title: Chloroform fraction of Scutellaria barbata D. Don promotes apoptosis and suppresses proliferation in human colon cancer cells.
abstract: Scutellaria barbata D. Don (SB) has long been used as a major component in numerous Chinese medical formulas to clinically treat various types of cancer. Previously, we reported that the extracts of SB were able to suppress colon cancer growth in vivo and in vitro, possibly by inducing cancer cell apoptosis and inhibiting cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis. However, the anticancer mechanisms of its bioactive ingredients remain largely unclear. In the present study, using three human colon cancer cell lines SW620, HT-29 and HCT-8, the antitumor effect of different solvent fractions of SB were evaluated and the potential underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated. Using an 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, it was revealed that the chloroform fraction of SB (ECSB) exhibited the most potent inhibitory effect on the growth of all three colon cancer cell lines and SW620 cells exhibited the most sensitive response to ECSB treatment (IC50=65 µg/ml). In addition, by performing fluorescence-activated cell sorting, transmission electron microscopy and colony formation assays, it was observed that ECSB significantly induced apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in SW620 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, ECSB treatment resulted in the upregulation of the pro-apoptotic Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and a decrease in the expression of the pro-proliferative cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4. The results from the present study may provide a scientific foundation for the development of novel anticancer agents from the bioactive ingredients in the ECSB.
authors: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Qiaoyan
authors: Q
authors: Cai
authors: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Jiumao
authors: J
authors: Lin
authors: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Fang
authors: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Youzhi
authors: Y
authors: Zhan
authors: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Aling
authors: A
authors: Shen
authors: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Lihui
authors: L
authors: Wei
authors: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Lili
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Peng
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D031363:Scutellaria
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; C524947:Scutellaria barbata extract; C495900:CDK4 protein, human; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4