article · Natural Product Research
Chemical compounds isolated from the plant Thymelaea hirsuta show significant potential in slowing the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma, a form of liver cancer. Laboratory extraction led to the identification of two newly discovered compounds, seven compounds observed in this plant genus for the first time, and six previously known molecules. When tested on liver cancer cells, eight of these isolated substances demonstrated strong anti-proliferative effects. Further in vivo testing revealed that these compounds significantly lowered key serum markers of liver damage and tumour progression, including AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin, GGT, and AFP. At the genetic level within liver tissue, the treatments increased the expression of tumour suppression and pro-apoptotic genes, Bax and p53, whilst reducing the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2. These combined actions suggest the plant isolates curb cancer growth primarily by triggering programmed cell death.
Liver cancer remains a major global health challenge with limited therapeutic options. Discovering active, naturally derived molecules that can halt tumour growth and trigger cancer cell death offers valuable leads for new drug development. Demonstrating both cellular anti-proliferative effects and positive changes in liver markers provides biological evidence supporting further investigation into plant-based cancer therapies.
This work could interest pharmaceutical companies and natural product developers seeking novel chemical leads for oncology treatments. The findings demonstrate therapeutic potential against hepatocellular carcinoma through targeted apoptosis. However, this represents early-stage research based on laboratory cell cultures and animal models, meaning extensive preclinical validation, toxicology profiling, and clinical trials will be necessary before any clinical or commercial application can emerge.
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Herein, we investigated effect of Thymelaea hirsuta isolates on hepatocellular carcinoma. Methanolic extract of <i>T. hirsuta</i> led to isolation of two new compounds [6` hydroxyDaphnoretin (9) and Mithnin (15)], seven compounds reported for the first time from genus Thymelaea [Dotriacontanol (1), and 3-ketopentatriacontanoic (2), Docosylcoumarate (5), Docosylcaffeate (6), Daphnodorin B (11), 3`` -epi-dihydrodaphnodorin B (12) and Wikstaiwanone B (14)], and six known compounds. Eight compounds (5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15) showed significant anti-proliferative activity on HepG2 cells. These compounds caused significant reduction (p < 0.05) in serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin, GGT, and AFP, a significant increase in <i>Bax</i> and <i>p53</i> expression, and a significant decrease in <i>Bcl2</i> gene in liver as compared to the HCC group. These results indicate that <i>T. hirsuta</i> isolates inhibited HCC progression, possibly through induction of apoptosis and therefore they could be used as a beneficial source for treating HCC.
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DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2019.1643859
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