In vitro evaluation of the cytotoxic, anti-proliferative and anti-oxidant properties of pterostilbene isolated from Pterocarpus marsupium.
Pterostilbene, a dimethyl ester derivative of resveratrol, may act as an cytotoxic and hence as an anti-cancer agent. The present study was conducted to test the anti-cancer activity of pterostilbene purified from Pterocarpus marsupium on breast (MCF-7) and prostate (PC3) cancer cell lines. The purified pterostilbene was found to cause apoptosis in both the cell lines, which was marked by DNA fragmentation, formation of apoptotic bodies and membrane distortions. Apoptosis probably was due to the production of reactive oxygen species in MCF-7 and nitric oxide over production in PC3 cells. Even the drug detoxifying anti-oxidant enzymes could not nullify the effect of pterostilbene as required by the cancer cells for survival. Pterostilbene was found to inhibit the cell proliferating factors like Akt, Bcl-2 and induced the mitochondrial apoptotic signals like Bax, and the series of caspases. It also inhibited Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and alpha-methylacyl-CoA recemase (AMACR), two very well known metastasis inducers. In conclusion, pterostilbene has multiple target sites to induce apoptosis. Hence, after proper validation it can be used as a potential agent for the cure of breast and prostate cancer.
Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247 667, Uttarakhand, India.
Ajanta
A
Chakraborty
Neetu
N
Gupta
Kaushik
K
Ghosh
Partha
P
Roy
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D035721:Pterocarpus / Q000737:chemistry*; D019998:Racemases and Epimerases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D018675:Toxicity Tests
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D003603:Cytotoxins; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013267:Stilbenes; C107773:pterostilbene; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt; D019998:Racemases and Epimerases; C108352:alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase