Background and Objectives: Saussurea lappa (S. lappa) is an important species of the Asteraceae family with several purposes in traditional medicine. This study intended to explore the cytotoxic effect of S. lappa on HepG2 cancer cell proliferation. Materials and Methods: The effects of an S. lappa 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 S. lappa was done by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Results: The cell viability study revealed that the n-butanol extract of S. lappa 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 S. lappa 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. Conclusion: These findings conclude that S. lappa 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.
Keywords: Bcl-2; HepG2; Saussurea lappa; anticancer; apoptosis; cytochrome C release.