Inhibitory effect of Artemisia capillaris on ethanol-induced cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha) secretion in Hep G2 cells

A human hepatoma cell line, Hep G2 cell, is reliable for the study of alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity. In this study, we investigated the effect of an aqueous extract of Artemisia capillaris THUNB (Compositae) plant (AC) on ethanol (EtOH)-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells. AC (0.5-5 mug/mL) inhibited the secretion of EtOH-induced interluekin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). AC also inhibited the EtOH-, IL-1alpha-, and TNF-alpha-induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, we found that AC inhibited the EtOH-induced apoptosis of Hep G2 cells. These results suggest that AC may prevent the EtOH-induced cytotoxicity through inhibition of the apoptosis of Hep G2 cells.