title: Brazilin inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in human glioblastoma cells.
abstract: Brazilin, isolated from the methanol extract of the heart wood of Caesalpinia sappan, sensitizes cancer cells to apoptosis. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), which accounts for most cases of central nervous system malignancy, has a very poor prognosis and lacks effective therapeutic interventions. We, therefore, investigated the effects of different concentrations of and different periods of exposure to brazilin on cell proliferation and apoptosis in the glioma U87 cell line. Cell proliferation was investigated by MTT assays and growth curve analysis, apoptosis was assessed by FACS analysis and western blot studies. Brazilin showed dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in glioma cells. It also increased the ratio of cleaved  poly-(ADP)-ribose polymerase and decreased the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-7.
authors: Herbal Crop Utilization Research Team, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, RDA, Eumseong 369-873, Korea.
authors: Dae-Young
authors: DY
authors: Lee
authors: Mi-Kyoung
authors: MK
authors: Lee
authors: Geum-Soog
authors: GS
authors: Kim
authors: Hyung-Jun
authors: HJ
authors: Noh
authors: Min-Ho
authors: MH
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053179:Caspase 7 / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001578:Benzopyrans; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D053148:Caspase 3; D053179:Caspase 7; C044362:brazilin