title: Coptis japonica root extract induces apoptosis through caspase3 activation in SNU-668 human gastric cancer cells.
abstract: Apoptosis-modulating approaches offer an attractive opportunity for therapeutic use for many tumors. We investigated the effects of the roots of Coptis japonica var. dissecta (Ranunculaceae) on human gastric cancer cells, SNU-668. The cytotoxicity of Coptis japonica at 100 microg/ml (methanol extract) by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was 13.89 +/- 1.91% of control value. Considering the features by 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, it was confirmed that the death of SNU-668 cells was due to apoptosis. In the apoptosis-regulating genes, BCL2 expression was diminished out, whereas BAX and CASP3 expressions were increased, compared with control. Furthermore, the activity of caspase3 was significantly increased by Coptis japonica treatment. These results suggest that Coptis japonica could induce apoptotic anticancer effect through caspase3 activation on SNU-668 human gastric cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Kohwang Medical Research Institute, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leem
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D039323:Coptis; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012313:RNA; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases