Morin, a flavonoid from moraceae, induces apoptosis by induction of BAD protein in human leukemic cells.

Abstract

Evidence suggests that phytochemicals can safely modulate cancer cell biology and induce apoptosis. Here, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of morin, a flavone originally isolated from members of the Moraceae family in human leukemic cells, focusing on apoptosis. An anti-cancer effect of morin was screened with several human leukemic cell lines. U937 cells were most sensitive to morin, where it induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. It also induced loss of MMP (ΔΨm) along with cytochrome c release, down-regulated Bcl-2 protein, and up-regulated BAX proteins. The apoptotic activity of morin was significantly attenuated by Bcl-2 augmentation. In conclusion, morin induced caspase-dependent apoptosis through an intrinsic pathway by upregulating BAD proteins. In addition, Bcl-2 protein expression is also important in morin-induced apoptosis of U937 cells. This study provides evidence that morin might have anticancer properties in human leukemic cells.

• Authors: Cheol Park, Won Sup Lee, Se-Il Go, Arulkumar Nagappan, Min Ho Han, Su Hyun Hong, Gon Sup Kim, Gi Young Kim, Taeg Kyu Kwon, Chung Ho Ryu, Sung Chul Shin, Yung Hyun Choi
• Journal: International journal of molecular sciences (Int J Mol Sci) Vol. 16 Issue 1 Pg. 645-59 (Dec 30 2014) ISSN: 1422-0067 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 25561222 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Flavonoids
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein
• bcl-Associated Death Protein
• morin
• Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases
• Caspases

Topics

• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Caspases (metabolism)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Down-Regulation (drug effects)
• Flavonoids (chemistry, toxicity)
• HL-60 Cells
• Humans
• K562 Cells
• Leukemia (metabolism, pathology)
• Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial (drug effects)
• Moraceae (chemistry, metabolism)
• Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases (metabolism)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 (metabolism)
• U937 Cells
• Up-Regulation (drug effects)
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein (metabolism)
• bcl-Associated Death Protein (metabolism)