In vitro and in vivo effects of water extract of white cocoa tea (Camellia ptilophylla) against human prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the chemotherapeutic effect of water extract of white cocoa tea (WCTE) against human prostate cancer (PCa) in vitro and in vivo.


METHODS
Cell viability and cell cycle distribution were determined by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blotting was performed to determine changes in levels of various proteins. Effect of WCTE was determined in athymic nude mice implanted with PC-3 cells.


RESULTS
Treatment with WCTE (100-150 microg/ml) inhibited cell proliferation, which correlated with G2/M phase arrest in PC-3 cells. WCTE treatment to PC-3 cells resulted in (1) induction of WAF1/p21 and KIP1/p27, (2) decrease in cyclins D1, D2 and E, (3) decrease in cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) 2, 4 and 6, (4) induction of Bax and down-regulation of Bcl-2, (5) decrease in procaspase-3, -8, (6) inhibition of nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of NF-kappaB and activation of IKKalpha, and (7) inhibition of phosphorylation and degradation of IkappaBalpha. Oral administration of WCTE (0.1 and 0.2%, wt/vol) to athymic nude mice resulted in greater than 50% inhibition of tumor growth. There was a decrease in expressions of cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and p-NF-kappaB and an increase in WAF1/p21 and Bax in tumor tissues of mice.


CONCLUSIONS
WCTE can be a useful chemotherapeutic agent against human PCa.
Peng
Li
L
School of Life Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Khan
Naghma
N
Afaq
Farrukh
F
Ye
Chuangxing
C
Mukhtar
Hasan
H
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D028244:Camellia / Q000378:metabolism; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D053471:Caspases, Initiator / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000378:metabolism; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / Q000378:metabolism; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D016213:Cyclins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D013662:Tea / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D028321:Plant Preparations; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D013662:Tea; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; D053471:Caspases, Initiator