Abstract: In this study, two alkylresorcinol homologues C19:0 and C21:0 were isolated by preparative chromatography from wheat bran, and their autophagy and apoptosis-inducing effect on HepG2 cells was studied. The results showed that the structures of alkylresorcinol C19:0 and C21:0 were validated by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Cytotoxicity tests showed that the alkylresorcinols (ARs) at concentrations ranging from 10 to 320 μg/mL could significantly inhibit the growth of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001). Compared with the control group, cell apoptosis rates in the experimental group significantly increased (P < 0.01); the protein expression of cleaved caspase3, Bax/Bcl-2, beclin-1 and LC3II increased but the protein expression of p62 decreased (P < 0.01) after 24 h treatment at 160 μg/mL. Therefore, it was suggested that the alkylresorcinols could induce autophagy in HepG2 cells, and induce apoptosis by activating the caspase-3 pathway, thus inhibiting the growth of HepG2 cells.

Key words: alkylresorcinols, wheat bran, HepG2 cells, apoptosis, autophagy