title: Novel physiological properties of ethanol extracts from Eremurus chinensis Fedtsch. roots: in vitro antioxidant and anticancer activities.
abstract: Eremurus chinensis Fedtch. (ECF) with nutritious roots, belonging to the genus of Eremurus, is a special species grown in China. However, the functional properties of ECF roots have not been intensely investigated. The antioxidant and anticancer effects of ethanol extracts from E. chinensis Fedtch. roots (ECFE) were evaluated in the present study. ECFE exhibited high radical-scavenging activities on DPPH and ABTS radicals, strong reducing power and Fe(2+)-chelating activity. ECFE also effectively protected biological macromolecules including proteins, lipids and DNA against oxidative damage induced by Cu(2+)/H(2)O(2) and AAPH systems. Moreover, the MTT assay revealed that ECFE inhibited proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Western blot analysis demonstrated that treatment with ECFE led to cell apoptosis hallmarked by PARP cleavage. Additionally, caspase-3 activation, cytochrome C (Cyt-C) release and increase of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio suggested that mitochondria-mediated signaling pathway might be involved in ECFE-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. These results demonstrate the remarkable potentiality of ECFE as a valuable source of antioxidants which possess original anticancer abilities.
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
authors.forename: Haifang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Yutang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qisen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Chunxia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xuebo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol