Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5835865 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 2015 | 8 Pages |
Ethnopharmacological relevanceQuisqualis indica is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cancer and related syndromes and also known for its anthelminthic effects.Aim of the studySoft tissue sarcomas represent a rare group of malignant tumors that frequently exhibit chemotherapeutic resistance and increased metastatic potential. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxic, apoptosis inducing and cell cycle arresting effects of 25-O-acetyl-23,24-dihydro-cucurbitacin F which has been isolated from leaves and twigs of Q. indica.Material and methodsThe present study investigates the effects of 25-O-acetyl-23,24-dihydro-cucurbitacin F (1) on cell viability, cell cycle distribution, and apoptotic induction of three human sarcoma cell lines of various origins by using the CellTiter 96® AQueous One Solution Cell Proliferation Assay, flow cytometrical experiments, real-time RT-PCR, Western blotting, and the Caspase-Glo® 3/7 AssayResultsWe could show that 1 reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and arrested the cells at the G2/M interface. The accumulation of cells at the G2/M phase resulted in a significant decrease of the cell cycle checkpoint regulators cyclin B1, cyclin A, CDK1, and CDK2. Interestingly, 1 inhibited survivin expression significantly, which functions as a key regulator of mitosis and programmed cell death, and is overexpressed in many tumor types including sarcomas. Moreover, 1 induced apoptosis in liposarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma cells caspase-3 dependently.ConclusionOur data strongly support 1 as a very interesting target for further investigation and development of novel therapeutics in sarcoma research.
Graphical abstractDownload high-res image (226KB)Download full-size image