title: Antiproliferative activity of Alisol B in MDA-MB-231 cells is mediated by apoptosis, dysregulation of mitochondrial functions, cell cycle arrest and generation of reactive oxygen species.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated that Alisol B has inhibitory activity in cancer cells. However, the exact mechanism through which inhibition is achieved is still poorly understood. In the present study, the authors examined the effects of Alisol B in human breast cancer cells. Alisol B showed significant anticancer activity in MDA-MB-231 cells. The results demonstrated that the cytotoxicity induced by Alisol B was mediated by induction of apoptosis, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, cell cycle arrest, activation of caspases and accumulation of ROS (reactive oxygen species) level. Interestingly, pretreatment of cells with the general caspase inhibitor z-VAD-FMK significantly prevented Alisol B-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, western blot analysis revealed the upregulation of p-p38 and downregulation of p-AKT, p-p65 and p-mTOR. Taken together, the above results suggest that Alisol B suppresses the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells mainly through induction of apoptosis; this outcome may represent the major mechanism of Alisol B-mediated apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: The Fourth Pepole's Hospital of Zhenjiang, Zhenjiang, 212002, China.
authors.forename: Aifeng
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The First Pepole's Hospital of Zhenjiang, Zhenjiang, 212002, China.
authors.forename: Yuqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: The First Pepole's Hospital of Zhenjiang, Zhenjiang, 212002, China. Electronic address: zou_mc@126.com.
authors.forename: Mingchang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002783:Cholestenones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002783:Cholestenones; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C457232:alisol B
keywords: Alisma orientale; Alisol B; Apoptosis; Breast cancer; Mechanisms