Induction of apoptosis by puerarin in colon cancer HT-29 cells.

Abstract

Puerarin was isolated from Pueraria radix and has beneficial effects on cardiovascular, neurological, and hyperglycemic disorders. The current study showed that puerarin also possessed anti-cancer properties. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay (MTT) assay revealed a dose-dependent reduction of HT-29 cellular growth in response to puerarin treatment. Apoptosis was observed following treatments ;with >or=25 microM puerarin, as reflected by the appearance of the subdiploid fraction and NDA fragmentations. We then investigated effects of puerarin on expression of apoptosis-associated genes and the results revealed an increase of bax and decreases of c-myc and bcl-2. Finally, puerarin treatment significantly increased the activation of caspase-3, a key executioner of apoptosis. These findings indicate that puerarin may act as a chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic agent in colon cancer cells by reducing cell viability and inducing apoptosis.

• Authors: Zengli Yu, Wenjie Li
• Journal: Cancer letters (Cancer Lett) Vol. 238 Issue 1 Pg. 53-60 (Jul 08 2006) ISSN: 0304-3835 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 16055262 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Isoflavones
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein
• CASP3 protein, human
• Caspase 3
• Caspases
• puerarin

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (therapeutic use)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Caspase 3
• Caspases (metabolism)
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Colonic Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• HT29 Cells
• Humans
• Isoflavones (pharmacology)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 (metabolism)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc (metabolism)
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein (metabolism)