title: Induction of apoptosis by methanolic extract of Rubia cordifolia Linn in HEp-2 cell line is mediated by reactive oxygen species.
abstract: Rubia cordifolia Linn, which belongs to the Rubiaceae family, is a well-known herb used in Ayurvedic medicine. In the present study, we investigated the influence of a methanolic extract (RC) on the induction of apoptosis in HEp-2 (human laryngeal carcinoma) cell line, as evidenced by cytotoxicity, morphological changes and modification in the levels of pro-oxidants. Inhibition of cell proliferation and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release increased in a time and dose-dependent manner. Further, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione transferase (GST) and protein levels decreased and lipid peroxidation increased significantly on RC treatment in a dose dependent manner when compared to controls. Based on the results we determined the optimal dose as 30 mg/ ml and the apoptotic effect of RC extract (30 mg/ml) on HEp-2 cells was confirmed by fluorescent microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) based on morphological and ultrastructural changes. RC extract suppressed the proliferation of HEp-2 oral cancer cells inducing apoptotic cell death in vitro. These results point to potential of RC extract as an agent for the treatment of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy campus, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. shillpamail@gmail.com
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Shilpa
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sivaramakrishnan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niranjali Devaraj
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D045470:Rubia
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione