capsaicin alters the expression of genetic and epigenetic molecules in hepatocellular carcinoma cell

Capsaicin is a natural product which is extracted from pepper and has the potential to be used in cancer treatment because of its anti- proliferative effects. the aim of the study was to determine the effect of capsaicin on the hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and the expressions of related genetic markers as ki-67, pi3k/akt/mtor and epigenetic markers as mir-126 and pir-hep-1. the inhibitory concentration of capsaicin in hepg2 cells was determined. pir-hep-1 and mir-126 expressions and ki-67, pi3k, akt and mtor gene expressions were examined by rt-pcr. the inhibitory concentration of capsaicin for hepg2 cells was 200 nm and the decreased proliferation was observed at 24th hour. as epigenetic markers, an up regulation of mir-126 and down regulation of pir-hep-1 expression were determined after treatment. moreover, ki-67, pi3k and mtor gene expressions decreased while akt gene expression increased after the treatment (p<0.001). according to the obtained data, capsaicin has an impact on proliferation both genetically and epigenetically. furthermore, treatment of capsaicin effects mir-126 and pir-hep-1 expressions which effect carcinogenesis in different way. moreover, there are some clues which indicate that these two small non-coding rna might affect each other and share the same target molecules post-transcriptionally.