title: Germanicol induces selective growth inhibitory effects in human colon HCT-116 and HT29 cancer cells through induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and inhibition of cell migration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main aim of this research was to evaluate the anticancer and apoptotic effects of germanicol - a natural triterpene - in HCT-116 and HT29 human colon cancer cells and deciphering its mode of action by studying its effect on the cell cycle and cell migration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay, while cell death was assessed by LDH assay. Fluorescence microscopy, using DAPI and acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO-ETBR), was carried out to evaluate the effect of germanicol on cellular morphology and apoptosis induction. Apoptosis quantification was performed by Annexin V-FITC assay, while cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry using propidium iodide (PI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results revealed that germanicol showed selective, potent and dose-dependent cytotoxicity in HCT-116 and HT29 human colon cancer cells, while it showed lower cytotoxicity in normal colon cells (human colon fibroblast, CCD-18Co). LDH assay also showed that germanicol induced dose-dependent cell death in HCT-116 and HT29 cells. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that germanicol induced apoptosis via chromatin condensation and DNA damage in HCT-116 colon cancer cells. It also revealed that the percentage of cells with orange and red fluorescence increased when adding a germanicol dose, indicating apoptosis. Germanicol also inhibited cancer cell migration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current findings reveal that germanicol exhibits selective antiproliferative activity against two human colon cancer cells. The normal cell line was less affected by the drug, as compared to the two cancer cell lines, indicating that germanicol will not target normal living cells. The antiproliferative effect was shown to be mediated through the induction of apoptosis and suppression of cell migration.
authors: Department of Oncology, China Three Gorges University Renhe Hospital, Yichang, Hubei 443001, China.
authors: Yi-Li
authors: YL
authors: Hu
authors: Xiao-Bo
authors: XB
authors: Wang
authors: Dian-Dian
authors: DD
authors: Chen
authors: Xiao-Jun
authors: XJ
authors: Guo
authors: Quan-Jun
authors: QJ
authors: Yang
authors: Li-Hua
authors: LH
authors: Dong
authors: Le
authors: L
authors: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D004249:DNA Damage; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014315:Triterpenes; C110693:germanicol acetate