title: Induction of apoptosis by sarijang, a bamboo salt sauce, in U937 human leukemia cells through the activation of caspases.
abstract: Sarijang is a bamboo salt soy sauce, containing extracts ofRhynchosia nulubilis, sulfur-fed duck, dried bark ofUlmus davidianaandAllium sativum, which has been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory and antitumor activity. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of sarijang have not yet been elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the pro-apoptotic effects of sarijang in anin vitroU937 human leukemia cell model. Treatment with sarijang resulted in a concentration-dependent growth inhibition of the cells, coupled with the characteristic morphological features of apoptosis. The induction of the apoptotic cell death of the U937 cells by sarijang exhibited a correlation with the upregulation of death receptor 4 (DR4), the downregulation of members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family, including survivin and cellular IAP (cIAP)-1, and the cleavage of Bid. Apoptosis-inducing concentrations of sarijang also induced the activation of caspases (caspase-3, -8 and -9), accompanied by proteolytic degradation of poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase, β-catenin and phospholipase C-γ1. However, the apoptosis induced by sarijang was significantly inhibited by z-VED-fmk, a pan-caspase inhibitor, which demonstrated the importance of caspases in the process. These results suggested that sarijang may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for use in the control of U937 human leukemia cells. Further studies are required to identify the active compounds in sarijang.
authors.affiliation: Insan Bamboo Salt Inc. and Insan Oriental Medical Clinic, Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do 676-805;
authors.forename: Eun-A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Cheol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Min-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jun Hyuk
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Gi-Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung Tae
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yung Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
keywords: U937; apoptosis; caspases; sarijang