Antiproliferative activity of root extract from gentian plant (Gentiana triflora) on cultured and implanted tumor cells.
We describe a novel pharmacological activity of the gentian root, an ingredient of Chinese medicines. Root extract from Gentiana triflora triggered cell death of human Daudi cells in culture. In addition, daily administration of the extract to mice inhibited growth of implanted solid tumors. Extract treatment of cultured cells resulted in the appearance of shranken, fragmented, or condensed cell and nuclear morphologies, and in chromosomal DNA degradation. But, the extract-treated cells did not show DNA fragmentation, which exhibits a nucleosome ladder, suggesting that extract-triggered cell death is not mediated through a typical apoptotic pathway.
Matsukawa
Kazushige
K
Cryobiosystem Research Center, Iwate University, Japan.
Ogata
Mika
M
Hikage
Takashi
T
Minami
Hiroyuki
H
Shimotai
Yoshitaka
Y
Saitoh
Yasushi
Y
Yamashita
Tetsuro
T
Ouchi
Atsushi
A
Tsutsumi
Reiko
R
Fujioka
Tomoaki
T
Tsutsumi
Ken-Ichi
K
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D030012:Gentiana / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*
D010936:Plant Extracts