Reactive oxygen species mediated apoptosis induction in human liver cancer cells by Emblica officinalis (Amla): a new trend in liver cancer treatment

Objective It is well known that E. officinalis (Amla) has anti-oxidant, tonifying, anti-aging, detoxifying, and anti-cancer properties in addition to acting as a broad spectrum antibiotic against various infectious diseases. This wonder plant contains antioxidants which aid in the clearing of toxins from the body (The liver is where toxins are found in abundance) and may also protect the liver from the resulting damage. However, the effects of E.officinalis on normal human liver cells along with cancer human liver cells remain largely unknown. The purpose of this study is to look into the hapto-protective and anticancer effects of E. officinalis on normal as well as cancer liver cell line. Methodology approaching the same, aqueous extract of E. officinalis fruit extract was prepared for anticancer screening. The hepatoprotective and anticancer effect of amla on cell viability, cytotoxicity and cell proliferation of normal human liver cells (Wrl-68) and cancer human liver cell (HepG2) was analyzed using trypan blue dye exclusion test, MTT & WST assay as well as by fluorescent staining with PI & DAPI. ROS and Apoptosis was analyzed by DCFDA and Annexin V/PI assay and expression of apoptosis-regulating proteins was evaluated by immunoblotting. Results The study demonstrated that 50 mu g/ml of fruit extract of E.officinalis inhibited cell viability and induced cytotoxicity, simultaneously triggers apoptosis in cancer cells by generation of intracellular ROS species in HepG2 cells without any toxic effect on normal liver cell after 48 h of incubation. Conclusion E.officinalis fruit shows tremendous pharmacological and medicinal application along with cheap or cost effective clinical validation for the treatment of both organ specific tumors as well as for various types of leukemia.