title: Chrysin rich Scutellaria discolor Colebr. induces cervical cancer cell death via the induction of cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Scutellaria discolor Colebr. has been extensively used in traditional medicine against several diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anticancer potential of S. discolor and to isolate the bioactive principle responsible for the anticancer activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytotoxicity experiments were performed on cancer and normal cells using MTT assay. The mechanism of cell death was evaluated using real time PCR array, fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and Western blotting. MTT assay guided isolation (partition and column chromatography) was performed to identify the antiproliferative principle. Quantification of the active principle was done using HPLC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acetone extract of S. discolor (SDE) inhibited the growth and survival of cancer cells to varying degree, but the inhibition was found to be maximum in cervical cancer cell lines. There was no significant toxicity induced to normal cells. The cell death was mediated through apoptosis. There was increased mitochondrial membrane depolarization, expression of Bax, caspase-9, caspase-3 and cleaved-PARP indicating that SDE-induced caspase dependent apoptosis in HeLa cells. Moreover, SDE caused cell cycle arrest in G2 phase in HeLa cells. Cytotoxicity guided fractionation of SDE led to the isolation of chrysin as the active principle responsible for the antiproliferative activity for cervical cancer cells. Interestingly, chrysin was the major phytochemical constituent present in S. discolor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S. discolor is an important anticancer plant and a new source of chrysin.
authors.affiliation: Natural Product Chemistry & Pharmacology Programme, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Takyelpat Institutional Area, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India.
authors.forename: Surbala
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laishram
authors.affiliation: Natural Product Chemistry & Pharmacology Programme, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Takyelpat Institutional Area, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India.
authors.forename: Dinesh Singh
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Moirangthem
authors.affiliation: Natural Product Chemistry & Pharmacology Programme, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Takyelpat Institutional Area, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India.
authors.forename: Jagat Chandra
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Borah
authors.affiliation: Natural Product Chemistry & Pharmacology Programme, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Takyelpat Institutional Area, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India.
authors.forename: Bikas Chandra
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Suman
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Satish Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam 781 014, India.
authors.forename: Mohan Chandra
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kalita
authors.affiliation: Natural Product Chemistry & Pharmacology Programme, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Takyelpat Institutional Area, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India. Electronic address: nctalukdar1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Narayan Chandra
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Talukdar
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D031363:Scutellaria; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; C043561:chrysin; D020169:Caspases
keywords: Apoptosis; Cell cycle; Cervical cancer; Chrysin; Cytotoxicity; Scutellaria discolor