title: An extract of Uncaria tomentosa inhibiting cell division and NF-kappa B activity without inducing cell death.
abstract: Previous reports have demonstrated that extracts of the plant Uncaria tomentosa inhibit tumor cell proliferation and inflammatory responses. We have confirmed that C-Med 100, a hot water extract of this plant, inhibits tumor cell proliferation albeit with variable efficiency. We extend these findings by showing that this extract also inhibits proliferation of normal mouse T and B lymphocytes and that the inhibition is not caused by toxicity or by induction of apoptosis. Further, the extract did not interfere with IL-2 production nor IL-2 receptor signaling. Since there was no discrete cell cycle block in C-Med 100-treated cells, we propose that retarded cell cycle progression caused the inhibition of proliferation. Collectively, these data suggested interference with a common pathway controlling cell growth and cell cycle progression. Indeed, we provide direct evidence that C-Med 100 inhibits nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) activity and propose that this at least partially causes the inhibition of proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Section for Immunology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, BMC I:13, Lund University, Lund, SE-221 84, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Akesson
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lindgren
authors.forename: Ronald W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Pero
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leanderson
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ivars
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D020948:Cat's Claw / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008934:Mitogens / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D032070:Uncaria
chemical_list: C406667:C-MED-100; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008934:Mitogens; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts