Evaluation of cell viability and nitric oxide release after treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma cells (HepG2) with Ruta graveolens

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a type of neoplasm of high-frequency occurrence and late diagnosis. Therefore, medicine must act in a multidisciplinary and preventive manner to give patients a better prognosis. Homeopathy appears as a possible therapeutic tool to treat these patients, emphasizing significant results regarding quality of life and longevity. This article aimed to evaluate the effect of homeopathic dilutions of Ruta graveolens in the D35 potency on the in vitro cell viability and nitric oxide quantification of hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2). The results showed a critical cytotoxic activity and high production of nitric oxide of the cells when the medicine to the culture. These results indicate that Ruta D35 has action potential in inhibiting HepG2 tumor cell growth, being an important and promising therapeutic tool for treating patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma if these results be confirmed in vivo.