title: Pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of corn silk extract on human colon cancer cell lines.
abstract: Corn silk is an economically and nutritionally significant natural product as it represents a staple food for a large proportion of the world population. This study investigated the anticancer activity of corn silk extract in human colon cancer cells and human gastric cancer cells. Following treatment with corn silk extract, certain apoptosis-related events were observed, including inhibition of cell proliferation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), release of Ca2+ and release of cytochromecfrom the mitochondria into the cytosol. Our results revealed that corn silk extract inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells and increased the level of apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blot analysis revealed that corn silk extract upregulated the levels of Bax, cytochromec, caspase-3 and caspase-9, but downregulated the levels of B-cell lymphoma 2. These results suggest that corn silk extract may induce apoptosis through the mitochondria-mediated pathway.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Microecological Engineering Technology, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Microecological Engineering Technology, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Microecological Engineering Technology, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wenqin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Microecological Engineering Technology, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Microecological Engineering Technology, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Huiling
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Microecological Engineering Technology, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Microecological Engineering Technology, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhenyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Microecological Engineering Technology, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chuangang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Microecological Engineering Technology, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuchao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Microecological Engineering Technology, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jicheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: apoptosis; corn silk; human colon cancer cells; mitochondria-mediated