In vitro apoptotic effects of methanol extracts of Dianthus chinensis and Acalypha australis L. targeting specificity protein 1 in human oral cancer cells.
BACKGROUND
The aims of this study were to evaluate the apoptotic activities and molecular mechanisms of methanol extracts of Dianthus chinensis (MEDC) and Acalypha australis L. (MEAL) in human oral cancer cells.


METHODS
The apoptotic effects and related molecular mechanisms of MEDC and MEAL on oral cancer cells were evaluated using MTS assay, DAPI staining, immunostaining, Western blotting, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Sp1 was overexpressed in oral tumor tissues compared with normal oral mucosa. Downregulation of Sp1 inhibited the growth of SCC-15 and YD-15 oral cancer cells. MEDC and MEAL inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in both cell lines by decreasing the expression of Sp1. In addition, treatment of cells with MEDC and MEAL decreased Mcl-1 expression, which is a downstream target of Sp1.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that MEDC and MEAL are bioactive natural products that can potentially induce apoptosis of tumor cells that overexpress the Sp1 protein.
Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Bioscience, BK21 Project, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
Ji-Ae
JA
Shin
Jae-Jin
JJ
Kim
Eun-Sun
ES
Choi
Jung-Hyun
JH
Shim
Mi Heon
MH
Ryu
Ki Han
KH
Kwon
Hee-Min
HM
Park
Jin-Young
JY
Seo
Soo-Yeon
SY
Lee
Do-Won
DW
Lim
Nam-Pyo
NP
Cho
Sung-Dae
SD
Cho
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D029749:Dianthus / Q000737:chemistry*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D019665:Euphorbiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D010936:Plant Extracts; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D000432:Methanol