title: Anti-metastatic effects of Rheum Palmatum L. extract in human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.
abstract: Rheum palmatum L. (RP) has been widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases in Asian countries. The molecular mechanism of its anti-metastasis effect remains elusive. The present study assessed the effect of RP ethanol extract (RPE) on the highly metastatic human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in vitro. At a non-toxic concentration, RPE inhibited migration, motility and invasion in a concentration-dependent manner. To investigate the mechanisms involved, real-time PCR and Western blot analyses were performed. Results showed that RPE down-regulated the levels of extracellular matrix degradation-associated proteins, including MMP-2/-9, uPA and uPAR, and up-regulated PAI-1. In addition, RPE affected NF-κB by degrading IkBα, and affected the mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway by depressing the activation of p38, ERK and Akt. These results suggest that RPE has potential anti-metastatic activity and warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Herbal Medicine Resources Group, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Nho
authors.affiliation: Herbal Medicine Resources Group, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Mi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: Herbal Medicine Resources Group, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: A Young
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Herbal Medicine Resources Group, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hkkim@kiom.re.kr.
authors.forename: Ho Kyoung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012250:Rheum / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Invasion, Matrix metalloproteinases; MDA-MB-231; Nuclear factor-κB; Rheum palmatum L.; Urokinase-type plasminogen activator