A petrol ether extract of the roots of Onosma paniculatum induces cell death in a caspase dependent manner.
OBJECTIVE
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become very popular in Western countries during the last years. Zicao, a remedy of TCM, has been traditionally used to treat cancer, and, its main constituents, naphthoquinones, have been reported to possess antitumor activity (Chen et al., 2002; Papageorgiou et al., 1999). Here, we prepared extracts of different polarities of Onosma paniculatum Bur. & Franch., a plant which is amongst others used as Zicao, but, much less investigated. The extracts were analyzed concerning their growth inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing activity in various tumor cells.


METHODS
Cell viability was measured by XTT viability and a growth inhibition assay. Effects on the cell cycle and caspase-3 were determined by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
From three different extracts, a petrol ether extract showed significant growth inhibitory effect, cell cycle influence and caspase-3 dependent induction of apoptosis which was time and dose dependent.


CONCLUSIONS
To further determine the activity and mechanism of action of the petrol ether extract, we would like to isolate and identify the active principle and investigate the effects in more detail.
Rinner
Beate
B
Center of Medical Research, Core Facility Flow Cytometry, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. Beate.Rinner@klinikum-graz.at
Kretschmer
Nadine
N
Knausz
Heike
H
Mayer
Andrea
A
Boechzelt
Herbert
H
Hao
Xiao-Jiang
XJ
Heubl
Guenther
G
Efferth
Thomas
T
Schaider
Helmut
H
Bauer
Rudolf
R
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D028082:Boraginaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004986:Ether; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018517:Plant Roots
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004986:Ether; D053148:Caspase 3