title: The MAP30 protein from bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) seeds promotes apoptosis in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: Human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep G2 cells and Hep G2-bearing mice were used as in vitro and in vivo models to assess the efficacy and safety of MAP30, a natural component from Momordica charantia, as an anticancer agent against liver cancer. Molecular studies disclosed the contribution of both caspase-8 regulated extrinsic and caspase-9 regulated intrinsic caspase cascades in MAP30-induced cell apoptosis. The antitumor potential was also effective in Hep G2-bearing nude mice. Since bitter gourd is a staple in many Asian countries, MAP30 would serve as a novel and relatively safe agent for prophylaxis and treatment of liver cancer.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Evandro Fei
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Chris Zhi Yi
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jack Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Jia Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Chuan Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tzi Bun
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D056945:Hep G2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D029777:Momordica charantia / Q000737:chemistry; D009336:Necrosis; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D054790:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C066347:MAP30 protein, Momordica charantia; D054790:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9