Beta-elemene inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. - GreenMedInfo Summary
[Effects ofβ-elemene on proliferation and apoptosis of SGC7901 gastric cancer cells in vitro and the underlying mechanisms].
Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2015 Aug ;35(9):1234-8. PMID: 26403730
Junsong Liu
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects ofβ-elemene in suppressing the proliferation and apoptosis of SGC7901 gastric cancer cells in vitro and explore the underlying mechanisms.
METHODS: Using MTT assay, flow cytometry, and clonogenic survival assay, we assessed the effects ofβ-elemene on the viability, apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and clonogenic survival of gastric cancer SGC7901 cells and gastric mucosal epithelial GES-1 cells. Western blotting was employed to determine the changes in the protein expression profiles in SGC7901 cells in response to β-elemene treatment.
RESULTS: β-elemene significantly suppressed the cell viability and increased the apoptosis of SGC7901 cells, and these effects were less obvious in GES-1 cells. β-elemene decreased clonogenic survival of SGC7901 cells, increased the proportion of G2/M phase cells, decreased the expression of Bcl-2, and increased the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3. β-elemene did not obviously affect the expression of total p21-activated protein kinase 1 (Pak1) but decreased the level of phospho-Pak1 (Thr423) and phospho-ERK1/2 (Thr202/Tyr204) in SGC7901 cells.
CONCLUSION: β-elemene inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of gastric cancer cells possibly by inhibiting Pak1/ERK signaling and regulating apoptosis-associated proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bax.