The main objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antiproliferative effects of
isoalantolactone against
liver cancer cells (Hep-G2) and also monitor its mechanism of action. The MTT assay was involved in proliferation assessments and phase contrast microscopy was used to check cellular morphology.
Acridine orange/
ethidium bromide staining along with western blotting was used to evaluate proapoptotic effects of
isoalantolactone.
DCFH-DA staining was used in ROS measurements. Transwell migration and invasion assay were executed to check the effects of
isoalantolactone on migration and invasion of Hep-G2 cells. Western blotting was used to check the expressions of Ras/Raf/
MEK signalling pathway in Hep-G2 cells. Results demonstrated that
isoalantolactone significantly (*p<0.05 and **p<0.01) inhibited the proliferation of Hep-G2 cells in a concentration and time-reliant fashion. The IC50 value of the tested
isoalantolactone molecule was found to be 71.2 µM and 53.4 µM at 12 h and 24 h time intervals respectively. Moreover, the antiproliferative effects of
isoalantolactone were mediated through induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis and oxidative stress (ROS mediated). The proapoptotic effects of
isoalantolactone were evident from morphological assessments and improved expressions of
caspase-3, -8, and -9 and Bax while antiapoptotic Bcl-2 was reduced significantly. Additionally, antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of
isoalantolactone were found to be a consequence of blocking of Ras/Raf/
MEK signalling in Hep-G2 cells. Furthermore,
isoalantolactone significantly (*p<0.05) targeted the migration and invasion of Hep-G2 cells. In conclusion, these results validated that
isoalantolactone shows strong antiproliferative activity against Hep-G2
liver cancer cells. Therefore, it could prove as a leading candidate in
liver cancer research, drug discovery and design.