title: Apoptotic induction of skin cancer cell death by plant extracts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of plant extracts on cancer apoptotic induction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell line, obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas, VA), was maintained in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) at 37 degrees C, 5% carbon dioxide (CO2). Plant extract solutions were obtained from S & J international enterprises public company limited. These plant extracts include 50% hydroglycol extracts from Etlingera elatior (Jack) R.M.Smith (torch ginger; EE), Rosa damascene (damask rose; DR) and Rafflesia kerrii Meijer (bua phut; RM). The cell viability, time and dose dependency were determined by MTT (3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. A431 cells were treated with the plant extracts and stained with Hoechst 33342 fluorescent staining dye.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cell viability was demonstrated by the inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50). The anti-proliferative effects were shown to be dependent on time and dose. Typical characteristics of apoptosis which are cell morphological changes and chromatin condensation were clearly observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The plant extracts was shown to be effective for anti-proliferation and induction of apoptosis cell death in skin cancer cells. Therefore, mechanisms underlying the cell death and its potential use for treatment of skin cancer will be further studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Walairat
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Thuncharoen
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chulasiri
authors.forename: Sirinun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nilwarangkoon
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Ramida
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Watanapokasin
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027826:Rosa / Q000737:chemistry; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts