Anti-proliferative and Cytotoxic Effects of Red Jasmine Rice Bran Extract on Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Liver cancer is one of the leading causes of Thai mortality. Previous studies have revealed that phenolics and flavonoids naturally found in medicinal herbs and dietary plants play an important role in cancer prevention and treatment. The study aimed to quantify the total phenolic and flavonoid contents in bran extract of a red jasmine rice variety, namely red jasmine, and to assess their anti-proliferative effect on liver cancer cells. The results showed that red jasmine bran extracted with 40% ethanol contained high total contents of phenolics and flavonoids (>100 mg/g extract). In addition, the extract exerted anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects selectively on the HepG2 liver cancer cell line with an IC₅₀ of 138.06 μg/mL. In contrast, this extract was not toxic to the BNL CL2 normal liver cell line with a higher IC₅₀ of 280.39 μg/mL. These selective antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of red jasmine bran extract on HepG2 cells increased in a dose and time-dependent manner.