title: The in vitro and in vivo apoptotic effects of Mahonia oiwakensis on human lung cancer cells.
abstract: Both the root and stem bark of Mahonia species were popular folk medicines. The plant has several proven biological activities including anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, Mahonia has not been studied for its anticancer effects. In the present study, we made extracts from Mahonia oiwakensis (MOE), a selected species in Taiwan, and investigated their effects on various human lung cells. We found that MOE-induced apoptotic death in human A549 non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Treatment with the extracts also caused an increase in the sub-G1 fraction of cells, chromosome condensation, and DNA fragmentation. The mitochondrial-mediated pathway was implicated in this MOE-induced apoptosis as evidenced by the activation of the caspase cascade, cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, and release of cytochrome C. A higher ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 proteins and cleavage of Bid were also observed in MOE-induced cell apoptosis. In A549 tumor-xenografted nude mice, MOE also retarded in vivo proliferation (P<0.05) and induced apoptosis in tumor cells, as shown by a decrease in Ki-67-positive staining (P<0.05) and increased transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive staining (P<0.05). In conclusion, MOE inhibits the growth of human lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that it may have therapeutic potential against human lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Antai Tian-Sheng Memorial Hospital, Pingtung County, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Bing-Sang
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Yung-Chin
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Ta-Wei
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kuo-Shuen
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Pei-Ni
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wu-Hsien
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Shu-Chen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Yih-Shou
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D028143:Mahonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts