Evaluation of PTEN and TERT Gene Expression in HepG2 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Treated with Nasturtium officinale R.Br. Extract

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22091/ethc.2026.15108.1074

Abstract

Objective: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with its incidence increasing by 2–3% annually. In recent years, plant-derived compounds have attracted considerable attention because of their potentially fewer adverse effects. Watercress (Nasturtium officinale R.Br.) is rich in glucosinolates and has been reported to possess anticancer properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of watercress extract on the expression of the PTEN and TERT genes in HepG2 cells.
Methods: The extract was prepared using a Soxhlet apparatus. HepG2 cells were treated with 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 µg/mL of the extract for 24, 48, and 72 h. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, and gene expression was evaluated by real-time PCR. The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s test.
Results: The highest cytotoxicity was observed after 72 h of treatment. The IC50 value at 24 h was 43.99 µg/mL. The MTT assay showed a significant reduction in cell viability in the treated groups compared with the control group. Treatment with the extract also increased PTEN expression and decreased TERT expression compared with the control group.
Conclusion: Watercress extract may exert potential antitumor effects by modulating the expression of PTEN and TERT, possibly due to its bioactive compounds. Based on these findings, Nasturtium officinale may be considered a potential candidate for further studies on cancer prevention and treatment.

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References

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