title: Effects of 14 single herbs on the induction of caspase-3 in tumor cells: a brief review.
abstract: Chinese medicines (CMs) are increasingly being used for the treatment of tumors because of their unique advantages. The induction of tumor cell apoptosis is an important method of tumor treatment. Caspase-3 is a member of the caspase (cysteine aspartic proteinases) family of enzymes, which are the major inducers of apoptosis. Caspase-3 activity is often measured in the context of research into anti-tumor drugs that target apoptosis. Many studies have shown that CMs upregulate the expression of caspase-3 in tumor cells via extrinsic and/or intrinsic pathways, removing endogenous suppression of apoptosis and promoting tumor cell death. Therefore, several CMs fulfill the criteria for anti-tumor drugs. In this paper, we review the efficacy of 14 Chinese herbal medicines, across a wide range applications, and discuss their effects on caspase-3 activity in tumor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Jilin Medical College, Jilin, Jilin Province 132013, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Zhi-Xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xin-Wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Zhao-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Dou
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D053148:Caspase 3
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