β‑Eudesmol induces the expression of apoptosis pathway proteins in cholangiocarcinoma cell lines

Background: cholangiocarcinoma (cca) is a neglected disease prevalent in developing countries with high burden and mortality rate, and there is no effective treatment. we aimed to investigate β‑eudesmol molecular target of action in human cca cell lines using the selected key molecules of apoptotic pathways. materials and methods: two cca cell lines (huh28 and hucct1) were assessed at different time points after β‑eudesmol treatment for mrna and protein expression profiles of caspase‑3, ‑8, ‑9, p53, p21, bcl‑2, and bax by real‑time polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. results: β‑eudesmol induced expressions of p21 and p53 in mrna/protein level in huh28 and hucct1 cells. these cca cells also expressed caspase‑3, ‑8, ‑9 and bax (mrna and/or protein level) among others after β‑eudesmol treatment indicating its role in both intrinsic and extrinsic caspase‑dependent apoptotic pathways. conclusion: the study demonstrated that β‑eudesmol induced the expression of apoptosis pathway proteins, suggesting its potential role in promoting the caspase‑dependent apoptotic pathway, and induction of the cell cycle arrest in cca cell lines. β‑eudesmol can be considered as a potential compound for further investigation as an anti‑cca agent.