Inhibitory effect of interleukin-1α-induced apoptosis by Polygala tenuifolia in Hep G2 cells

A human hepatoma cell line, Hep G2 cells are reliable for the study of alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity. In this study, we investigated the effect of an aqueous extract of Polygala tenuifolia (WILLDENOW) (Polygalaceae) roots (PTAE) on ethanol (EtOH)-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells. PTAE (0.01-1 mu g/ml) dose-dependently inhibited the EtOH-induced interluekin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) secretion. PTAE (0.01-1 mu g/ml) also inhibited the EtOH- and IL-1 alpha-induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, we found that PTAE inhibited the IL-1 alpha-induced apoptosis of Hep G2 cells. These results suggest that PTAE may prevent the EtOH-induced cytotoxicity through inhibition of the apoptosis of Hep G2 cells.