title: Litchi seed extract inhibits epidermal growth factor receptor signaling and growth of Two Non-small cell lung carcinoma cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Litchi seeds possess rich amounts of phenolics and have been shown to inhibit proliferation of several types of cancer cells. However, the suppression of EGFR signaling in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by litchi seed extract (LCSE) has not been fully understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the effects of LCSE on EGFR signaling, cell proliferation, the cell cycle and apoptosis in A549 adenocarcinoma cells and NCI- H661 large-cell carcinoma cells were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated that LCSE potently reduced the number of cancer cells and induced growth inhibition, cell-cycle arrest in the G1 or G2/M phase, and apoptotic death in the cellular experiment. Only low cytotoxicity effect was noted in normal lung MRC-5 cells. LCSE also suppressed cyclins and Bcl-2 and elevated Kip1/p27, Bax and caspase 8, 9 and 3 activities, which are closely associated with the downregulation of EGFR and its downstream Akt and Erk-1/-2 signaling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results implied that LCSE suppressed EGFR signaling and inhibited NSCLC cell growth. This study provided in vitro evidence that LCSE could serve as a potential agent for the adjuvant treatment of NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cheng-Ching Hospital, Chung-Kang Branch, Taichung, Taiwan.|Department of Medicinal Botanicals and Health Applications, Da-Yeh University, Changhua, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yuan-Chiang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Leisure Management, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Detection, Lotung Poh-Ai Hospital, Yilan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Technology, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jyh-Ching
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, No. 306 Yuanpei Street, Hsinchu, 30015, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ting-Yu
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chiu-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Hsuan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, No. 306 Yuanpei Street, Hsinchu, 30015, Taiwan. hsucp@mail.ypu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chih-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D032125:Litchi / Q000737:chemistry*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors
keywords: Apoptosis; Cell cycle; EGFR; Litchi seed extract; NSCLC