Investigation of the antitumoral activity of tarantula cubensis extract on human hepatocelular cancer cells

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the antitumor effects of tarantula cubensis alcoholic extract (TCE) on the human hepatocellular cell line (HepG2).

Methods: Various concentrations (1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 250, and 500 µg/ml) of TCE were applied to HepG2 cells, which were then incubated for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Analysis was performed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Immunohistochemistry and apoptosis (Ki-67) analysis were conducted on cells treated with 1 and 5 µg/ml TCE for 24, 48, and 72 hours.

Results: The most appropriate doses of TCE for the HepG2 cell line were found to be 5 µg/ml at 24 hours and 1 µg/ml at 48 and 72 hours. Ki-67 H-SCOR in HepG2 cells treated with TCE significantly decreased compared to the control group (p<0.001).

Conclusion Our study suggests that TCE may alter normal cancer physiology by stimulating apoptosis in HepG2 cells via the Ki-67 pathway, leading to cell death. Therefore, TCE has the potential to provide a new perspective in the treatment of HCC.