Coleus vettiveroides ethanolic root extract induces cytotoxicity by intrinsic apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) contributes to more than 80% of all primary cancers globally and ranks fourth in cancer-related deaths, due to the lack of an effective, definite therapeutic drug. Coleus vettiveroides (CV) has been used in Indian traditional medicine to treat diabetes, liver ailments, skin diseases, leukoderma, and leprosy. This study investigates the anticancer effect of CV ethanolic root extract in HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were treated with CV extract, and its cytotoxicity was analyzed by MTT assay. AO/EB staining, propidium iodide staining, DCFH-DA assay, phalloidine staining, flow cytometry, and qPCR studies were performed for ROS expression, apoptosis and cell cycle analysis. The phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of quercetin and galangin in CV root extract. The results showed that CV inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells, with altered cellular and nuclear morphology. CV was also found to increase intracellular ROS levels and oxidative stress markers in HepG2 cells. CV significantly altered the actin microfilament distribution in HepG2 cells and caused cell cycle arrest at the sub G0 -G1 phase. CV also induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, as evidenced by increased expression of p53, Bax, cytochrome C, Apaf-1, PARP, caspase-3 and caspase-9, and downregulated Bcl-2 expression. Therefore, CV exerts its anticancer effect by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, cytoskeletal disorganization, cell cycle arrest, and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, and it could be a potent therapeutic option for HCC.

Leprosy and malignancy: autopsy findings of 252 leprosy patients.

The occurrence of malignant tumors in leprosy patients was studied in 252 autopsied cases. Malignant tumors were found in 33 out of 110 autopsy cases from 1962 to 1971, and in 51 out of 141 autopsy cases from 1977 to 1989 (until July). In 1974, a lepromatous case with Kaposi's sarcoma was autopsied. The incidence of malignant tumors in our 252 cases were 33.7% (85 out of 252). Carcinoma of the alimentary system was most common: stomach, liver and large intestine, in that order. There was an increased number of hepatocellular carcinoma closely related to liver cirrhosis. Carcinoma of the lung has increased remarkably in leprosy patients quite recently. Malignant lymphoma was the most common of the nonepithelial malignant tumors, and four of these cases were seen in lepromatous leprosy patients. Eight cases showed double or triple cancers; seven of these were autopsied during 1977 to 1989. Further studies should be done to ascertain which types of leprosy showed the highest incidence, and which sex showed more frequent malignant tumors.