Fiscalin B exerts an anticancer effect through mitochondria-modulated apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths; however, current therapeutic drugs are largely ineffective. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer activity of fiscalin B, a compound extracted from marine fungi, against HepG2 cells and further explore the underlying mechanisms. Our findings revealed that fiscalin B treatment produced overloaded reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells, further disrupt the mitochondrial membrane potential, inducing mitochondrial dysfunction. Fluorescence microscopy revealed alterations in the distribution of TOM20 and activation of lysosomes in fiscalin B-treated HepG2 cells. The disruption of mitochondria following fiscalin B treatment marked an improved mitophagy. Moreover, fiscalin B induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells by increasing the phosphorylation of p70S6K and S6, thus affecting the expression of key cell cycle regulators. Overall, fiscalin B exerts an anticancer effect by inducing mitochondria-modulated autophagic cell death and cell cycle arrest in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.