title: Lectin of Abelmoschus esculentus (okra) promotes selective antitumor effects in human breast cancer cells.
abstract: The anti-tumor effects of a newly-discovered lectin, isolated from okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (AEL), were investigated in human breast cancer (MCF7) and skin fibroblast (CCD-1059 sk) cells. AEL induced significant cell growth inhibition (63 %) in MCF7 cells. The expression of pro-apoptotic caspase-3, caspase-9, and p21 genes was increased in MCF7 cells treated with AEL, compared to those treated with controls. In addition, AEL treatment increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in MCF7 cells. Flow cytometry also indicated that cell death (72 %) predominantly occurred through apoptosis. Thus, AEL in its native form promotes selective antitumor effects in human breast cancer cells and may represent a potential therapeutic to combat human breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biotecnologia Vegetal e Proteômica, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, P.O. Box 354, Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Monte
authors.forename: Tatiane
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Santi-Gadelha
authors.forename: Larissa B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Elizandra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Braganhol
authors.forename: Rafael F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Prietsch
authors.forename: Odir A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Dellagostin
authors.forename: Rodrigo Rodrigues
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: E Lacerda
authors.forename: Carlos A A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gadelha
authors.forename: Fabricio R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Conceição
authors.forename: Luciano S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Pinto
mesh_terms: D028483:Abelmoschus / Q000737:chemistry*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D020169:Caspases / Q000032:analysis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D037102:Lectins; D020169:Caspases