Andrographolide inhibits human hepatoma-derived Hep3B cell growth through the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase.
Andrographolide (Andro) is a potentially anti-inflammatory diterpenoid lactone isolated from the traditional herbal medicine ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA, which has been effectively used for the treatment of infection, inflammation, cold, fever and diarrhea in China for centuries. In the current study, we found that Andro significantly decreased the number of surviving hepatoma-derived Hep3B cells in the MTT assay and induced cell apoptosis. Further study showed that Andro induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including p38 kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK1/2), but had no significant effect on caspase-3, Bcl-xL and Bcl-2, which are apoptosis-related proteins. Moreover, inhibition of JNK activation partially rescued the toxic effect of Andro on Hep3B cells. Therefore, our results indicate that the JNK signaling pathway plays an important role in the toxic effect of Andro on Hep3B cells.
Ji
Lili
L
Key Laboratory of Standardization of Chinese Medicines of Education, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, P R China.
Liu
Tianyu
T
Liu
Jun
J
Chen
Ying
Y
Wang
Zhengtao
Z
D035685:Andrographis; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000517:prevention & control; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004224:Diterpenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; C030419:andrographolide; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases