Codonopsis lanceolata extract induces G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in human colon tumor HT-29 cells--involvement of ROS generation and polyamine depletion

Food Chem Toxicol. 2011 Jan;49(1):149-54. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2010.10.010. Epub 2010 Oct 19.

Abstract

Codonopsis lanceolata (Campanulasea) is widely distributed and grown in Asia and has been in use as traditional medicine for long time. The n-butanol fraction (BF) of C. lanceolata significantly inhibited human colon cancer HT-29 cell growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner by inducing G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptosis. The inhibition was associated with intracellular ROS generation and polyamine depletion as evidenced by HPLC quantitatively. Additionally, semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed enhanced expression of caspase-3, p53, and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and reduced expression of survivin in HT-29 cells treated with BF. Furthermore, western blot analysis of p53, JNK, and caspase-3 showed that ROS generation was accompanied by JNK activation. Increase of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and activation of caspase-3 might be due to intracellular polyamine depletion. Conclusively, the findings of this study imply a critical role of ROS and polyamine depletion in the anticancer effects of C. lanceolata root extract.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Western
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Codonopsis / chemistry*
  • G1 Phase / drug effects*
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Polyamines / metabolism*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Resting Phase, Cell Cycle / drug effects*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Polyamines
  • Reactive Oxygen Species