Antitumor potential of three herbal extracts against human oral squamous cell lines.
Three Chinese herbal extracts of Drynaria baronii, Angelica sinensis and Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc (referred to as DB, AS, CO, respectively) were investigated for their antitumor potential. These extracts showed very weak cytotoxicity against all nine cultured human cells (normal and tumor cells), but with some tumor-specific cytotoxicity displayed by DB and CO. These extracts showed little or no growth stimulation effects at lower concentrations (so-called 'hormetic effect'). Human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (HSC-2, NA) were relatively resistant to committing apoptosis, as compared with human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Electron-spin resonance spectroscopy shows that DB and CO scavenged superoxide anion (generated by hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidase reaction) and hydroxyl radical (generated by Fenton reaction) more efficiently than AS. DB and CO, but not AS, produced broad radical peak(s) and enhanced the superoxide scavenging activity of vitamin C. However, none of the extracts clearly enhanced the cytotoxicity of mitoxantrone, an anthracycline antitumor antibiotic. DB, but not CO and AS, showed weak anti-HIV activity. These data demonstrate several unique antitumor properties of DB.
Chu
Qing
Q
Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, 145 West Changle Road, Xi'an, P.R. of China. chuqing@fmmu.edu.cn
Satoh
Kazue
K
Kanamoto
Taisei
T
Terakubo
Shigemi
S
Nakashima
Hideki
H
Wang
Qintao
Q
Sakagami
Hiroshi
H
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013481:Superoxides; D001205:Ascorbic Acid