title: Crocetin induces apoptosis of BGC-823 human gastric cancer cells.
abstract: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common types of gastrointestinal tumors worldwide, and the side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs and the resistance to chemotherapy remain problematic in its clinical treatment. Therefore, safe and effective novel agents are urgently required. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the crocetin‑sensitive treatment of GC and its possible mechanisms. BGC‑823 human GC cells were treated with crocetin. The effects of crocetin on the viability of the cells were determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Hoechst 33258 dyeing and Rh123 staining were used to detect cell apoptosis. The BGC‑823 cells were subjected to western blotting analysis for detection of cytochrome c and cleaved caspase‑3 protein expression. Crocetin inhibited the proliferation of the GC cell line in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner. Apoptotic BGC‑823 cells induced by crocetin were stained by Hoechst 33258 and observed under a light microscope for cell membrane staining of dense nuclei, nuclear pyknosis, fragmentation, chromatin condensation and highlighted nuclear membrane staining. This revealed a decline in the mitochondrial membrane potential of the BGC‑823 cells. Crocetin also induced caspase‑3 activation and cytochrome c translocation into the cytosol from the mitochondria. The results of this study indicate that crocetin induces the apoptosis of BGC‑823 cells, and may be used as an effective agent in the treatment of GC.
authors: Department of General Surgery, The Second People's Hospital of Guangdong Province, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510317, P.R. China.
authors: Ke
authors: K
authors: He
authors: Department of General Surgery, People's Hospital of Heyuan, Heyuan, Guangdong 517001, P.R. China.
authors: Picheng
authors: P
authors: Si
authors: Department of General Surgery, The Second People's Hospital of Guangdong Province, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510317, P.R. China.
authors: Hanning
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 10083, P.R. China.
authors: Usman
authors: U
authors: Tahir
authors: Department of General Surgery, The Second People's Hospital of Guangdong Province, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510317, P.R. China.
authors: Kaiyun
authors: K
authors: Chen
authors: Department of General Surgery, The Second People's Hospital of Guangdong Province, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510317, P.R. China.
authors: Jinfeng
authors: J
authors: Xiao
authors: Department of General Surgery, The Second People's Hospital of Guangdong Province, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510317, P.R. China.
authors: Xiaopeng
authors: X
authors: Duan
authors: Department of General Surgery, The Second People's Hospital of Guangdong Province, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510317, P.R. China.
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Huang
authors: Department of General Surgery, The Second People's Hospital of Guangdong Province, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510317, P.R. China.
authors: Guoan
authors: G
authors: Xiang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: C487773:trans-sodium crocetinate; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; D053148:Caspase 3