title: Dioscorealide B from the traditional Thai medicine Hua-Khao-Yen induces apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells via modulation of Bax, Bak and Bcl-2 protein expression.
abstract: Dioscorealide B is a pharmacologically active compound from the rhizome of the Thai medicinal plant Dioscorea membranacea. Here, we demonstrated that in vitro treatment of dioscorealide B resulted in a cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells (IC50 = 2.82 microM). To determine whether this compound induces apoptosis in MCF-7, the Annexin V assay was performed. The data showed that the number of apoptotic cells were increased 7-12 folds over that of the control cells after treatment with various concentrations of dioscorealide B (3, 6 and 12 microM) for 24 hours. Dioscorealide B-induced apoptosis was associated with modulation of the multidomain Bcl-2 family members Bax, Bak and Bcl-2. After treatment with 3 microM dioscorealide B, acceleration of the level of proapoptotic proteins Bax and Bak were observed at 6 hours and 12 hours, respectively, while the decrease in the expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 was observed 3 hours after the treatment. These effects of dioscorealide B might result in the activation of caspase-8, -9 and -7, which lead to apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Taken together, the results of this study provide evidence that dioscorealide B possesses an antitumor property against human breast cancer cells and thus provide the molecular basis for the further development of dioscorealide B as a novel chemotherapeutic agent for breast cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Prince ofSongkla University, Hadyai, Songkla 90110, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jiraporn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saekoo
authors.forename: Potchanapond
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Graidist
authors.forename: Wilairat
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Leeanansaksiri
authors.forename: Chavaboon
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dechsukum
authors.forename: Arunporn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Itharat
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006576:Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D013785:Thailand; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: C494772:BAK1 protein, human; C494826:BAX protein, human; D006576:Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C516706:dioscorealide B; D053181:Caspase 8