title: Cyclic bisbibenzyls induce growth arrest and apoptosis of human prostate cancer PC3 cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the cytotoxic effects of four cyclic bisbibenzyls, Riccardin C (Ric), Pakyonol (Pak), Marchantin M (Mar), and Plagiochin E (Pla) against chemoresistant prostate cancer PC3 cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell growth was assayed by MTT method, and apoptotic related protein Bcl-2 and Bax, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were examined by Western blotting. Cell cycle and apoptosis of PC3 cells were evaluated with flow cytometry and morphologic examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The four compounds inhibited proliferation and elicited cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner with IC(50) values of 3.22 micromol/L for Ric, 7.98 micromol/L for Pak, 5.45 micromol/L for Mar, and 5.99 micromol/L for Pla, respectively. Furthermore, exposed to these chemicals caused a decrease in the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and an increase in proapoptotic Bax expression. PARP cleavage and caspase-3 activity were also observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that cyclic bisbibenzyls could be used for the development of novel therapeutic chemicals against prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji-nan 250012, China.
authors.forename: Ai-hui
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhi-min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jian-bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Shang-ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ali Kazim Abbas
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Syed
authors.forename: Hui-qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Hong-xiang
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Lou
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001632:Bibenzyls / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D001632:Bibenzyls; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053148:Caspase 3