Cordycepin induces apoptosis in human neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2)-C and melanoma SK-MEL-2 cells.
In this study, the effect of cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine), a major component of Cordyceps militaris, an ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine was investigated for the first time on apoptotsis in human neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2)-C and melanoma SK-MEL-2 cells. Cordycepin significantly inhibited the proliferation of human neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2)-C and human melanoma SK-MEL-2 cells with IC50 values of 120 microM and 80 microM, respectively. Cordycepin treatment at 120 microM and 80 microM, respectively, induced apoptosis in both cells and caused the increase of cell accumulation in a time-dependent manner at the apoptotic sub-G1 phase, as evidenced by the flow cytometry (FCM) and annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) analyses. Western blot analysis revealed the induction of active caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) cleavage by cordycepin treatment. These results suggest that cordycepin is a potential candidate for cancer therapy of neuroblastoma and melanoma.
College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Medi-farm Industrialization Research Center, Dong-A University, Busan 604-714, South Korea.
Ji-Sue
JS
Baik
Haw-Young
HY
Kwon
Kyoung-Sook
KS
Kim
Yong-Ki
YK
Jeong
Young-Su
YS
Cho
Young-Choon
YC
Lee
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003839:Deoxyadenosines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000473:pathology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003839:Deoxyadenosines; C058120:cordycepin