title: Chelidonium majus L. extract induces apoptosis through caspase activity via MAPK-independent NF-κB signaling in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells.
abstract: Chelidonium majus L. (C. majus L.) is known to possess certain biological properties such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral and antitumor activities. We investigated the effects of C. majus L. extract on human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells through multiple mechanisms, including induction of cell cycle arrest, activation of the caspase-dependent pathway, blocking of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation and involvement in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. C. majus L. inhibited the proliferation of A431 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, increased the percentage of apoptotic cells, significantly decreased the mRNA levels of cyclin D1, Bcl-2, Mcl-1 and survivin and increased p21 and Bax expression. Exposure of A431 cells to C. majus L. extract enhanced the activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9, while co-treatment with C. majus L., the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK and the caspase-3 inhibitor Z-DEVE-FMK increased the proliferation of A431 cells. C. majus L. extract not only inhibited NF-κB activation, but it also activated p38 MAPK and MEK/ERK signaling. Taken together, these results demonstrate that C. majus L. extract inhibits the proliferation of human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells by inducing apoptosis through caspase activation and NF-κB inhibition via MAPK-independent pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 712-702, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Ryul
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-872, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Youngchul
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-872, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jang-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-872, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hong-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-872, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yeo-Kwang
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul 130-872, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D028281:Chelidonium / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020169:Caspases