title: Citrus Reticulata blanco induces apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells SNU-668.
abstract: Citrus fruits have been known to reduce the proliferation of many cancer cells. The antiproliferative effects of Citrus reticulata Blanco (CR) extract, the immature tangerine peel, on human gastric cancer cell line SNU-668 were evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, 4,6-diamidineo-2-phenylindole staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction expressions of BCL-2, BAX and CASP-3 genes, caspase-3 activity, and immunocytochemistry of caspase-3. From the results of the morphological and biochemical assays, CR (50 microg/ml) increased the apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells with typical apoptotic characteristics, including morphological changes of chromatin condensation and apoptotic body formation. CR (50 microg/ml) reduced the expression of BCL-2, whereas the expression of BAX and CASP-3 was increased compared with the control group. Furthermore, caspase-3 activity and caspase-3 protein expression in the CR-treated group was significantly increased compared with that in control group. These results suggest that CR may induce the apoptosis through the caspase-3 pathway in human gastric cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obesity Management, Graduate School of Obesity Science, Dongduk Women's University, Seoul, 136-714, South Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Ja
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hae Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mee Suk
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Hi-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Min-Su
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kang-Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Leem
authors.forename: Jeung-Beum
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Youn Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hye Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002957:Citrus / Q000737:chemistry*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000379:methods; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C494826:BAX protein, human; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases