title: Myristicin-induced neurotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells.
abstract: Myristicin, 1-allyl-3,4-methylenedioxy-5-methoxybenzene, is a naturally occurring alkenylbenzene compound found in the nutmeg. The present study was conducted to assess the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of myristicin on the human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. We found that a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability occurs at myristicin concentration > or =0.5 mM in SK-N-SH cells. Apoptotic cell death was confirmed using DNA fragmentation, terminal deoxyribonucelotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling and by 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining. Microscopy was used to observe apoptotic cell morphology. Western blotting was used to investigate the protein expression of known apoptotic mediators including cytochrome c, caspase-3, and PARP. The apoptosis triggered by myristicin was accompanied by an accumulation of cytochrome c and by the activation of caspase-3. The results obtained suggest that myristicin induces cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells by an apoptotic mechanism. This myristicin-induced apoptosis provides further insight of the molecular mechanisms of myristicin toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoeki-dong, Dongdeamoon-ku, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bo Kyung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Ji Woong
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Eui Sik
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Sun Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Jong Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ryu
mesh_terms: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D004249:DNA Damage; D004148:Dioxolanes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000473:pathology*; D011748:Pyrogallol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D004148:Dioxolanes; D011748:Pyrogallol; C005246:myristicin; D045304:Cytochromes c; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases