title: Application of eupatilin in the treatment of osteosarcoma.
abstract: 5,7-dihydroxy-3',4',6-trimethoxyflavone, commonly known as eupatilin, is a traditional Asian medicinal plant, which is mainly used for the treatment of gastritis, as well as its use as an anti-inflammatory agent. Eupatilin is a bioactive compound; however, its effects on osteosarcoma (OS) have remained to be elucidated. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of eupatilin on this malignant bone tumor, using the U-2 OS cell line. The experimental results revealed that eupatilin inhibited U-2 OS cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner and induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Additionally, western blot analysis indicated that eupatilin was able to trigger the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, demonstrated by the enhanced Bax/B cell lymphoma-2 ratio, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochromec, caspase-3 and -9 activation and poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase cleavage detected in the U-2 OS cells. These results indicated that eupatilin was able to inhibit U-2 OS cancer cell proliferation by the induction of apoptosis via the mitochondrial intrinsic pathway. Eupatilin may therefore represent a novel anticancer drug for use in the treatment of osteosarcoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Second People's Hospital of Mudanjiang, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang 157013, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yan-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Sengong Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Hongqi Hospital, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang 157011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yi-Guo
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Hongqi Hospital, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang 157011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: B O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Hongqi Hospital, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang 157011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Hongqi Hospital, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang 157011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yu-Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Ma
keywords: anticancer activity; apoptosis; eupatilin; osteosarcoma