Apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells induced by corn peptides and its anti-tumor efficacy in H22 tumor bearing mice

► The anti-tumor efficacy of corn peptides (CPs) was evaluated. ► CPs was found to be an apoptosis inducer in HepG2 cells. ► Apoptosis mechanism induced by CPs lay on the increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and the up-regulation of Cleaved-caspase-3, p53. ► The anti-tumor activity of CPs was associated with enhancement of immunization.