Genipin, a constituent of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, induces apoptosis             and inhibits invasion in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.
Genipin, a constituent of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, is used in the treatment             of hepatic disorders and inflammatory diseases in traditional medicine. Although             mounting evidence suggests an anti-tumor activity of genipin in several cancer             cell systems, the inhibitory effect of genipin on the growth of breast cancer             cells has not been reported yet. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-proliferative             activity of genipin in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Herein, we showed             that genipin efficiently induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells by the down-regulation             of Bcl-2, up-regulation of Bax and proteolytic activation of caspase-3. Activation             of JNK and p38 MAPK also increased by genipin. Importantly, genipin significantly             inhibited invasive and migratory phenotypes of MDA-MB-231 cells. Taken together,             this study demonstrates that genipin induces apoptosis and inhibits invasive/migratory             abilities of highly invasive MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells, suggesting             a potential application of genipin as a chemopreventive agent that may prevent             or alleviate metastatic breast cancer.
College of Pharmacy, Duksung Women's University, Seoul, Republic                     of Korea.
Eun-Sook
ES
Kim
Choon-Sik
CS
Jeong
Aree
A
Moon
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D032062:Gardenia / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D039823:Iridoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D039823:Iridoids; C007834:genipin