Anticancer activity of Aloe vera and Calligonum comosum extracts separetely on hepatocellular carcinoma cells

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the in vitro anticancer effect of Aloe vera ( A. vera ) and Calligonum comosum ( C. comosum ) extracts against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. Methods HepG2 cells were tested against different doses of A. vera and C. comosum . Viability of the cells was assessed by MTT assay. Evaluation of apoptosis and DNA damage in HepG2 cells were performed using annexin V apoptosis detection kit. The expression of p53 and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) were tested by real time-PCR and flow cytometer analyser. Hematoxylin and eosin stained sections from untreated and treated HepG2 cells were observed using light microscopy. Results The IC 50 values of A. vera and C. comosum extracts were (10.45 ± 0.31) and (9.60 ± 0.01) µg/mL respectively. The extracts separately increased cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells in a time and dose dependent manners. Also, it apparently induced apoptosis through increase P53 and decrease Bcl-2 genes expressions. Conclusions The results indicated that the extracts could have anti-hepatocarcinogenic effect, at least in part, through modulation of apoptosis.