Anticancer potential of Ampelopsis cantoniensis extract: Inducing apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and targeting cancer stem cells in HepG2 liver cancer cells

Abstract

Ampelopsis cantoniensis (A. cantoniensis), has a long history of use in traditional medicine in various countries. Despite their extensive use, little is known about their potential anticancer properties. This study aimed to investigate the potential anticancer effects of A. cantoniensis extract (ACE). The inhibitory effect ACE on HepG2 liver cancer cells was assessed through a MTT assay, and the cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry. Real-time PCR, immunofluorescence analysis, LC-QToF-MS analysis, and molecular docking were conducted to further characterize its mechanisms of action. ACE inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells, with an IC₅₀ value of 64.2 μg/mL, and also induced apoptosis in liver cancer cells. In addition, ACE induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and significantly altered the expression of several key cell cycle regulatory genes. Importantly, ACE downregulated the characteristics of liver cancer stem cells, including decreased expression of the cancer stem cell marker CD44 and reduced ability to form 3D tumorspheres. Immunofluorescence staining results indicated that ACE suppressed the expression of PCNA, TLR-5, and TLR9 markers while enhancing CAV-1 expression. Furthermore, ACE induced excessive ROS production in cells. A total of 107 different compounds were predicted by high-resolution (LC-QToF-MS) spectral analysis, among which Quercetin-3,7-di-O-beta-D-glucoside and Quercetin-3-arabinoglucoside were predicted to potentially bind to the target proteins of cancer stem cells. ACE is a potential herbal remedy for combating liver cancer.