Extract derived from cedrus atlantica acts as an antitumor agent on hepatocellular carcinoma growth in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

Cedrus atlantica is widely used in herbal medicine. However, the anti-cancer activity of C. atlantica extract (CAt extract) has not been clarified in hepatocellular carcinoma. In the study, we elucidated the anti-hepatoma capacity of CAt extract on HCC in vitro and in vivo. To explore the anti-hepatoma mechanisms of the CAt extract in vitro, HCC and normal cells were treated with the CAt extract, which showed marked inhibitory effects on HCC cells in a dose-dependent manner; in contrast, the CAt extract treatment was less cytotoxic to normal cells. In addition, our results indicate that the CAt extract induced apoptosis via caspase-dependent and independent apoptosis pathways. Furthermore, the CAt extract inhibited HCC tumor cell growth by restraining cell cycle progression, and it reduced the signaling of the AKT, ERK1/2, and p38 pathways. In the xenograft model, the CAt extract suppressed HCC tumor cell growth and prolonged lifespan by inhibiting PCNA protein expression, repressing part of the VEGF-induced autocrine pathway, and triggering strong expression of cleaved caspase-3, which contributed to cell apoptosis. Moreover, the CAt extract did not induce any obvious changes in pathological morphology or body weight, suggesting it had no toxicity. CAt extract exerted anti-tumor effects on HCC in vitro and in vivo. Thus, CAt extract could be used as a potential anti-cancer therapeutic agent against HCC.