title: Pharbilignan C induces apoptosis through a mitochondria-mediated intrinsic pathway in human breast cancer cells.
abstract: Pharbitidis Semen, the seed of Morning glory (Pharbitis nil), is a medicinal agent that has traditionally been used as a purgative in Korea. Pharbilignan C (PLC) is a dihydro[b]-benzofuran-type neolignan from Pharbitidis Semen, which reportedly exhibited the most potent cytotoxicity against human tumor cells. To further study the antiproliferative activity of PLC, its molecular mechanisms of action in two breast adenocarcinoma cells, MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 cells were investigated. PLC inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB 231 and MCF-7 cells, in order of sensitivity (IC50 of MDA-MB 231 cells: 7.0±2.0μM). PLC induced apoptosis in MDA-MB 231 cells with down regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax expression. It also decreased mitochondrial membrane potential accompanied with increasing initiator caspase, caspase-9 activation and executioner caspase, caspase-3 activation. This study demonstrates that PLC inhibited proliferation of MDA-MB 231 cells by inducing apoptosis via the mitochondria-mediated intrinsic pathway.
authors: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yong Joo
authors: YJ
authors: Park
authors: College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang 410-820, Republic of Korea.
authors: Chang-Ik
authors: CI
authors: Choi
authors: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: khchung@skku.edu.
authors: Kyu Hyuck
authors: KH
authors: Chung
authors: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: khkim83@skku.edu.
authors: Ki Hyun
authors: KH
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D001572:Benzofurans; C000621785:pharbilignan C
keywords: Antiproliferative; Apoptosis; Intrinsic pathway; Pharbilignan C; Pharbitis nil