title: Compound K-induced apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma MHCC97-H cells in vitro.
abstract: An intestinal bacterial metabolite of ginseng protopanaxadiol saponin, 20-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-20(S)-protopanaxadiol (compound K), has been reported to induce apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. However, the precise mechanisms induced by compound K in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells remain unclear. In order to examine possible apoptotic mechanisms, we investigated the anticancer effect of compound K in MHCC97-H. MTT assay showed that compound K inhibited the proliferation of MHCC97-H cells with a relatively low toxicity in normal hepatoma cells. Cell cycle progression and cell staining showed an increase in apoptotic sub-G1 fraction. Treatment of MHCC97-H with compound K also induced a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and DNA damage. Further study showed that compound K upregulated Fas, FasL, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and downregulated pro-caspase-9, pro-caspase-3 in a dose-dependent manner, and it also inhibited Akt phosphorylation. These results suggest that compound K significantly inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in MHCC97-H cells through Fas- and mitochondria-mediated caspase-dependent pathways in human HCC cells.
authors.affiliation: The Research and Development Center for Medicine Plant and Plant Drugs, Xiamen Overseas Chinese Subtropical Plant Introduction Garden, Xiamen, Fujian 361002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: The Research and Development Center for Medicine Plant and Plant Drugs, Xiamen Overseas Chinese Subtropical Plant Introduction Garden, Xiamen, Fujian 361002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yan-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.affiliation: The Research and Development Center for Medicine Plant and Plant Drugs, Xiamen Overseas Chinese Subtropical Plant Introduction Garden, Xiamen, Fujian 361002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Liang-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The Research and Development Center for Medicine Plant and Plant Drugs, Xiamen Overseas Chinese Subtropical Plant Introduction Garden, Xiamen, Fujian 361002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guo-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: The Research and Development Center for Medicine Plant and Plant Drugs, Xiamen Overseas Chinese Subtropical Plant Introduction Garden, Xiamen, Fujian 361002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shao-Song
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qing-Xi
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D036145:Ginsenosides; C112772:ginsenoside compound K