title: Brassinolide, a plant sterol from pollen of Brassica napus L., induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells.
abstract: Brassinolide is a plant sterol first isolated from pollen of rape (Brassica napus L.). The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of brassinolide on androgen-independent human prostate cancer PC-3 cell viability. Results showed that brassinolide could induce a time and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in PC-3 cells. The mode of cell death appeared to be predominately apoptosis, as shown by flow-cytometric analysis, fluorescence and transmission electron microscopes. Caspase-3 activity was obviously increased after brassinolide treatment. Western blot studies indicated that treatment with brassinolide triggered a time-dependent decrease in the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. We suggest that brassinolide could induce cytotoxicity in PC-3 cells by triggering apoptosis. Brassinolide might therefore be a promising candidate for the treatment of prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yao-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yi-Jia
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lou
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001937:Brassica / Q000737:chemistry*; D060406:Brassinosteroids; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002777:Cholestanols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013260:Steroids, Heterocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D060406:Brassinosteroids; D002777:Cholestanols; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D013260:Steroids, Heterocyclic; D053148:Caspase 3; C023623:brassinolide