Wikyungtang inhibits proliferation of A549 human lung cancer cells via inducing apoptosis and suppressing cyclooxygenase-2 activity.

Abstract	Wikyungtang, an oriental herbal formulation, has been known to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-tumoral activity. However, its molecular mechanism of action is not understood. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of the water extract of Wikyungtang (WKT) on the growth of A549 human lung cancer cells. Treatment with WKT resulted in a dose-dependent growth inhibition coupled with the characteristic morphological features of apoptosis. Apoptosis-inducing concentrations of WKT induced caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation accompanied by proteolytic degradation of poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase and phospholipase C-gamma1. In addition, WKT-induced apoptosis in A549 cells was associated with a decreased expression of the anti-apototic Bcl-XL expression. WKT treatment also inhibited the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and the accumulation of prostaglandin E2 without significant changes in the levels of COX-1. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of WKT.
Authors	Dong Il Park, Hae-Yun Choi, Chul Woo Kam, Cheol Park, Tae Hyun Choi, Won Ho Lee, Yung Hyun Choi
Journal	Oncology reports (Oncol Rep) Vol. 11 Issue 4 Pg. 853-6 (Apr 2004) ISSN: 1021-335X [Print] Greece
PMID	15010884 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Chemical References	Actins Antineoplastic Agents Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins Isoenzymes Membrane Proteins Plant Extracts Proteins Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 Wikyungtang Cyclooxygenase 1 Cyclooxygenase 2 PTGS1 protein, human PTGS2 protein, human Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases Type C Phospholipases Phospholipase C gamma CASP3 protein, human CASP9 protein, human Caspase 3 Caspase 9 Caspases
Topics	Actins (metabolism) Antineoplastic Agents (chemistry, therapeutic use) Apoptosis (drug effects) Carcinoma (drug therapy, metabolism) Caspase 3 Caspase 9 Caspases (metabolism) Cell Line, Tumor Cyclooxygenase 1 Cyclooxygenase 2 Humans Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins Isoenzymes (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism) Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy, enzymology, pathology) Membrane Proteins Phospholipase C gamma Phytotherapy Plant Extracts (chemistry, therapeutic use) Plants, Medicinal (chemistry) Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases (metabolism) Proteins (metabolism) Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 (metabolism) Type C Phospholipases (metabolism)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.

Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!