title: Purified mulberry leaf lectin (MLL) induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human breast cancer and colon cancer cells.
abstract: Medicinal values of mulberry are known to humans from ancient ages. The white mulberry, Morus alba L. is a rich source of many bioactive phytochemicals. Earlier investigations in our laboratory lead to the purification and characterization of an anti-proliferative lectin (MLL) from the leaves of this plant. Further to that, here we have investigated the mechanism of cell death induction by MLL on human breast cancer (MCF-7) and colon cancer (HCT-15) cells. Cells were treated with GI(50) concentration (concentration of lectin required for 50% inhibition of cell growth) of MLL (8.5 μg/ml for MCF-7 and 16 μg/ml for HCT-15) for 24 h to induce cell death. The induction of apoptosis was studied by morphological analysis, DNA fragmentation, apoptotic cell staining and caspase 3 activity assay. Apoptotic cells in sub G0-G1 phase were monitored using flow cytometry. MLL induced significant morphological changes and DNA fragmentation associated with apoptosis in MCF-7 and HCT-15 cells. Positive annexin V and acridine orange/ethidium bromide stained cells indicated apoptosis induction by MLL. Up-regulation of caspase 3 activity was also found in cells treated with MLL. Flow cytometry analysis showed an increase in the percentage of cells in sub G0-G1 phase confirming the MLL induced apoptosis. In conclusion, MLL induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and HCT-15 cells in a caspase dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Bio-Separation Technolgy (CBST), VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu-632 014, India.
authors.forename: Mundekkad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deepa
authors.forename: Thavamani
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sureshkumar
authors.forename: Padikara Kutty
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Satheeshkumar
authors.forename: Sulochana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Priya
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D031625:Morus / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D037121:Plant Lectins; D053148:Caspase 3