Apoptotic cell death induced by Z-Ligustilidein human ovarian cancer cells and role of NRF2

Z-Ligustilide is the most potent bioactive component of Angelica sinensis, which is widely used in Chinese traditional medicine. Z-Ligustilide selectively affected ovarian cancer cell survival in a dose dependent manner. Z-Ligustilide induced apoptotic cell death was determined by flow cytometry. We also demonstrated that apoptotic cell death was triggered by Z-Ligustilideinduced oxidative stress and mitochondria played an active role. Mitochondrial polarization was reduced by Z-Ligustilidewhereas mitochondrial superoxide formation was increased. NRF2 was induced by Z-Ligustilide in OVCAR-3 cells at epigenetic level and its downstream antioxidant defense genesHeme oxygenase-1,NAD(P)H Quinone Dehydrogenase 1, UDP Glucuronosyltransferase Family 1 Member A1and Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase. NRF2 knockdown by siRNA resulted increased cell death by Z-Ligustilide in ovarian cancer cells. Our result demonstrated the pro-survival role of NRF2 in Z-Ligustilide induced ovarian cancer cell death.