Hepatocellular carcinoma is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Ginnalin A (GA) is one of the most important phenolic compounds of maple syrup and its anticancer effect has been shown that in several cancer cell lines. In this study, objective was to investigate the apoptotic effect of GA in Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. Cell viability was determined by using XTT method after the treatment with GA. Total RNA was isolated with TRIzol Reagent in control and dose group. Expressions of important genes in apoptosis including CASP3, CASP8, CASP9, CYCS, FAS and P53 were evaluated by qPCR. IC50 dose of GA was found as 155 μM for 72h in Hep3B cells. According to the qPCR results, a significant increase in the expression of CASP3, CASP8, CASP9, CYCS and P53 genes was observed as 12.09, 10.14, 3.37, 16.15 and 4.15 folds, respectively. In conclusion, it is thought that GA demonstrates the apoptotic effect on Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. GA can be evaluated as an effective anticancer agent in hepatocellular carcinoma after further molecular and functional analysis.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Ginnalin A (GA), an important phenolic compounds of maple syrup, on apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The effect of GA on cell viability was determined by using XTT method. Expressions of genes are important in apoptosis including CASP3, CASP7, CASP8, CASP9, BCL2, BAX, CYCS, FAS and P53 were evaluated by qPCR. IC50 dose of GA was found as 160 μM in MDA-MB-231 and 300 μM in MCF7 cells, for 72 h. According to the qPCR results, a significant increase in the expression of CASP3, CASP8, CASP9, CYCS, FAS and P53 genes was observed as 3.88, 12.11, 4.76, 8.17, 4.27 and 3.31 folds, respectively in MDA-MB-231. In MCF-7 cells, the expression of CASP9 and P53 genes significantly increased to 8.24 and 3.39 folds, respectively, while the expression of BCL2 gene significantly decreased to 1.85 fold, compared with the control group. In conclusion, it is thought that GA demonstrates apoptotic effect by regulating expression of important genes in apoptosis on breast cancer cells. However, further functional analyses are required to clarify its effect on breast cancer.

Objective Investigation of the anticarcinogenic effects of natural products with low toxicity is very important in the development of new therapeutic strategies against cancer. Ginnalin A (GA) is one of the most important phenolic compounds of Acer genus and its anticancer effect has been shown that in various cancer cell lines. SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, can inhibit cell proliferation independently of p38 MAPK. The objective of this study was to investigate combination effect of GA and SB203580 on Hep-3B cell line. Material and methods Cell viability was determined by using XTT method after the treatment with GA, SB203580 and combination of both. Anticarcinogenic effects of GA and SB203580 both in single and in combination have been analyzed with Caspase-3 activity assay and expression levels of important genes involved in cell cycle and apoptosis were evaluated by qPCR. Results GA and SB203580 have shown additive effect on Hep-3B cells in the combination inhibited 50% of cell viability. And, SB203580 increased the effect of GA on activation of Caspase-3 and expressions of genes important in apoptosis and cell cycle. Conclusion This study indicates that GA and SB203580 can be an effective for development of new therapeutic strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma.