title: Methanol extract from Vietnamese Caesalpinia sappan induces apoptosis in HeLa cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluated the cytotoxic activity of extracts from Caesalpinia sappan heartwood against multiple cancer cell lines using an MTT cell viability assay. The cell death though induction of apoptosis was as indicated by DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 enzyme activation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A methanol extract from C. sappan (MECS) showed cytotoxic activity against several of the cancer cell lines. The most potent activity exhibited by the MECS was against HeLa cells with an IC50 value of 26.5 ± 3.2 μg/mL. Treatment of HeLa cells with various MECS concentrations resulted in growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis, as indicated by DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 enzyme activation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first report of the anticancer properties of the heartwood of C. sappan native to Vietnam. Our findings demonstrate that C. sappan heartwood may have beneficial applications in the field of anticancer drug discovery.
authors.forename: Tran Manh
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Nguyen Hai
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Nguyen Tien
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Dat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D029911:Caesalpinia / Q000737:chemistry*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor / Q000379:methods; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005562:Formazans; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D000432:Methanol; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058526:Plant Vascular Bundle / Q000378:metabolism*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D014744:Vietnam
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003603:Cytotoxins; D005562:Formazans; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; C079782:MTT formazan; D053148:Caspase 3; D000432:Methanol