TY - JOUR AB - Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim) Harms (ASH), also known as Siberian ginseng or eleuthero, is a hardy shrub native to China, Korea, Russia and the northern region of Japan. ASH is used for the treatment of several diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, chronic bronchitis, diabetes and cancer. In the present study, the inhibitory effect of the root extract of ASH (ASHE) on HuH‑7 and HepG2 liver cancer cells was examined. ASHE suppressed liver cancer cell proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, as well as apoptosis, as indicated by the increased number of Annexin V and 7‑AAD‑positive cells. Furthermore, the expression of LC3‑II, an autophagy marker, in these cells also increased post treatment with ASHE. LC3‑II induction was further enhanced by co‑treatment with chloroquine. Fluorescence and transmission electron micrographs of ASHE‑treated liver cancer cells showed the presence of an increased number of autophagic vesicles. A decreased protein expression level of run domain Beclin‑1‑interacting and cysteine‑rich domain‑containing, an autophagy inhibitor, with no change in RUBCN mRNA expression was observed, indicating activation of the autophagosome‑lysosome fusion step of autophagy. In conclusion, ASHE exerts cytostatic activity on liver cancer cells via both apoptosis and autophagy, and may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for management of liver cancer and autophagy‑related diseases. AD - Department of Gastroenterology, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido Hospital, Sapporo, Hokkaido 002‑8072, Japan Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido Hospital, Sapporo, Hokkaido 002‑8072, Japan Production and Development Department, Sun Chlorella Co., Ltd., Kyoto 600‑8177, Japan Department of Medical Oncology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060‑8543, Japan Division of Disease Control and Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Oral Growth and Development, School of Dentistry, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061‑0293, Japan Division of Oral Medicine and Pathology, Department of Human Biology and Pathophysiology, School of Dentistry, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061‑0293, Japan Department of Physical Therapy, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060‑8543, Japan AU - Kawano,Yutaka AU - Tanaka,Maki AU - Fujishima,Masaki AU - Okumura,Eri AU - Takekoshi,Hideo AU - Takada,Kohichi AU - Uehara,Osamu AU - Abiko,Yoshihiro AU - Takeda,Hidekatsu DA - 2021/03/01 DO - 10.3892/or.2021.7948 EP - 1201 IS - 3 JO - Oncol Rep KW - Acanthopanax senticosus Harms liver cancer autophagy run domain Beclin‑1‑interacting and cysteine‑rich domain‑containing PY - 2021 SN - 1021-335X 1791-2431 SP - 1193 ST - Acanthopanax senticosus Harms extract causes G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and autophagy via inhibition of Rubicon in human liver cancer cells T2 - Oncology Reports TI - Acanthopanax senticosus Harms extract causes G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and autophagy via inhibition of Rubicon in human liver cancer cells UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2021.7948 VL - 45 ER -