title: The methylene chloride fraction of Trichosanthis Fructus induces apoptosis in U937 cells through the mitochondrial pathway.
abstract: Trichosanthis kirilowii MAXIM has been used as a folk remedy to treat diabetes, leukemia, and breast cancer. In the present study, the apoptotic mechanism of the methylene chloride fraction of Trichosanthis Fructus (MCTF) was investigated in human leukemic U937 cells. MCTF exhibited antiproliferative effectsagainst U937 cells (IC50=ca. 8 microg/ml). Apoptotic bodies were observed in MCTF-treated U937 cells in the TUNEL assay. We also confirmed that MCTF significantly increases annexin V(+)/propidium iodide-cells using FACS analysis. MCTF treatment activated caspase-8, -9 and -3, and led to cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and release of cytochrome c into cytosol in a concentration-dependent manner, while MCTF did not affect Bax or Bcl-2 protein levels as shown by Western blot analysis. Taken together, these results indicate that MCTF can induce apoptosis in U937 cells chiefly via a mitochondrial-mediated pathway and suggest that Trichosanthis Fructus can be used in cancer treatment as a chemopreventive agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Ok
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ju-Ryoung
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwan-Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Nam-In
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Soo-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bog-Hieu
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung-Dong
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Kyoo-Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Sung-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007723:Korea; D008752:Methylene Chloride / Q000737:chemistry*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D045304:Cytochromes c