Apoptotic effects of ginsenoside Rh2 on human malignant melanoma A375-S2 cells.

Abstract

AIM:

To study the mechanism of ginsenoside-Rh2 (G-Rh2)-induced growth inhibition of A375-S2 cells.

METHODS:

A375-S2 cell viability and the effect of caspase inhibitors on G-Rh2-induced apoptosis were measured by crystal violet assay. Changes in cellular morphology were observed by phase-contrast microscopy. Apoptosis-specific nucleosomal DNA fragmentation was assayed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Cell cycle distribution was measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTS:

G-Rh2 inhibited the A375-S2 cell growth in concentration- and time-dependent manners. Caspase family inhibitor, z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (z-VAD-fmk), caspase-3 inhibitor, z-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluoromethylketone (z-DEVD-fmk), and caspase-8 inhibitor, z-Ile-Glu-Asp-fluoromethylketone (z-IETD-fmk), partially inhibited G-Rh2-induced apoptosis. But caspase-1 inhibitor, Ac-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-chloromethyl-ketone (Ac-YVAD-cmk), did not antagonize G-Rh2 induced-cell death.

CONCLUSION:

G-Rh2 suppresses the growth of A375-S2 cells in vitro by inducing apoptosis. G-Rh2-induced apoptosis is partially dependent on caspase-8 and caspase-3 pathway in A375-S2 cells. Other apoptotic pathways might be also related to the induction of apoptosis by G-Rh2.

• Authors: Xiao-Fang Fei, Ben-Xiang Wang, Shinichi Tashiro, Tie-Jin Li, Ji-Sheng Ma, Takashi Ikejima
• Journal: Acta pharmacologica Sinica (Acta Pharmacol Sin) Vol. 23 Issue 4 Pg. 315-22 (Apr 2002) ISSN: 1671-4083 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11931705 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Caspase Inhibitors
• Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Ginsenosides
• Oligopeptides
• benzoylcarbonyl-aspartyl-glutamyl-valyl-aspartyl-fluoromethyl ketone
• benzyloxycarbonyl-isoleucyl-glutamyl-threonyl-aspartic acid fluoromethyl ketone
• ginsenoside Rh2
• CASP3 protein, human
• CASP8 protein, human
• CASP9 protein, human
• Caspase 3
• Caspase 8
• Caspase 9

Topics

• Apoptosis
• Caspase 3
• Caspase 8
• Caspase 9
• Caspase Inhibitors
• Cell Division (drug effects)
• Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (pharmacology)
• Ginsenosides (pharmacology)
• Humans
• Melanoma (pathology)
• Oligopeptides (pharmacology)
• Panax (chemistry)
• Skin Neoplasms (pathology)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured