title: Caffeic acid induces apoptosis in human cervical cancer cells through the mitochondrial pathway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The anti-proliferation effect of caffeic acid (3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid), isolated from Ocimum gratissimum Linn, on human cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells) was examined to elucidate the associated mechanism and death mode.
  
  
  METHODS
  Flow cytometry showed that caffeic acid treatment results in dramatically increased apoptosis of HeLa cells. Western blot analysis revealed that caffeic acid activates various processed caspases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caffeic acid significantly reduced proliferation of HeLa cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Morphological evidence of apoptosis, including nuclei fragmentation was clearly observed 24 and 48 hours after exposure to caffeic acid (1 mM and 10 mM) by flow cytometry. Time-dependent inhibition was also observed. Caffeic acid decreased levels of uncleaved caspase-3 and Bcl-2, and induced cleaved caspase-3 and p53.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caffeic acid induces apoptosis by inhibiting Bcl-2 activity, leading to release of cytochrome c and subsequent activation of caspase-3, indicating that caffeic acid induces apoptosis via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. This also suggests that caffeic acid has a strong anti-tumor effect and may be a promising chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Chun
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ching-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Meen-Woon
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Wu-Chou
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yao-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Je-Chiuan
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002109:Caffeic Acids; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D045304:Cytochromes c; D053148:Caspase 3; C040048:caffeic acid