Celtis tournefortii Lam. (Celtis aetnensis) is a species of plant with extraordinary bioactivities that has received little research and documentation. Its potential to treat human liver cancer has not yet been studied. Therefore, the bark extract was tested in vitro against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells in the current investigation. The extract was found to increase the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels in tumor cells, causing cytotoxicity. In addition, the lactate dehydrogenase level was found to be elevated, indicating cellular damage. The likelihood that C. tournefortii Lam. will target the AKT protein is suggested by a considerable drop in the expression of the AKT gene. This is the first report on the effectiveness of C. tournefortii Lam. against liver cancer reported thus far. Our results suggest the presence of promising therapeutic compounds in the bark of C. tournefortii Lam.
Key words: Celtis tournefortii Lam (Celtis aetnensis), hepatocellular carcinoma, anticancer activity, cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, necrosis.
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