Evaluation of smoke burning AnbarNesara on changes of the gene expression of P53 and CYP2E1 in human liver cancer cells

Cancer is the leading cause of death after cardiovascular diseases, and accidents. Nowadays, researchers are increasing their efforts to use treatments with minimal side effects and make an attempt to use traditional medicine and herbal remedies. AnbarNesara is a seemingly worthless substance found in traditional medicine used in the treatment of many diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of the smoke from the burning of AnbarNesara on liver cancer cells and to investigate the genes expression changes of P53 and CYP2E1.

In the current experimental study, first Anbarnsara was collected from Dargaz region in spring and then the smoke from its fuel was collected in cold propyleneglycol. The amount of smoke in the solvent was calculated. Then, liver cancer cell line (HEPG2) and normal cell line were cultured. Cytotoxicity tests and morphological studies were performed and IC50 value was calculated. RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and Real Time PCR were performed to evaluate the expression of P53 and CYP2E1 genes. The results were analyzed using t-test and ANOVA at a significance level of P <0.05.

The results of morphological studies and toxicity test indicated that smoke from AnbarNesara fuel at a concentration of 58.5 mg/ml increases cancer cell mortality (IC50=48.79) compared to that in the control group (P <0.05). In the study of gene expression, while the concentration of 117 mg increased the expression of CYP2E1 gene, the P53 gene increased at the concentration of 58.5 (P <0.05).

The smoke from burning Anbarnsara seems to have a lethal effect on liver cancer cells. Duration and concentration are significant in this effectiveness.