title: A natural compound from Hydnophytum formicarium induces apoptosis of MCF-7 cells via up-regulation of Bax.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hydnophytum formicarium Jack is an epyphytic shrub that belongs to the family of Rubiaceae and is native to the tropical rain forests of the Asean region, which includes Malaysia. A flavanoid derivative, 7, 3', 5'-trihydroxyflavanone (3HFD), isolated from H. formicarium has been reported to have cytotoxic effects on the human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7. The aim of the current study was to investigate the mode of cell death in MCF-7 cells treated with 3HFD. A DNA fragmentation assay was conducted on isolated genomic DNA, a TUNEL assay was used to determine the mode of cell death and Western blotting was used to evaluate the expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2. Immunofluorescence staining of MCF-7 cells was also performed to confirm the up-regulation of the Bax protein.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ladder pattern resulting from the DNA fragmentation assay was a multimer of 180 kb. The morphological changes of cells undergoing apoptosis were visualised by a TUNEL assay over time. The percentage of apoptotic cells increased as early as 6 hours post treatment compared to untreated cells. Western blotting revealed up-regulation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. However, 3HFD did not affect expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results provide evidence that plant-derived 3HFD was able to induce the apoptotic cell death of MCF-7 cells by increasing Bax expression level and makes 3HFD a promising agent for chemotherapy, which merits further study.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia 16150 Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
authors.forename: Hasmah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.affiliation: School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 46500, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Azimahtol Hawariah Lope
authors.initials: AHL
authors.lastname: Pihie
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hohmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Molnár