Water extract of Rheum officinale Baill. induces apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 and human breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines.
BACKGROUND
Rheum officinale Baill. (Da Huang) is one of the herbs commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine formulae against cancer. The traditional decoction is similar to the water extract used in the present study.


OBJECTIVE
The water extract of Da Huang was investigated to see if it possesses anticancer effects through apoptotic pathways.


METHODS
Human lung adenocarcinoma A549 and human breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines were treated with different concentrations of Da Huang water extract at different time intervals. Growth inhibition was detected by MTS [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium] and colony formation assays; apoptosis was detected by cell morphologic analysis, DNA fragmentation analysis and COMET assay.


RESULTS
Da Huang water extract was found to have significant growth inhibitory effects on both A549 and MCF-7 cell lines with IC(50) values 620+/-12.7 and 515+/-10.1 microg/ml, respectively. Growth inhibitory effects were dose- and time-dependent. A significant decrease in cell number, DNA fragmentation and single DNA strand breakages were observed in the Da Huang water extract treated A549 and MCF-7 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
This suggests that the water extract of Da Huang exerts potential anticancer activity through growth inhibition and apoptosis on MCF-7 and A549 cells lines.
Li
Wing-Yan
WY
Open Laboratory of Chirotechnology, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Chan
Shun-Wan
SW
Guo
De-Jian
DJ
Chung
Mei-Kuen
MK
Leung
Tin-Yan
TY
Yu
Peter Hoi-Fu
PH
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012250:Rheum; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; C070380:3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium