Effect of Bupleuri Radix extracts on the toxicity of 5-fluorouracil in HepG2 hepatoma cells and normal human lymphocytes.
Despite the excellent chemotherapeutic effect of 5-fluorouracil, its cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in normal cells remain a major problem. We sought to assess whether Bupleuri Radix extract enhances 5-fluorouracil-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 hepatoma cells, while protecting normal blood lymphocytes. Bupleuri Radix, used for treatment of liver disease in oriental medicine, possesses antitumour properties; it induces apoptosis through cell arrest in tumour cells, but does not affect normal lymphocytes. In this study, we evaluated the protective and enhancing effects of Bupleuri Radix on 5-fluorouracil-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells and normal lymphocytes. Treatment with Bupleuri Radix increased the micronuclei frequency and DNA damage, resulting from 5-fluorouracil treatment. However, when human lymphocytes were cotreated with Bupleuri Radix and 5-fluorouracil, the frequency of 5-fluorouracil-induced micronuclei decreased. Although the extent of 5-fluorouracil-induced DNA damage, determined by single-cell gel electrophoresis, increased after treating HepG2 cells with Bupleuri Radix, it decreased in normal lymphocytes. When cells were treated with 20 microM 5-fluorouracil and 200 microg/ml Bupleuri Radix simultaneously, Bax protein increased in HepG2 cells at 24 hr; however, p21 and p53 proteins were up-regulated in normal human lymphocytes. Cotreatment with 200 microg/ml Bupleuri Radix and 20 microM 5-fluorouracil resulted in cell arrest at the late G(1)/early S phase in HepG2 cells (55.80 +/- 0.19%) and normal lymphocytes (97.19 +/- 0.27%). In addition, Bupleuri Radix and 5-fluorouracil treatment increased mitochondria membrane potential collapse only in HepG2 cells (19.02%), while it was not changed in lymphocytes. In conclusion, our findings suggest that Bupleuri Radix may be effective as a therapeutic agent to treat hepatomas.
School of Public Health and Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
Su Jin
SJ
Kang
Young Joon
YJ
Lee
Byeong Mo
BM
Kim
Yang Jee
YJ
Kim
Hae Dong
HD
Woo
Hye Kyoung
HK
Jeon
Hai Won
HW
Chung
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D015153:Blotting, Western; D029972:Bupleurum / Q000737:chemistry*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020552:Comet Assay; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D005472:Fluorouracil