Antiproliferative activity of <i>Humulus lupulus</i> extracts on human hepatoma (Hep3B), colon (HT-29) cancer cells and proteases, tyrosinase, <i>β</i>-lactamase enzyme inhibition studies

<div><p></p><p>The aims of this study were to examine the antiproliferation of <i>Humulus lupulus</i> extracts on human hepatoma carcinoma (Hep3B) and human colon carcinoma (HT-29) cell lines along with enzyme inhibitory effects of the crude extracts. Potential cell cytotoxicity of six different <i>H. lupulus</i> extracts were assayed on various cancer cells using MTT assay at 24, 48 and 72 h intervals. Methanol-1 extract has inhibited the cell proliferation with doses of 0.6–1 mg/mL in a time dependent (48 and 72 hours) manner in Hep3B cells with 70% inhibition, while inhibitory effect was not seen in colon cancer cells. Acetone extract has increased the cell proliferation at low doses of 0.1 mg/mL for 72 h in Hep3B cells and 0.1–0.2 mg/mL for 48 and 72 h in HT29 cells. The inhibitory effects of the extracts were compared by relative maximum activity values (<i>V</i>_max) using proteases such as <i>α</i>-chymotrypsin, trypsin and papain, tyrosinase and <i>β</i>-lactamase (penicillinase).</p>