title: Polyphenols Isolated from Allium cepa L. Induces Apoptosis by Induction of p53 and Suppression of Bcl-2 through Inhibiting PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway in AGS Human Cancer Cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The extract of Allium cepa Linn is commonly used as adjuvant food for cancer therapy. We assumed that it includes a potential source of anti-cancer properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated anti-cancer effects of polyphenols extracted from lyophilized A. cepa Linn (PEAL) in AGS human cancer cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PEAL inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. It was related to caspase-dependent apoptosis. We confirmed this finding with annexin V staining. PEAL up-regulated p53 expression, and subsequent Bax induction, down regulated Bcl-2 protein, anti-apoptotic protein. In addition, PEAL suppressed Akt activity and PEAL-induced apoptosis were significantly accentuated with Akt inhibitor (LY294002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggested that PEAL induce caspase-dependent apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway by up-regulating p53 protein, and subsequent Bax protein as well as by modulating Bcl-2 protein, and that PEAL induces caspase-dependent apoptosis at least in part through the inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway. This study provides evidence that PEAL might be useful for the treatment of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju.
authors.forename: Won Sup
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju.
authors.forename: Sang Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju.
authors.forename: Jeong Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju.
authors.forename: Ji Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju.
authors.forename: Dong Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju.
authors.forename: Hye Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul.
authors.forename: Seong-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Life Science, Gyeongsang National University.
authors.forename: GonSup
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Science (BK 21 Program), Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju.
authors.forename: Chung Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Research Institute of Life Science, Gyeongsang National University.
authors.forename: Sung Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Surgery, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju.
authors.forename: Soon Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Dongeui University College of Oriental Medicine and Anti-Aging Research Center & Blue-Bio Industry RIC, Dongeui University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Yung Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju.
authors.forename: Jin-Myung
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jung
keywords: Akt; Allium cepa; Apoptosis; Bcl-2; polyphenols