Induction of Apoptosis in Human Colon Carcinoma HCT116 Cells Using a Water Extract of Lepidium virginicum L.

Abstract

To examine the anti-cancer effects of Lepidium virginicum L., the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of a water extract of L. virginicum leaves (WELVL) and of L. virginicum roots (WELVR) were investigated in HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells. The treatment of HCT116 cells with WELVL and WELVR resulted in the inhibition of growth and morphological changes in a concentration-dependent manner by inducing apoptosis. The growth inhibition and apoptosis induction by WELVR was stronger than that of WELVL thus, we determined that WELVR was the more optimal extract for this study. The increased apoptotic events in HCT116 cells caused by WELVR were associated with an up-regulation of Fas ligand, Bax, and Bad expression, a down-regulation of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and Bid expression, and a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, Δψm). WELVR treatment induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9, and the degradation of caspase-3 substrate proteins, such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), β-catenin, and phospholipase C-γ1 (PLC-γ1). In addition, apoptotic cell death induced by WELVR was correlated with a down-regulation of inhibitors of the apoptosis protein (IAP) family, such as the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), cIAP-1, and cIAP-2. These findings suggest that the WELVR-induced inhibition of cell proliferation is associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death. WELVR may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells.

Apoptotic effects of extract from Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson by adenosine monosphosphate-activated protein kinase-independent pathway in HCT116 colon cancer cells

“…Colon cancer is of particular interest in South Korea, as its prevalence has increased with the adaptation of Western eating habits (1,2). Previous studies have shown that various plant extracts have anti-cancer effects and cause apoptosis of HCT116 colon cancer cells (4,(26)(27)(28). The present study investigated the apoptotic effects of an extract of the fruit of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson, based on previous studies (23,25).…”

“…Caspase-9, in turn, is activated through cytochrome-C release due to the activation of Bax and Bak (19,22). When HCT116 colon cancer cells were treated with corosolic acid or Lepidium virginicum L. extract, pro-caspase-3 and Bcl-2 expression were decreased and Bax expression was increased (27,28). Pro-caspase-3 expression was also shown to be decreased by curcumin or Dorema glabrum seed extract (26,31).…”

A Comparative Study of the Chloroplast Genomes of Five Lepidium Medicinal Plants

“…The water extract of L. virginicum (LV) contains anti-cancer and anti-in ammatory properties. Additionally, the presence of benzyl glucosinolate in this extract also exerts a bacteriostatic function [8,9]. L. meyenii (LM), on the other hand, contains not only rich nutrition, but also plenty of secondary metabolites.…”