title: Alantolactone induces apoptosis in RKO cells through the generation of reactive oxygen species and the mitochondrial pathway.
abstract: Alantolactone, a methanol extract of Inula helenium, possesses anticancer properties in a number of cancer cell lines. However, its anticancer effect on human colorectal cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In the present study, the effects of alantolactone on cell viability and apoptosis in RKO human colon cancer cells were investigated. Alantolactone treatment of RKO cells was found to result in dose‑dependent inhibition of cell viability and induction of apoptosis, accompanied with the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, these effects were blocked with N‑acetylcysteine, a specific ROS inhibitor. Western blotting indicated that exposure of RKO cells to alantolactone is associated with the downregulation of Bcl‑2, induction of Bax and activation of caspase‑3 and ‑9. These results indicated that a ROS‑mediated mitochondria‑dependent pathway is involved in alantolactone‑induced apoptosis. From these observations, it was hypothesized that alantolactone may be used for the treatment of human colon cancer.
authors: National Engineering Laboratory for Druggable Gene and Protein Screening, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin 130024, P.R. China.
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Yong Li
authors: YL
authors: Bao
authors: Yin
authors: Y
authors: Wu
authors: Chun Lei
authors: CL
authors: Yu
authors: Yan Xin
authors: YX
authors: Huang
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Sun
authors: Li Hua
authors: LH
authors: Zheng
authors: Yu Xin
authors: YX
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D045787:Sesquiterpenes, Eudesmane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C494826:BAX protein, human; D007783:Lactones; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D045787:Sesquiterpenes, Eudesmane; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9; C004363:alantolactone