Alcohol extracts of Chinese bayberry branch induce S‐phase arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 cells

Abstract

The alcohol extracts of Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra) branches (MRBE) are rich in flavonoids which have a variety of medicinal benefits, but their effects on human HepG2 were unknown. In this study, the effects of MRBE on HepG2 cell growth and its potential for inhibiting cancer were explored. The results displayed that MRBE inhibited HepG2 proliferation both by arresting cells in S phase and promoting apoptosis. Quantitative reverse‐transcription PCR (qRT‐PCR), western blotting, and immunofluorescence showed that MRBE induced S‐phase arrest by upregulating p21, which in turn downregulated cyclin and cyclin‐dependent kinase messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein. Apoptosis was induced by blocking the expression of BCL‐2 and suppression of the Raf/ERK1 signaling pathways. These results indicated that MRBE may have the potential for treatment of human liver cancer, highlighting novel approaches for developing new pharmacological tools for the treatment of this deadly type cancer. Meanwhile, it provides a new direction for the medicinal added values of Chinese bayberry, which helped to broaden the diversified development of its industry chain.

The MAP Kinase PvMK1 Regulates Hyphal Development, Autophagy, and Pathogenesis in the Bayberry Twig Blight Fungus Pestalotiopsis versicolor

“…Bayberry produced by the Myrica rubra tree is a subtropical fruit with a unique sweet and sour taste native to southern China, which is commercially cultivated in many areas of China, including Zhejiang, Guizhou, Guangxi and Yunnan provinces, and has become an important economic pillar for local mountain farmers [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Besides its economic significance, recent studies have shown that bayberry also has nutritional and medicinal value; indeed, its extracts exhibit anti-cancer and anti-oxidant activity, making this a promising fruit regarding its potential to be industrially processed for high-value-added food products [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. However, in recent years, bayberry production has been threatened by a devastating disease called twig blight, which is caused by the ascomycete fungi Pestalotiopsis versicolor and P. microspore [ 9 ].…”