The MAP30 protein from bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) seeds promotes apoptosis in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract	Human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep G2 cells and Hep G2-bearing mice were used as in vitro and in vivo models to assess the efficacy and safety of MAP30, a natural component from Momordica charantia, as an anticancer agent against liver cancer. Molecular studies disclosed the contribution of both caspase-8 regulated extrinsic and caspase-9 regulated intrinsic caspase cascades in MAP30-induced cell apoptosis. The antitumor potential was also effective in Hep G2-bearing nude mice. Since bitter gourd is a staple in many Asian countries, MAP30 would serve as a novel and relatively safe agent for prophylaxis and treatment of liver cancer.
Authors	Evandro Fei Fang, Chris Zhi Yi Zhang, Jack Ho Wong, Jia Yun Shen, Chuan Hao Li, Tzi Bun Ng
Journal	Cancer letters (Cancer Lett) Vol. 324 Issue 1 Pg. 66-74 (Nov 01 2012) ISSN: 1872-7980 [Electronic] Ireland
PMID	22579806 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Copyright	Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Chemical References	Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic MAP30 protein, Momordica charantia Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2 Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Caspase 8 Caspase 9
Topics	Animals Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (pharmacology) Apoptosis (drug effects) Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (drug therapy, pathology) Caspase 8 (metabolism) Caspase 9 (metabolism) Cell Cycle Checkpoints (drug effects) Cell Movement (drug effects) Cell Proliferation (drug effects) Hep G2 Cells (drug effects) Humans Liver Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology) Mice Mice, Nude Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (metabolism) Momordica charantia (chemistry) Necrosis Phosphorylation (drug effects) Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt (metabolism) Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2 (pharmacology) Seeds (chemistry) Signal Transduction (drug effects) Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

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