Antitumor activity of chloroform fraction of Scutellaria barbata and its active constituents.
Scutellaria barbata (SB) is widely used as an antitumor agent in China, but the antitumor components of SB are still unclear. The antitumor activity of various fractions of an ethanol extract of SB was studied in six human malignant cell lines. Bio-based assays showed that non-polar and low-polar solvent fractions of SB had dose-dependent cytotoxicities on six cancer cell lines. The IC(50) values of these fractions on the cancer cell lines tested ranged from 16 to 70 microg/mL after 48 h of treatment. Among them, the chloroform fraction (CE-SB) had the strongest cytotoxicity on cancer cell lines with a lower cytotoxic effect on a normal liver cell line. Bel-7402 cell apoptosis induced by CE-SB was examined using Hoechst 33258 staining, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry. CE-SB dose-dependently decreased the S phase content. Treatment with CE-SB caused cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-9. The antitumor activity of CE-SB in vivo was also evaluated. At 60 mg/kg/day, CE-SB significantly inhibited the solid tumor proliferation and increased the life span of ascites tumor bearing mice (p < 0.01). CE-SB was subjected to bioassay-guided isolation of the active compounds by chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20. Phytol, wogonin, luteolin and hispidulin were obtained as cytotoxic constituents.
College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China.
Jianqing
J
Yu
Huibin
H
Liu
Jiachuan
J
Lei
Wenjie
W
Tan
Xianming
X
Hu
Guolin
G
Zou
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D031363:Scutellaria
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts