Induction of apoptosis in human colon cancer HCT-116 cells by anthocyanins through suppression of Akt and activation of p38-MAPK.

Abstract

Anthocyanins belong to a class of flavonoids that exhibit important anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory actions as well as chemotherapeutic effects. However, little is known concerning the molecular mechanisms by which these activities are exerted. In this study, we investigated the anthocyanins isolated from Vitis coignetiae Pulliat for their potential anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects on human colon cancer HCT-116 cells. These anthocyanins inhibited cell viability and induce apoptotic cell death of HCT-116 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The apoptotic cell death was caspase-dependent and the anthocyanins regulated anti-apoptotic proteins (IAPs). In addition, apoptosis was associated with activation of p38-MAPK and suppression of Akt. In conclusion, this study suggests that the anthocyanins isolated from Vitis coignetiae Pulliat induce apoptosis might at least in part through activating p38-MAPK and suppressing Akt in human colon cancer HCT-116 cells.

• Authors: Dong Yeok Shin, Won Sup Lee, Jing Nan Lu, Myung Hee Kang, Chung Ho Ryu, Gi Young Kim, Ho Sung Kang, Sung Chul Shin, Yung Hyun Choi
• Journal: International journal of oncology (Int J Oncol) Vol. 35 Issue 6 Pg. 1499-504 (Dec 2009) ISSN: 1791-2423 [Electronic] Greece
• PMID: 19885574 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anthocyanins
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Plant Extracts
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Topics

• Anthocyanins (pharmacology)
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Blotting, Western
• Colonic Neoplasms (metabolism)
• Enzyme Activation (drug effects)
• Flow Cytometry
• HCT116 Cells
• Humans
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt (drug effects, metabolism)
• Vitis (chemistry)
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (drug effects, metabolism)