Anticancer activity evaluation of the solanum glycoalkaloid solamargine. Triggering apoptosis in human hepatoma cells.

Abstract

Solamargine, an herbal and molluscicidal medicine derived from Solanum incanum, is a steroidal alkaloid glycoside. To characterize the anticancer mechanism of solamargine on human hepatoma cells (Hep3B), changes of cell morphology, DNA content, and gene expression of cells after solamargine treatment were studied. The appearance in solamargine-treated cells of chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and a sub-G(1) peak in a DNA histogram suggests that solamargine induces cell death by apoptosis. The maximum number of dead Hep3B cells was detected within 2 hr of incubation with constant concentrations of solamargine, and no further cell death was observed after an extended incubation with solamargine, indicating that the action of solamargine was irreversible. To determine the susceptibility of cell phases to solamargine-mediated apoptosis, Hep3B cells were synchronized at defined cell cycles by cyclosporin A, colchicine, and genistein, followed by solamargine treatment. The IC(50) values of solamargine for control, G(0)/G(1)-, M-, and G(2)/M-synchronized Hep3B cells were 5.0, > 10, 3.7, and 3.1 microg/mL, implying that cells in the G(2)/M phases are relatively susceptible to solamargine-mediated apoptosis. In addition, a parallel up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-I and -II on Hep3B cells was detected after solamargine treatment, and the solamargine-mediated cytotoxicity could be neutralized with either TNFR-I or -II specific antibody. Therefore, these results reveal that the actions of TNFR-I and -II on Hep3B cells may be independent, and both are involved in the mechanism of solamargine-mediated apoptosis.

• Authors: K W Kuo, S H Hsu, Y P Li, W L Lin, L F Liu, L C Chang, C C Lin, C N Lin, H M Sheu
• Journal: Biochemical pharmacology (Biochem Pharmacol) Vol. 60 Issue 12 Pg. 1865-73 (Dec 15 2000) ISSN: 0006-2952 [Print] England
• PMID: 11108802 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies
• Antigens, CD
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• DNA, Neoplasm
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II
• Solanaceous Alkaloids
• beta-solamarine

Topics

• Antibodies (pharmacology)
• Antigens, CD (biosynthesis, genetics, immunology)
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (pharmacology)
• Apoptosis
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
• Cell Cycle (drug effects)
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• DNA, Neoplasm (drug effects, metabolism)
• Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
• Gene Expression (drug effects)
• Humans
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor (biosynthesis, genetics, immunology)
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II
• Solanaceous Alkaloids (pharmacology)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured