Cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in HepG2 cells induced by the imidazole ionic liquid 1‐dodecyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride
Peijin Wang, Ruyan Wan, Weiran Huo, Hui Dong, Zhongjie Chang, Xiaohua Xia
Abstract
Abstract This study purposes to assess the cytotoxicity of 1‐dodecyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([C 12 min]Cl) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. To this end, HepG2 cells were exposed to a range concentration of [C 12 min]Cl and evaluated cell viability, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, cell cycle, and apoptosis‐related gene expression to determine cytotoxicity. The outcomes showed that [C 12 min]Cl curbed HepG2 cell growth and reduced cell viability in a concentration‐ and time‐dependent manner. Moreover, our assay results also revealed that exposure to [C 12 min]Cl prompted DNA damage and apoptosis, reduced SOD and GSH content, enhanced MDA level, and changed the cell cycle of HepG2 cells. In addition, [C 12 min] Cl caused alters in the expression levels of p53 , Bax , and Bcl‐2 , indicating that p53 and Bcl‐2 family may be involved in the cytotoxicity and apoptosis of HepG2 cells induced by [C 12 min]C1. In summary, these results indicate that [C 12 min]Cl exerts genotoxicity, physiological toxicity and prompts apoptosis in HepG2 cells, and is not an alleged green solvent.