Molecular Studies on the Preferential Toxicity of Andrographolide to Human Hepatoma HepG2 Cells

Project: Research

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Researcher(s)

Description

Andrographolide (Andro) is the main bioactive component ofAndrographis paniculataand has been claimed to provide hepatoprotective and immunostimulant effects. The investigators’ previous research revealed that Andro has potent anticancer activity to many types of tumour cells with little cytotoxic effects on normal cells. The investigators envisage that Andro preferentially targets the redox system in mitochondria of the hepatoma HepG2 cells. Molecular aspects of gene expression, cell cycle regulation, and intracellular redox status will be investigated in this project. Genes that regulate the redox level will be transferred into cells that normally show little or no expressed activities. Through comparison with the cytotoxicity of drugs on transfected cells and the parent cell line, the researchers will determine whether Andro confers any protective effect on the genes. The project will provide new insights into the anticancer activity of Andro. It will contribute a new approach to developing new drugs that kill tumour cells but leave normal cells unaffected.

Detail(s)

Project number7002109
Grant typeSRG
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date1/04/0729/11/07