Open AccessCytotoxic activity of an octadecenoic acid extract from Euphorbia kansui (Euphorbiaceae) on human tumour cell strains
Author(s) -
Yu Farong,
Lu Shunqing,
Yu Fahong,
Shi Junnian,
McGuire Peter M.,
Wang Rui
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 2042-7158
pISSN - 0022-3573
DOI - 10.1211/jpp.60.2.0015
Subject(s) - euphorbiaceae , apoptosis , euphorbia , linoleic acid , cytotoxic t cell , biology , cell growth , cell , flow cytometry , biochemistry , cell cycle , cytotoxicity , clone (java method) , pharmacology , traditional medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , in vitro , botany , dna , fatty acid
We have investigated the cytotoxic and antitumour activity of an octadecenoic acid extract, mainly containing oleic and linoleic acids, from Euphorbia kansui on human gastric (SGC‐7901), hepatocellular carcinoma (BEL‐7402), and leukaemia (HL‐60) tumour cell strains. Significant and dose‐dependent antiproliferation effects were observed on tumour cells from the dose of 3.2 μg mL −1 , which were comparable with or better than those of the common antitumour agent 5‐fluorouracil. Results from the clone formation assay and flow cytometry indicated that the mixture of octadecenoic acids resulted in a dose‐dependent reduction in the number of tumour cells and significantly inhibited cell proliferation, with induced apoptosis and G 0 /G 1 phase cell cycle arrest. Also, the octadecenoic acids could not only cause cell apoptosis/necrosis but also functionally and structurally damage the tumour cell membrane and cell ultra‐structures. These observations encourage further clinical evaluation of the inhibitory effects of octadecenoic acids on various forms of cancer.