title: The antitumor activity of Meconopsis horridula Hook, a traditional Tibetan medical plant, in murine leukemia L1210 cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meconopsis horridula Hook (M. horridula) has been used as a traditional Tibetan medicine to relieve heat and pain as well as mobilize static blood, and it is recognized as a good treatment for bruises. This study is the first trial to evaluate the tumor inhibitory activity of M. horridula extract and its underlying mechanism in the hope of providing evidence to support the anticancer function of M. horridula.
  
  
  RESULTS
  M. horridula extract was cytotoxic to L1210 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. SEM (scanning electron microscope) observation revealed obvious morphological changes in L1210 cells after M. horridula treatment. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that the extract dose-dependently induced early apoptosis. Additional apoptosis parameters, such as alterations in nuclear morphology and DNA damage, were also observed. Furthermore, M. horridula treatment induced G2/M arrest. M. horridula treatment significantly increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, suggesting that ROS are a key factor in M. horridula-induced apoptosis. Volatile constituent detection found 15 abundant chemicals in M. horridula, which may contribute to its anticancer effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, M. horridula extract induced L1210 cell apoptosis and inhibited proliferation through G2/M phase arrest, and ROS were involved in the process.
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Yaqin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaobing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Wenjuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Lulu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Quanhong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007939:Leukemia L1210 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species