In vitro porcine brain tubulin assembly inhibition by water extract from a Chinese medicinal herb, Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch (THH) on the assembly and disassembly process of tubulin and its possible mode of action.


METHODS
In vitro porcine brain tubulin assembly assay was employed to analyze the inhibitory effects of THH at different concentrations (0.05 microg/L, 0.07 microg/L, 0.09 microg/L). Colchicine (0.0025 mmol/L, 0.0050 mmol/L, 0.0075 mmol/L) was used as a positive control.


RESULTS
THH could significantly inhibit the assembly of isolated porcine brain tubulin at all tested concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
THH is capable of inducing aneuploidy in mammals via tubulin polymerization inhibition pathway and may pose a genetic risk to human beings.
Liang
Zi-Qin
ZQ
School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650092, Yunnan Province, China.
Cao
Neng
N
Song
Zhong-Kui
ZK
Wang
Xu
X
D024422:Aneugens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D000782:Aneuploidy; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012306:Risk; D013552:Swine; D029757:Tripterygium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism*
D024422:Aneugens; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D014404:Tubulin