title: Acetone extract of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium inhibits proliferation of A549 human lung cancer cells via inducing apoptosis and suppressing telomerase activity.
abstract: Bupleuri radix, a traditional Chinese herb, has been widely used to treat liver diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis. The acetone extract of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium (AE-BS) showed a dose-dependently antiproliferative effect on the proliferation of A549 human lung cancer cells. The IC(50) of AE-BS, i.e., the concentration required to inhibit proliferation of A549 cells, was 59 +/- 4.5 microg/ml on day 1. The IC(50) of AE-BS for WI38 human normal lung fibroblast cells, however, was significant higher than that for A549 cells (150 +/- 16 microg/ml, p< 0.01). After 72 hours of exposure, AE-BS (60 microg/ml) significantly reduced A549 cell proliferation to 33 +/- 3.2% of control. In TUNEL assay, A549 cells treated with AE-BS showed typical morphologic features of apoptosis, and the percentage of apoptotic cells was approximately 38 % on day 1. In the TRAP assay, AE-BS-treated cells demonstrated significantly lower telomerase activity on day 3. This result indicates that the AE-BS could suppress the proliferation of lung cancer cells via inhibition of telomerase activity and activation of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institution of Medical Science, and Department of Surgery, Tr-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yeung-Leung
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Wen-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shih-Chun
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yau-Gye
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Han-Ching
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Cheng-Jueng
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chung-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Dah-Shyong
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shinn-Zong
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Horng-Jyh
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Harn
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D029972:Bupleurum / Q000737:chemistry; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C051274:Bupleurum root extract; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019098:Telomerase