title: Cytotoxicity and radical modulating activity of Moxa smoke.
abstract: The biological activities of Moxa, used as moxibustion, have not been well documented. We investigated here Moxa smoke for its tumor-specific cytotoxicity, anti-HIV activity, radical intensity and radical scavenging activity, in comparison with previously published data of Moxa extract. Moxa smoke showed slightly higher cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines (oral squamous cell carcinoma HSC-2, HSC-3, promyelocytic leukemia HL-60) than against normal oral cells (gingival fibroblast HGF, pulp cell HPC, periodontal ligament fibroblast HPLF), yielding a tumor specificity index of 1.29. Moxa smoke dose-dependently induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, activation of caspases 3, 8 and 9, and slightly modified the expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2, Bad, Bax) in HL-60 cells, but to much lesser extents than attained by positive controls (UV irradiation, actinomycin D treatment). ESR spectroscopy showed that Moxa smoke generated semiquinone-type radicals under alkaline conditions, and scavenged O2(-), hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen and NO. All Moxa smoke preparations showed no apparent anti-HIV activity. These data demonstrate the antitumor potential of Moxa smoke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Pharmacology, Meikai University School of Dentistry, Sakado, Saitama, Japan. sakagami@dent.meikai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakagami
authors.forename: Hisatoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Kazue
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shioda
authors.forename: Chowdhury Shahead
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Shigemi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terakubo
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoji
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shimada
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D019306:Artemisia / Q000737:chemistry*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D012906:Smoke
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D012906:Smoke