Calotropis gigantea stem bark extract activates HepG2 cell apoptosis through ROS and its effect on cytochrome P450

The 95% ethanolic extract of the dry powder of Calotropis gigantea (C. gigantea) stem bark was separated by fractionation with different solutions to yield 4 fractions: dichloromethane (CGDCM), ethyl acetate (CGEtOAc), and water (CGW). This research focused on CGDCM-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells with IC50 and above-IC50 values, which provide useful information for future anticancer applications. CGDCM had lower cytotoxicity on normal lung fibroblast IMR-90 cells than on HepG2 cells. Apoptotic induction of CGDCM was mediated by decreased fatty acid and ATP synthesis while increasing reactive oxygen species production. The effects of the four extracts on the activity of the four major CYP450 isoforms (CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4) were determined using the CYP-specific model activity of each isoform. All four fractions of the extract were shown to be poor inhibitors of CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 (IC50 > 1000 μg/mL) and moderate inhibitors of CYP3A4 (IC50 = 56.54–296.9 μg/mL). CGDCM and CGW exerted moderate inhibition activities on CYP2C9 (IC50 = 59.56 and 46.38 μg/mL, respectively), but CGEtOH and CGEtOAc exhibited strong inhibition activities (IC50 = 12.11 and 20.43 μg/mL, respectively). It is proposed that C. gigantea extracts at high doses have potential for further studies to develop alternative anticancer applications. Inhibiting CYP2C9 activity may also lead to drug-herb interactions.