title: In vitro anti-cancer activity of chamaejasmenin B and neochamaejasmin C isolated from the root of Stellera chamaejasme L.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the anti-cancer effects of chamaejasmenin B and neochamaejasmin C, two biflavonones isolated from the root of Stellera chamaejasme L (known as the traditional Chinese herb Rui Xiang Lang Du) in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human liver carcinoma cell lines (HepG2 and SMMC-7721), a human non-small cell lung cancer cell line (A549), human osteosarcoma cell lines (MG63, U2OS, and KHOS), a human colon cancer cell line (HCT-116) and a human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) were used. The anti-proliferative effects of the compounds were measured using SRB cytotoxicity assay. DNA damage was detected by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were assessed using flow cytometry analysis. The expression of the related proteins was examined with Western blotting analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both chamaejasmenin B and neochamaejasmin C exerted potent anti-proliferative effects in the 8 human solid tumor cell lines. Chamaejasmenin B (the IC(50) values ranged from 1.08 to 10.8 μmol/L) was slightly more potent than neochamaejasmin C (the IC(50) values ranged from 3.07 to 15.97 μmol/L). In the most sensitive A549 and KHOS cells, the mechanisms underlying the anti-proliferative effects were characterized. The two compounds induced prominent expression of the DNA damage marker γ-H2AX as well as apoptosis. Furthermore, treatment of the cells with the two compounds caused prominent G(0)/G(1) phase arrest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chamaejasmenin B and neochamaejasmin C are potential anti-proliferative agents in 8 human solid tumor cell lines in vitro via inducing cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Life Science, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou, China. zhangchong@zucc.edu.cn
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shuang-shuang
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Lin-yi
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Da-yong
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Neng-ming
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Li-huang
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian-ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Jun-bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D029645:Thymelaeaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic