title: Lycii cortex radicis extract inhibits glioma tumor growth in vitro and             in vivo through downregulation of the Akt/ERK pathway.
abstract: Lycii cortex radicis (LCR) is a traditional Korean medicinal herb. The present             study was undertaken to examine the effect of an LCR extract on glioma cell growth             and to determine its molecular mechanism in U87MG human glioma cells. The LCR             extract resulted in apoptotic cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner.             The LCR extract-induced cell death was associated with generation of reactive             oxygen species (ROS). Western blot analysis showed that the LCR extract caused             downregulation of Akt and ERK. The LCR-induced cell death was prevented by transfection             with the constitutively active forms of Akt and MEK. Oral administration of LCR             extracts in subcutaneous U87MG xenograft models reduced glioma tumor volume. Taken             together, these findings suggest that the LCR extract results in human glioma             cell death through mechanisms involving ROS generation, downregulation of Akt             and ERK, and caspase activation in vitro and reduces glioma tumor growth in vivo.             These data suggest that the LCR extract may serve as a potential therapeutic agent             for malignant human glioblastomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University, Kyung Ju                     780-714, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Cheon
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Saeng Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Keun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chae Hwa
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Ki Hyung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases