Artemisia princeps var orientalis induces apoptosis in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.
BACKGROUND
Dried leaves of Artemisia princeps var orientalis are used in the Eastern practice of moxibustion to improve general health. The ability of A. princeps smoke and water extracts to induce apoptosis was evaluated in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells in vitro.


METHODS
Tumor cells were cultured with a smoke or water extract (1.5-50% v/v) for 72 h, and cytotoxicity and apoptosis were determined by MTT and TUNEL assays, respectively. Activation of caspases, changes in membrane potential, and BCL-2 expression were determined by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Both preparations inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent- manner. Induction of apoptosis was associated with activation of caspases 3, 8 and 9, depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential and down-regulation of BCL-2 expression. Furthermore, A. princeps smoke exerted synergistic cytotoxicity with doxorubicin.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest that A. princeps smoke and water soluble extracts induce apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway and may represent a novel adjuvant for the treatment of breast cancer.
Sarath
Vasiraju J
VJ
Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
So
Chang-Sok
CS
Won
Young Doo
YD
Gollapudi
Sastry
S
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D019306:Artemisia / Q000737:chemistry*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012906:Smoke; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis
D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012906:Smoke; D019014:fas Receptor; D014867:Water; D004317:Doxorubicin