title: Anti-tumour effects of elatol, a marine derivative compound obtained from red algae Laurencia microcladia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper aims to evaluate the anti-tumour properties of elatol, a compound (sesquiterpene) isolated from algae Laurencia microcladia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-vitro and in-vivo anti-tumour properties of elatol were investigated using: MTT assays to assess the cytotoxic effects; flow cytometry analysis to examine the cell cycle and apoptosis; Western blot analysis for determination of the expression of cell cycle and apoptosis proteins; and study of in-vivo tumour growth in mice (C57Bl6 mice bearing B16F10 cells).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elatol exhibited a cytotoxic effect, at least in part, by inducing cell cycle arrest in the G(1) and the sub-G(1) phases, leading cells to apoptosis. Western blot analysis demonstrated that elatol reduced the expression of cyclin-D1, cyclin-E, cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk)2 and cdk4. A decrease in bcl-xl and an increase in bak, caspase-9 and p53 expression was also observed. In the in-vivo experiment, treatment with elatol was able to reduce tumour growth in C57Bl6 mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elatol promotes a delay in the cell cycle, probably in the G(1)/S transition, activating the apoptotic process and this could be responsible, at least in part, for the in-vivo effects observed. Taken together, the in-vitro and in-vivo experiments suggested that elatol has anti-tumour properties. Further studies should be conducted to clarify the mechanism of action.
authors: Department of Pharmacology             Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors: Andreza
authors: A
authors: Campos
authors: Christiane Borges
authors: CB
authors: Souza
authors: Cintia
authors: C
authors: Lhullier
authors: Miriam
authors: M
authors: Falkenberg
authors: Eloir Paulo
authors: EP
authors: Schenkel
authors: Rosa Maria
authors: RM
authors: Ribeiro-do-Valle
authors: Jarbas Mota
authors: JM
authors: Siqueira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019927:Cyclin E / Q000378:metabolism; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D044722:Laurencia / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013141:Spiro Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C494773:Bak1 protein, mouse; D019927:Cyclin E; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013141:Spiro Compounds; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D019938:Cyclin D1; C485576:elatol; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4; D053453:Caspase 9