Exhibits Anti-Oncogenic Effect in Hepatocellular Carcinoma, HepG2 Cancer Cell Line by Bcl-2 Mediated Apoptotic Pathway and Mitochondrial Cytochrome C Release.

: is an important species of the Asteraceae family with several purposes in traditional medicine. This study intended to explore the cytotoxic effect of on HepG2 cancer cell proliferation. The effects of an n-butanol extract on the induction of apoptosis were investigated by flow cytometry and mitochondrial cytochrome C-releasing apoptosis assay. Additionally, real-time PCR was employed to confirm apoptosis initiation. Further, qualitative estimation of the active constituent of was done by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). : The cell viability study revealed that the n-butanol extract of demonstrated potent cytotoxicity against HepG2 cancer cells, with an IC50 value of 56.76 μg/mL. Cell morphology with dual staining of acridine orange (AO)-ethidium bromide (EB) showed an increase in orange/red nuclei due to cell death by n-butanol extract compared to control cells. Apoptosis, as the mode of cell death, was also confirmed by the higher release of cytochrome C from mitochondria, the increased expression of caspase-3 and bax, along with down regulation of Bcl-2. These findings conclude that is a cause of hepatic cancer cell death through apoptosis and a potential natural source suggesting furthermore investigation of its active compounds that are responsible for these observed activities.