Alpinia oxyphylla oil induces apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via PI3K/Akt pathway in vitro and in vivo

Abstract Background The anti-tumor properties of Alpinia oxyphylla Miquel ( A. oxyphylla ) extracts and their petroleum ether (PE) fractions have long attracted scientific attention. These extracts’ anti-tumor activity and mechanisms in viv o are still unclear. This study was designed to investigate the anti-tumor activity and the underlying mechanism of PE’s effect on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro and in vivo . Materials and method The anti-tumor activity of PE was evaluated by MTT assay and xenograft study. Mechanistic studies of PE were analyzed by Hoechst 33342 staining, Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining assay, immunohistochemical staining and western blot assay. The toxicity of the PE treatment was verified by the levels of liver and kidney function in nude mice and the HE the expression level of BAX ( p p Conclusion These findings suggested that PE exhibited anti-cancer efficacy on Hep3B cell in vitro and in vivo . The induction of apoptosis might be one mechanism that underlies PE’s ability to combat cancer by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway. PE has no obvious toxicity in vivo when it exerts anti-tumor effects and has the potential to develop into an alternative anti-cancer drug for HCC treatment.