title: Wikyungtang inhibits proliferation of A549 human lung cancer cells via inducing apoptosis and suppressing cyclooxygenase-2 activity.
abstract: Wikyungtang, an oriental herbal formulation, has been known to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-tumoral activity. However, its molecular mechanism of action is not understood. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of the water extract of Wikyungtang (WKT) on the growth of A549 human lung cancer cells. Treatment with WKT resulted in a dose-dependent growth inhibition coupled with the characteristic morphological features of apoptosis. Apoptosis-inducing concentrations of WKT induced caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation accompanied by proteolytic degradation of poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase and phospholipase C-gamma1. In addition, WKT-induced apoptosis in A549 cells was associated with a decreased expression of the anti-apototic Bcl-XL expression. WKT treatment also inhibited the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and the accumulation of prostaglandin E2 without significant changes in the levels of COX-1. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of WKT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Medicine, Dongeui University College of Oriental Medicine, Busan 614-052, Korea. choiyh@dongeui.ac.kr
authors.forename: Dong Il
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hae-Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Chul Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kam
authors.forename: Cheol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Tae Hyun
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Won Ho
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yung Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051966:Phospholipase C gamma; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011506:Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C493316:Wikyungtang; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496511:PTGS1 protein, human; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; D051966:Phospholipase C gamma; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases