title: Juglone induces cell death of Acanthamoeba through increased production of reactive oxygen species.
abstract: Juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) is a major chemical constituent of Juglans mandshruica Maxim. Recent studies have demonstrated that juglone exhibits anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-parasitic properties. However, its effect against Acanthamoeba has not been defined yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of juglone on Acanthamoeba. We demonstrate that juglone significantly inhibits the growth of Acanthamoeba castellanii at 3-5 μM concentrations. Juglone increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caused cell death of A. castellanii. Inhibition of ROS by antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) restored the cell viability. Furthermore, our results show that juglone increased the uptake of mitochondrial specific dye. Collectively, these results indicate that ROS played a significant role in the juglone-induced cell death of Acanthamoeba.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bijay Kumar
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Jha
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hui-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Incheol
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: wonki@dsmc.or.kr.
authors.forename: Won-Ki
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Baek
mesh_terms: D048248:Acanthamoeba castellanii / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003603:Cytotoxins; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; C005134:juglone
keywords: Acanthamoeba; Juglone; Reactive oxygen species