title: Amentoflavone induces cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells via mitochondria-dependent pathway.
abstract: Amentoflavone, isolated from an ethyl acetate extract of the whole plant of Selaginella tamariscina, a traditional herb, may exhibit antitumor activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer mechanism(s) of amentoflavone, such as mitochondria-mediated apoptotic cell death, in typical breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Cells treated with amentoflavone exhibited a series of cellular alterations related to apoptosis, including DNA and nuclear fragmentation, and de-regulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium. In addition, markers of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis, including the reduction of mitochondrial inner-membrane potential, the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, and activation of caspase 3, were observed. In conclusion, our results present, to our knowledge, the first evidence that amentoflavone induces apoptosis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, and that this is closely related to mitochondrial dysfunction. Amentoflavone may be a potential therapeutic agent for breast cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, TaoYuan General Hospital, Department of Health, Taiwan, TaoYuan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Jen-Sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Chia-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuan-Nian
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Li-Ling
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shou-Cheng
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing-Gung
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Da-Tian
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Bau
authors.forename: Song-Shei
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D044946:Biflavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D044946:Biflavonoids; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C011164:amentoflavone