title: Maytenus ilicifolia dry extract protects normal cells, induces apoptosis and regulates Bcl-2 in human cancer cells.
abstract: Maytenus is the largest genus of the family Celastraceae and the species Maytenus ilicifolia (popularly known as 'Espinheira Santa'). It is widely used in traditional Brazilian medicine to treat stomach conditions including nausea, gastritis, and ulcers. In this study, the apoptotic effects of a spray-dried extract of M. ilicifolia (SDEMI) was evaluated using human hepatocellular cells (HepG2), colorectal carcinoma cells (HT-29), and normal keratinocytes (HaCaT). Cells were treated with SDEMI for 4 and 24 h, then were assayed for levels of apoptosis, caspase-3, and Bcl-2 by flow cytometry, immunostaining, and Western blot, respectively. Significant differences between groups were determined using analysis of variance (P < 0.05). For HepG2 and HT-29 cells treated with SDEMI, various cytotoxic effects were observed compared with control cells at all timepoints assayed (P < 0.001). Furthermore, positive caspase-3 staining and down-regulation of Bcl-2 were observed, consistent with the induction of cell death detected in these cell lines. In contrast, treatment of HaCaT cells with SDEMI was associated with a protective effect compared with control cells at both timepoints (P < 0.001). For example, increased expression of Bcl-2 and negative caspase-3 staining were detected. Taken together, these results suggest that SDEMI protects normal cells, while SDEMI mediates induction of apoptosis via down-regulation of Bcl-2 and involvement of caspase-3 in human carcinoma cells.
authors.affiliation: Departament of Morphology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Cep: 59078-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raimundo Fernandes de
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Araújo Júnior
authors.forename: Ana Luiza Cabral de Sá Leitão
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Jonas Bispo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Pessoa
authors.forename: Vinícios Barreto
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Gerlane Coelho Bernardo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Luiz Alberto Lira
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Tatiane Pereira de
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Pedro Ros
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Petrovick
authors.forename: Aurigena Antunes de
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Araújo
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D019073:HT29 Cells; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D029755:Maytenus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D053148:Caspase 3
keywords: Bcl-2; apoptosis; caspase 3; human cancer cells; plants