Picrasma quassioides Extract Elevates the Cervical Cancer Cell Apoptosis Through ROS-Mitochondrial Axis Activated p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM:

Picrasma quassioides (P. quassioides) is used in traditional Asian medicine widely for the treatment of anemopyretic cold, eczema, nausea, loss of appetite, diabetes mellitus, hypertension etc. In this study we aimed to understand the effect of P. quassioides ethanol extract on SiHa cervical cancer cell apoptosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The P. quassioides extract-induced apoptosis was analyzed using the MTT assay, fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and western blotting.

RESULTS:

P. quassioides extract induced cellular apoptosis by increasing the accumulation of cellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and inhibiting ATP synthesis. Pretreatment with N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), a classic antioxidant, decreased the intracellular ROS production and inhibited apoptosis. In addition, the P38 MAPK signaling pathway is a key in the apoptosis of SiHa cells induced by the P. quassioides extract.

CONCLUSION:

The P. quassioides extract exerts its anti-cancer properties on SiHa cells through ROS-mitochondria axis and P38 MAPK signaling. Our data provide a new insight for P. quassioides as a therapeutic strategy for cervical cancer treatment.

• Authors: Yi-Xi Gong, Yue Liu, Ying-Hua Jin, Mei-Hua Jin, Ying-Hao Han, Jing Li, Gui-Nan Shen, Dan-Ping Xie, Chen-Xi Ren, Li-Yun Yu, Dong-Seok Lee, Ji-Su Kim, Yu-Jin Jo, Jeongwoo Kwon, Jaihyung Lee, Yang Ho Park, Taeho Kwon, Yu-Dong Cui, Hu-Nan Sun
• Journal: In vivo (Athens, Greece) (In Vivo) 2020 Jul-Aug Vol. 34 Issue 4 Pg. 1823-1833 ISSN: 1791-7549 [Electronic] Greece
• PMID: 32606152 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Reactive Oxygen Species
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Topics

• Apoptosis
• Female
• Humans
• Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial
• Mitochondria (metabolism)
• Picrasma (metabolism)
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Signal Transduction
• Uterine Cervical Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics)
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (genetics)