Two Faces of Arbutine in Hepatocelluler Carcinoma (HepG2) Cells: Anticarcinogenic Effect in LD50 Dose and Protective Effect Against Cisplatin Toxication Through its Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity in LD0 Dose

Abstract

Arbutine is one of the active substances used as a skin whitening agent in cosmetic products. Possible effects of arbutine on hepatocelluler carcinoma (HepG2) cells and cisplatin toxication in HepG2 cells were investigated in this study. Cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis and proliferation levels were determined in experimental groups established for the purpose above. It was determined that when low dose of α-arbutine (in LD0 dose) was administered to HepG2 cells alone, it had no genotoxic and cytotoxic effects and no effects on inflammation, apoptosis and proliferation. However, when low dose of arbutine was used with cisplatin, it was observed that oxidative stress, inflammation, and genotoxicity levels increased as a result of cisplatin toxicity, but caspase 3 levels were not affected by this situation. As a result of high dose (in LD50 dose) of α-arbutine administration to HepG2 cells, it was determined that it would have anticarcinogenic effects by increasing oxidative stress, genotoxicity, inflammation and apoptosis and by suppressing proliferation. In the presented study it was determined that as well as α-arbutine had an anticarcinogenic effect on HepG2 cells in high doses, it might be protective to reduce the side effects caused by low dose (LD0 dose) of cisplatin treatment. In addition, it was concluded that α/β-arbutine-including cosmetic products were safe for cancer patients because α/β-arbutine had no effect on proliferation in HepG2 cells. In order to present the activity of arbutine isoforms more clearly it is recommended that studies should be conducted using healthy and different cell lines.