Abstract

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Plant-derived products have proven to be valuable sources for discovery and development of unique anticancer drugs. In this study, the inhibitory effects of ethanolic extract of Melia toosendan fruit (EMTF), a traditional medicine in the Chinese Pharmacopeia were evaluated in vitro and in vivo against colon cancer. Human colon cancer cells SW480 and murine colorectal adenocarcinoma cells CT26 were used to investigate cell proliferation. The results showed that EMTF inhibited cell proliferation of SW480 and CT26 by promoting apoptosis as indicated by nuclear chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation. Through increasing mitochondrial membrane permeability and cytochrome c release from mitochondria, EMTF induced caspase-9 activity which further activated caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, leading the tumor cells to apoptosis. The in vivo results confirmed reduction of tumor volume and apoptotic effects and the side effects were not induced by EMTF. Therefore, EMTF may be an effective chemotherapeutic agent for colon cancer treatment.

Authors

Tang XL, Yang XY, Kim YC, Kim SY, Kang BD, Choi DY, Kim OJ, Park WC, Park H

Institution

Department of Infection Biology, Zoonosis Research Center, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, South Korea.

Source

Indian journal of biochemistry & biophysics 49:3 2012 Jun pg 173-81

MeSH

Adenocarcinoma
Animals
Apoptosis
Caspase 3
Caspase 9
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Proliferation
Colonic Neoplasms
Cytochromes c
Female
Fruit
Humans
Melia
Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Mitochondria
Plant Extracts
Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases
Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22803332