The anti-inflammatory effect of Artemisia absinthium extract on cell growth through targeting PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line

Abstract

Nuha A. Alkhattabi* and Nesrin I. Tarbiah*

Objective: Artemisia absinthium’s biological activity has been investigated for possible therapeutic applications. It is a plant that may be used in cancer treatment. The biochemical and molecular mechanisms of Artemisia absinthium Extract (AAE) treatment in the hepatic cancer HepG-2 cell line were investigated in this work.

Method: Phytochemical profiling was performed using quantitative methods and GC-MS analysis to assess phytoconstituents in AAE. The in vitro cytotoxic effect of AAE on HepG-2 cellular viability was determined to assess the inhibitory concentrations that kill 50% of cells (IC50, μg/ml). Apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were investigated using flow cytometry analysis. Furthermore, gene expression levels of PI3K/Akt/mTOR genes as well as their protein levels in the AAE-treated HepG-2 and untreated cells, were evaluated.

Results: The results showed that AAE has adequate phytochemical content. The IC50 of AAE for HepG-2cells was calculated after 48 hours to be 186.89 ± 1.56 μg/ml. AAE treatment led to a marked decrease in the percentages of viable HepG-2 cells with a significant increase in the percentages of necrotic and apoptotic cells. Significant increase in the HepG-2 count was recorded in the sub G1 and G1 phases post the treatment with AAE IC50. The treatment with AAE led to a significant decrease in the cells’ proportion in the S-phase and G2/M phase. AAE treatment resulted in significant downregulation in the expression of the PI3K, Akt, and mTOR genes and their protein in HepG-2 cell lines.

Conclusion: Targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, the results suggest that AAE has the potential to be an anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative agent against HepG-2 cells.