Melohenine B Induces Apoptosis of HepG2 Cells via Inactivation of PI3K/Akt Pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a severe solid tumor threatening human health worldwide. In the discovery of novel therapies for HCC, phytochemicals play a crucial role. In our program to search bioactive compounds for the treatment of HCC, we have evaluated melohenine B using human HCC HepG2 cells. The results showed melohenine B reduced the proliferation of HepG2 cells via inducing apoptosis. At the same time, melohenine B inhibited caspase-3 activity, disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential, down-regulated Bcl-2, and up-regulated Bax, which indicated the apoptosis underwent intrinsic pathway. Further investigations revealed inactivation of PI3K/Akt pathway was involved in the apoptosis induced by melohenine B. These findings can provide evidences for the discovery of new therapy for the treatment of HCC.