion was that hesperidin inhibits the growth of HepG2 cells through suppressing the activity of NF-kB gene expression and modulates the biochemical marker AFP.

KEY WORDS: HepG2 cell line, Hesperidin, NF-kB, Antiproliferative effect.