title: Latex C-serum from Hevea brasiliensis induces non-apoptotic cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Latex from Hevea brasiliensis (natural rubber tree primarily cultivated for its rubber particles) has no known primary metabolic function, although its biological role is as a plant defence system. The present study has evaluated specific anti-proliferative effects of latex whole C-serum and its subfractions, on human cancer cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell viability assay using MTT, DNA fragmentation assay and real-time PCR were used to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of latex whole C-serum and its subfractions on the cell lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MTT assay revealed very low LC(50)  values, 2.0 and 280 ng/ml, for DCS and DCP treatments, respectively. DCS was proven to be more potent compared to DCP, in conferring specific anti-proliferative effects on the cancer cell lines. The study also indicated that anti-proliferative activity of pre-heated C-serum fractions diminished significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although noteworthy cell death was reported, DNA fragmentation assay and real-time PCR confirmed that that induced by latex C-serum subfractions was not promoted via the classical apoptotic signalling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sunderasan
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ong
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D028482:Hevea / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007840:Latex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D007840:Latex; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein