Hepatoprotective and antineoplastic properties of Protaetia brevitarsis larvae |
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Authors: | Ji‐Eun Lee Da‐Eun Jo An‐Jung Lee Hye‐Kyung Park Kumju Youn Eun‐Young Yun Jae‐Sam Hwang Mira Jun Byoung Heon Kang |
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Institution: | 1. School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, , Ulsan, Korea;2. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Dong‐A University, , Busan, Korea;3. Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, , Suwon, Korea |
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Abstract: | Protaetia brevitarsis larvae have been used as a traditional medicine to treat various liver diseases. Freeze‐dried powder and solvent partitioned fractions of Protaetia brevitarsis larvae, in this study, were examined for hepatoprotective and antitumor activities in vivo and in vitro. Oral administration of the powder reduced signs of acute and chronic liver injuries in diethylnitrosamine‐induced hepatotoxic mouse model. Various cancer cell types, but not normal primary hepatocytes, were killed by the hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions, which were partitioned from larval extracts. Apoptosis and autophagy were primarily induced in cancer cells by hexane and ethyl acetate fractions, respectively, and can be the cytotoxic mechanisms of the fractions. Further analyses of the insect fractions could lead to identification of novel bioactive substances that can be exploited as therapeutics for various human liver diseases. |
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Keywords: | anticancer activity fractionation hepatocellular carcinoma hepatoprotection Protaetia brevitarsis |
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