title: Pinus massoniana bark extract selectively induces apoptosis in human hepatoma cells, possibly through caspase-dependent pathways.
abstract: Pinus massoniana bark extract (PMBE) is a mixture of flavonoids, whose antioxidant and apoptosis-inducing properties have been confirmed in vitro. In this study, the apoptotic effect and mechanism of PMBE in HepG2 human hepatoma cells were evaluated. PMBE exerted dose- and time-dependent cell growth inhibition on HepG2 cells, and selectively induced apoptosis without impact on normal liver L-02 cells. Apoptosis induced by PMBE in HepG2 cells was also confirmed by annexin-V/PI staining, transmission electron microscopy and sub-G1 phase accumulation. Moreover, PMBE also slightly blocked the cell cycle in the G2/M and S phases in HepG2 cells. The investigation of the mechanism by which PMBE induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells indicated that activation of extrinsic and intrinsic caspase, inhibition of NF-kappaB activation and decrease of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and the intact Bid protein were involved. Furthermore, the antitumor activity of PBME was demonstrated in vivo by a 42.88-69.94% reduction rate of tumor weight in H22 tumor-implanted mice. Taken together, these data indicate that PMBE selectively induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells through caspase-dependent pathways, and inhibits tumor growth in vivo, making it a potential candidate for anticancer therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and The Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen Zhongshan University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Hongling
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dongru
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Ruoda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yixing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuchi
authors.forename: Hongbin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jinfa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028223:Pinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D020169:Caspases