title: Residual powders from Shochu distillation remnants induce apoptosis in human hepatoma cells via the caspase-independent pathway.
abstract: Shochu distillation remnants (SDR) are by-products in the manufacturing process of the Japanese liquor Shochu and include various useful organic compounds derived from the fermentation of grains. We have obtained valuable powder (PSDR) from freeze-dried SDR by the treatment with ethanol. In this study, we examined the anticancer effects of barley-, rice-, and sweet potato-PSDR against HepG2 and HuH-7 cells of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro. All PSDR inhibited the growth of both these HCC cells through the induction of apoptosis. Especially, barley-PSDR was the most effective for the growth inhibition and apoptosis induction of HCC cells of all PSDR. We next examined the apoptotic mechanisms induced by barley-PSDR. Decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria were observed in HCC cells after the treatment with barley-PSDR. Furthermore, barley-PSDR induced the nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria, while it did not significantly affect the activities of caspase-3, -8, and -9. The results suggested that barley-PSDR induced apoptosis against HCC cells via the caspase-independent mitochondrial pathway. The findings in this study suggest that PSDR has the possibility of therapeutic and/or preventive agents of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Sojo University, 4-22-1 Ikeda, Kumamoto 860-0082, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohgidani
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komizu
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ueoka
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D057168:Distillation; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D011208:Powders / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor; D011208:Powders; D045304:Cytochromes c; D020169:Caspases