Effect of Fanbaicao (Herba Potentillae Discoloris) oil on the expression of p21 and CDK4 in HepG2 cells

Abstract Objective To research the anti-cancer mechanism of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Fanbaicao ( Herba Potentillae Discoloris ) oil in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2. Methods Gas chromatography was used to analyze the components of Fanbaicao ( Herba Potentillae Discoloris ). We tested the inhibitory effect of Fanbaicao ( Herba Potentillae Discoloris ) oil on the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 in vitro using 3-(4, 5-Dimet hylt hiazol-2-yl)-2,5-dip henyltetrazolium bromide assays. Fluorescence activating cell sorter analysis was used to examine the levels of apoptosis, and western blot and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of p21, p-p21 and CDK4 proteins. Results Fanbaicao ( Herba Potentillae Discoloris ) oil contains 45 ingredients, and L-ascorbic acid 2, 6-bispalmitate was the main component and accounted for 44.96% of total drive-off peak area. Other components included (Z)−14-met hyl-8-exadecenal-acetal (8.56%), phytol (7.74%) and lauric acid (6.31%). Fanbaicao ( Herba Potentillae Discoloris ) oil treatment reduced the proliferation of HepG2 cells and the half growth inhibition concentration (IC 50 ) was 2.03 mg/mL. Furthermore, we also observed significantly increased HepG2 cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner ( P Herba Potentillae Discoloris ) oil significantly increased the expression of p21 and p-p21 and significantly decreased the expression of CDK4 in HepG2 cells compared with controls ( P Conclusion Our results showed that Fanbaicao ( Herba Potentillae Discoloris ) oil has anti-cancer activities in HepG2 cells, which is probably related to the upregulation of p21 and p-p21 and downregulation of CDK4 expression.