Cyto-/genotoxic effects of the ethanol extract of Chan Su, a traditional Chinese medicine, in human cancer cell lines.
BACKGROUND
Chan Su, an ethanolic extract from skin and parotid venom glands of the Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor, is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine for cancer therapy. Although the anti-cancer properties of Chan Su have been investigated, no information exists regarding whether Chan Su has genotoxic effects in cancer cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the cyto-/genotoxic effect of Chan Su in human breast carcinoma (MCF-7 cells), human lung carcinoma (A-549 cells), human T cell leukemia (Jurkat T cells), and normal human lymphocytes.


METHODS
Effects on the viability of MCF-7, A-549, Jurkat T cells, and normal lymphocytes were evaluated by Trypan blue exclusion assays. The DNA content in the sub-G1 region was detected by propidium iodide (PI) staining and flow cytometry. The genotoxicity of Chan Su was assessed by single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN assay).


RESULTS
Chan Su significantly inhibited the viability of MCF-7, A-549, and Jurkat T cells dose dependently, but had no effect on normal human lymphocytes. Apoptotic death of the cancer cells was evident after treatment. Chan Su also induced genotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner, as indicated by the comet and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assays.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that Chan Su can induce apoptotic death of, and exert genotoxic effects on, MCF-7, A-549, and Jurkat T cells.
School of Public Health and Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
Sunyeong
S
Lee
School of Public Health and Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
Younghyun
Y
Lee
School of Public Health and Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
Young Joo
YJ
Choi
Biochem c.a.l.s., Ltd., Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
Kyung-Suk
KS
Han
School of Public Health and Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: chunghw@snu.ac.kr.
Hai Won
HW
Chung
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002018:Bufanolides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D020552:Comet Assay; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D015162:Micronucleus Tests
D002018:Bufanolides; C095591:chan su; D000431:Ethanol
Bufalin (PubChem CID: 9547215); Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor; Chan Su; Cinobufagin (PubChem CID: 11969542); Cytotoxic effects; Genotoxic effects; Human cancer cell lines