title: Pterostilbene induces apoptosis through caspase activation in ovarian cancer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pterostilbene, an analog of resveratrol increasing bioavailability has shown to offer antioxidant and anticancer properties in vitro and in vivo. Dietary compounds with anti-oxidant properties have been shown to gain importance due to therapeutic applications. In addition, compounds with higher bioavailability levels show great interest in present scenario. Thus, the present study aimed at investigating the cytotoxic role of pterostilbene and its mechanism of cell death in ovarian cancer cells line.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of pterostilbene was determined on SKOV-3 cells, by cytotoxicity assays, oxidative stress levels, [Ca2+]i levels, mitochondrial depolarization, cell cycle analysis and caspase 3, 8, and 9 activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study revealed that pterostilbene offered cytotoxic effect at a concentration of IC50-55 uM. Further, pterostilbene induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated intrinsic pathway of apoptosis through enhancing oxidative stress, [Ca2+]i levels, mitochondrial depolarization, Sub G1 accumulation, and activation of caspase 3 and 9.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrates for the first time the cytotoxic potential of pterostilbene against ovarian cancer cells.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013267:Stilbenes; C107773:pterostilbene; D020169:Caspases; D002118:Calcium