Methyl protodioscin induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 liver cancer cells

Cancer Lett. 2006 Sep 8;241(1):102-9. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2005.10.050. Epub 2006 Feb 2.

Abstract

Methyl protodioscin (NSC-698790) is one of the main bioactive components in the traditional Chinese medicine Dioscorea collettii var. hypoglauca (Dioscoreaceae). In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effect of methyl protodioscin on the HepG2 cells and the mechanism of the induced cytotoxicity. Treatment of methyl protodioscin resulted in G2/M arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 cells. These effects were attributed to down-regulation of Cyclin B1 and the signaling pathways leading to up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of BCL2, suggesting that methyl protodioscin may be a novel anti-mitotic agent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Blotting, Western
  • CDC2-CDC28 Kinases / metabolism
  • Cell Division / drug effects*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cyclin B / metabolism
  • Cyclin B1
  • Diosgenin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Diosgenin / pharmacology
  • G2 Phase / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Saponins / pharmacology*
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • CCNB1 protein, human
  • Cyclin B
  • Cyclin B1
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Saponins
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • methyl protodioscin
  • CDC2-CDC28 Kinases
  • Diosgenin