Anti-cancer properties of a sesquiterpene lactone-bearing fraction from Artemisia khorassanica.
BACKGROUND
Artemisia species are important medicinal plants throughout the world. The present in vitro study, using a sesquiterpene lactone-bearing fraction prepared from Artemisia khorassanica (SLAK), sought to investigate anti-cancer properties of this plant and elucidate potential underlying mechanisms for the effects.


METHODS
Anti-cancer potential was evaluated by toxicity against human melanoma and fibroblast cell lines. To explore the involved pathways, pattern of any cell death was determined using annexin-V/PI staining and also the expression of Bax and cytochrome c was investigated by Western blotting.


RESULTS
The results showed that SLAK selectively caused a concentration-related inhibition of proliferation of melanoma cells that was associated with remarkable increase in early events and over-expression of both Bax and cytochrome c.


CONCLUSIONS
The current experiment indicates that Artemisia may have anti-cancer activity. We anticipate that the ingredients may be employed as therapeutic candidates for melanoma.
Immunology Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran E-mail : mahmoudim@mums.ac.ir.
Shahrzad Taghizadeh
ST
Rabe
Seyed Ahmad
SA
Emami
Mehrdad
M
Iranshahi
Maryam
M
Rastin
Nafise
N
Tabasi
Mahmoud
M
Mahmoudi
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D019306:Artemisia / Q000737:chemistry*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007783:Lactones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D045304:Cytochromes c; D020169:Caspases