Alkaloids extracted from Pterogyne nitens induce apoptosis in malignant breast cell line.
In the present study, two alkaloids isolated from Pterogyne nitens, a plant native to Brazil, have been shown to induce apoptosis in human breast cancer cells. These compounds, pterogynine (PGN) and pterogynidine (PGD), were tested for their effect on a human infiltrating ductal carcinoma cell line (ZR-7531). The cell line was treated with each alkaloid at several concentrations. Time-dependence (with or without recuperation time) and concentration-dependence (in the range 0.25-10 mM) were investigated in cytotoxicity and apoptosis assays. The annexin assay indicated an apparently higher percentage of death by necrosis of malignant cells after 24 h exposure to both P. nitens extracts than the Hoechst assay. Thus, our results in the two tests demonstrated that the Hoechst assay can discriminate between late apoptotic cells and necrosis, whereas the flow cytometry-based annexin V assay cannot. We concluded that PGN and PGD have effective antineoplastic activity against human breast cancer cells in vitro, by inducing programmed cell death.
Duarte
Roberta Aparecida
RA
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo State -UNESP, Rua Expedicionários do Brasil, 1621, Zip code 14801-902, Araraquara, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Mello
Elaine Rodrigues
ER
Araki
Camila
C
Bolzani
Vanderlan da Silva
Vda S
Siqueira e Silva
Dulce Helena
DH
Regasini
Luis Octavio
LO
Silva
Tarsia Giabardo Alves
TG
de Morais
Mauro César Cafundó
MC
Ximenes
Valdecir Farias
VF
Soares
Christiane Pienna
CP
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D029911:Caesalpinia / Q000737:chemistry*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002469:Cell Separation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006146:Guanidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009336:Necrosis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000470:Alkaloids; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D006146:Guanidines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations; C542891:pterogynidine; C553217:pterogynine