title: Effects of karanjin on cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human A549, HepG2 and HL-60 cancer cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have investigated the potential anticancer effects of karanjin, a principal furanoflavonol constituent of the Chinese medicine Fordia cauliflora, using cytotoxic assay, cell cycle arrest, and induction of apoptosis in three human cancer cell lines (A549, HepG2 and HL-60 cells).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MTT cytotoxic assay showed that karanjin could inhibit the proliferation and viability of all three cancer cells. The induction of cell cycle arrest was observed via a PI (propidium iodide)/RNase Staining Buffer detection kit and analyzed by flow cytometry: karanjin could dose-dependently induce cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in the three cell lines. Cell apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining: all three cancer cells treated with karanjin exhibited significantly increased apoptotic rates, especially in the percentage of late apoptosis cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Karanjin can induce cancer cell death through cell cycle arrest and enhance apoptosis. This compound may be effective clinically for cancer pharmacotherapy.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, China. guojianrumust@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jian-Ru
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, China. qqchen@must.edu.mo.
authors.forename: Qian-Qian
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, China. wklam@must.edu.mo.
authors.forename: Christopher Wai-Kei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, China. Wzhang@must.edu.mo.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000072283:A549 Cells; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D001578:Benzopyrans; D010936:Plant Extracts; C052068:karanjin