title: Alpinetin promotes Bax translocation, induces apoptosis through the             mitochondrial pathway and arrests human gastric cancer cells at the G2/M phase.
abstract: Alpinetin is a natural flavonoid widely distributed in Zingiberaceae. Previous             studies have demonstrated that alpinetin markedly inhibits tumour growth. However,             the molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumour effects of alpinetin are unclear.             Bcl‑2‑associated X protein (Bax) translocation is known to activate the mitochondrial‑dependent             endogenous apoptosis pathway. The aim of the current study was to investigate             the roles of Bax and the mitochondrial pathway during alpinetin‑induced gastric             cancer cell apoptosis and the effects of alpinetin on the cell cycle. Human gastric             cancer cells were treated with various doses of alpinetin and an MTT assay was             performed to measure cell viability, flow cytometry to measure the apoptotic rate,             changes in the cell cycle and mitochondrial membrane potential and western blot             analysis to detect the expression levels of relevant proteins. Results demonstrate             that alpinetin induces apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells in a dose‑ and             time‑dependent manner. During the early stages of apoptosis, alpinetin may alter             mitochondrial membrane potential leading to release of cytochrome c from mitochondria,             activation of caspase family members and ultimately apoptosis of human gastric             cancer cells. Results of the present study indicate that alpinetin‑induced human             gastric cancer cell apoptosis is associated with the mitochondrial pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhenran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D044950:Flavanones / Q000633:toxicity*; D059565:G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D059566:M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D030521:Zingiberaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D044950:Flavanones; C436748:alpinetin; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D045304:Cytochromes c; D020169:Caspases