title: The green algae Ulva fasciata Delile extract induces apoptotic cell death in human colon cancer cells.
abstract: This study investigated the mechanisms underlying the cytotoxicity of the green algae Ulva fasciata Delile. U. fasciata extract (UFE) inhibited the growth of HCT 116 human colon cancer cells by 50% at a concentration of 200 μg/ml. In addition, UFE stimulated the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species, an effect that was abolished by pretreatment with N-acetyl cysteine, which also inhibited the cytotoxic effects of UFE. UFE also induced morphological changes indicative of apoptosis, such as the formation of apoptotic bodies, DNA fragmentation, an increase in the population of apoptotic sub-G(1) phase cells, and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Concomitant activation of the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway occurred via modulation of Bax and Bcl-2 expression, resulting in disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. This is the first report to demonstrate the cytotoxic effect of U. fasciata on human colon cancer cells and to provide a possible mechanism for this activity.
authors.affiliation: Food and Nutrition, Duksung Women's University, Seoul, 132-714, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min Ju
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Areum Daseul
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyoung Ah
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ha Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Hye Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In Soo
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Weon Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jin Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hyun
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006801:Humans; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D044445:Ulva / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000111:Acetylcysteine