title: Extracts of Opuntia humifusa Fruits Inhibit the Growth of AGS Human Gastric Adenocarcinoma Cells.
abstract: Opuntia humifusa (OHF) has been used as a nutraceutical source for the prevention of chronic diseases. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of ethyl acetate extracts of OHF on the proliferation of AGS human gastric cancer cells and the mode of action were investigated. To elucidate the antiproliferative mechanisms of OHF in cancer cells, the expression of genes related to apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were determined with real-time PCR and western blot. The cytotoxic effect of OHF on AGS cells was observed in a dose-dependent manner. Exposure to OHF (100 μg/mL) significantly induced (P<0.05) the G1 phase cell cycle arrest. Additionally, the apoptotic cell population was greater (P<0.05) in OHF (200 μg/mL) treated AGS cells when compared to the control. The expression of genes associated with cell cycle progression (Cdk4, Cdk2, and cyclin E) was significantly downregulated (P<0.05) by the OHF treatment. Moreover, the expression of Bax and caspase-3 in OHF treated cells was higher (P<0.05) than in the control. These findings suggest that OHF induces the G1 phase cell cycle arrest and activation of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway in AGS human gastric cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; Division of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea.
authors.forename: Sahng-Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hahm
authors.affiliation: Integrative Research Support Center, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea.
authors.forename: Jieun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea.
authors.forename: Kun-Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
authors.forename: Hyungchul
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Han
keywords: Opuntia humifusa; anticancer activities; gastric cancer cell