title: Inhibitory effects of α-pinene on hepatoma carcinoma cell proliferation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pine needle oil from crude extract of pine needles has anti-tumor effects, but the effective component is not known.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, compounds from a steam distillation extract of pine needles were isolated and characterized. Alpha-pinene was identified as an active anti-proliferative compound on hepatoma carcinoma BEL-7402 cells using the MTT assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Further experiments showed that α-pinene inhibited BEL-7402 cells by arresting cell growth in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, downregulating Cdc25C mRNA and protein expression, and reducing cycle dependence on kinase 1(CDK1) activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, these findings indicate that α-pinene may be useful as a potential anti-tumor drug.
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medicine and Guangdong Key Laboratory for Bioactive Drug Research, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, ChinaE-mail : cwq2187@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei-Qiang
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jian-Wen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Feng-Xiang
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-Bao
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Li-Rong
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D059566:M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects*; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D028223:Pinus / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020687:cdc25 Phosphatases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase; C528899:CDK1 protein, human; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; C517009:CDC25C protein, human; D020687:cdc25 Phosphatases; C005451:alpha-pinene