title: Antioxidant and anticancer activity of extract from Betula platyphylla var. japonica.
abstract: The antioxidant and anticancer properties of a medicinal plant, Betula platyphylla var. japonica were investigated. The total methanol extract of B. platyphylla var. japonica had protective effects against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79-4) cell line and induced apoptotic cell death in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells, a cancer cell line. B. platyphylla var. japonica extract significantly increased cell viability against H2O2. The extract also showed high 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (IC50 2.4 microg/ml) and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity (IC50 below 4.0 microg/ml). Furthermore, B. platyphylla var. japonica extract reduced the number of V79-4 cells arrested in G2/M in response to H2O2 treatment and increased the activities of several cellular antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Treatment with B. platyphylla var. japonica extract induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in HL-60 cells, as shown by nucleosomal DNA fragmentation, increases in the subdiploid cell population, and fluorescence microscopy. B. platyphylla var. japonica extract gradually increased the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax and led to the activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP. These findings suggest that B. platyphylla var. japonica exhibits potential antioxidant and anticancer properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, College of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoeki-Dong, Dongdaemoon-Ku, Seoul 130-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Mi
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Si Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyun Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jeong Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D029662:Betula / Q000737:chemistry*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016466:CHO Cells; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006224:Cricetinae; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000633:toxicity; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016877:Oxidants / Q000633:toxicity; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D016877:Oxidants; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl