Methylene chloride fraction of Spatholobi Caulis induces apoptosis via caspase dependent pathway in U937 cells.

Abstract

Spatholobi Caulis has been used in Oriental medicine to treat cancer and blood stasis. In this study, the methylene chloride fraction of Spatholobi Caulis (MCSC) was examined to determine if it possesses anti-cancer activity via its apoptosis-inducing activity. MCSC exhibited a strong cytotoxic effect against human monocyte leukemia U937 cells (IC(50)=15.1 microg/ml). A TUNEL assay showed that the MCSC caused a characteristic ladder pattern of discontinuous DNA fragments and apoptotic bodies. Flow cytometric analysis confirmed that MCSC significantly increases the number of apoptotic cells stained by annexin V(+)/PI(-) cells. Western blotting revealed that MCSC activated caspase-3 expression and cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in a concentration-dependent manner. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) demonstrated that MCSC significantly activated the caspase-3 activity compared with the untreated control by. Taken together, these results suggest that MCSC can induce apoptosis in U937cells via the caspase dependent pathway.

• Authors: Eun-Suk Ha, Eun-Ok Lee, Taek-Joon Yoon, Jin-Hyung Kim, Jong-Oh Park, Nak-Cheol Lim, Sung-Ki Jung, Byung-Soo Yoon, Sung-Hoon Kim
• Journal: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin (Biol Pharm Bull) Vol. 27 Issue 9 Pg. 1348-52 (Sep 2004) ISSN: 0918-6158 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 15340217 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Annexin A5
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Solvents
• Methylene Chloride
• Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases
• CASP3 protein, human
• Caspase 3
• Caspases

Topics

• Annexin A5 (metabolism)
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Caspase 3
• Caspases (metabolism)
• DNA Fragmentation (drug effects)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Fabaceae (chemistry, metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Humans
• Leukemia
• Methylene Chloride
• Plant Stems (chemistry)
• Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases (metabolism)
• Solvents
• U937 Cells