title: Euphorbia formosana root extract induces apoptosis by caspase-dependent cell death via Fas and mitochondrial pathway in THP-1 human leukemic cells.
abstract: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a very rare type of cancer, generally affects patients over 50 years old. While clinical drugs to treat advanced stages of AML exist, the disease becomes increasingly resistant to therapies. Euphorbia formosana Hayata (EF) is a native Taiwanese medicinal plant used to treat rheumatism, liver cirrhosis, herpes zoster, scabies, and photoaging, along with tumor suppression. However, the mechanisms by which it suppresses tumors have not been explored. Here, we provide molecular evidence that a hot-water extract of Euphorbia formosana (EFW) selectively inhibited the growth of human leukemic cancer cells more than other solid human cancer cell lines. Most importantly, the plant extract had limited toxicity toward healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). After THP-1 leukemic cells were treated with  50-100 µg/mL EFW for one day, the S phase DNA content of the cells increased, while treatment with 200-400 µg/mL caused the cells to accumulate in the G0/G1 phase. Notably, EFW did not affect A-549 lung cancer cells. The effectiveness of EFW against THP-1 cells may be through caspase-dependent apoptosis in leukemic cells, which is mediated through the Fas and mitochondrial pathways. The potent antileukemic activity of EFW in vitro warrants further investigation of this plant to treat leukemias and  other malignancies.
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 97004, Taiwan.
authors: Yi-Jen
authors: YJ
authors: Hsieh
authors: Chih-Jui
authors: CJ
authors: Chang
authors: Chin-Feng
authors: CF
authors: Wan
authors: Chin-Piao
authors: CP
authors: Chen
authors: Yi-Han
authors: YH
authors: Chiu
authors: Yann-Lii
authors: YL
authors: Leu
authors: Kou-Cheng
authors: KC
authors: Peng
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D028481:Euphorbia / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014867:Water; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C491901:FAS protein, human; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019014:fas Receptor; D014867:Water; D020169:Caspases
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