Amooranin Induces Apoptosis via Caspase Activity in Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Amooranin Induces Apoptosis via Caspase Activity in Breast Cancer Cell Lines
(Breast Cancer-September 22, 2003)

According to a study from the United States, "Amooranin (AMR) is a triterpene acid isolated from the stem bark of a tropical tree (Amoora rohituka) grown wild in India.

"A rohituka stem bark is one of the components of a medicinal preparation used in the Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine for the treatment of human malignancies. We investigated the mechanism of cell death associated with AMR cytotoxicity in human mammary carcinoma MCF-7, multidrug resistant breast carcinoma MCF-7/TH and breast epithelial MCF-10A cell lines," wrote T. Rabi and colleagues, Miami Children's Hospital, Research Institute.

"AMR IC50 values ranged between 3.8-6.9 micro g/ml among MCF-7, MCF-7/TH and MCF-10A cells. AMR induced oligonucleosome-sized DNA ladder formation characteristic of apoptosis when tumor cells were treated with 1-8 micro g/ml AMR for 48 h," the researchers wrote.

"In situ cell death detection assay indicated that AMR caused 37.3-72.1% apoptotic cells in MCF- 7, 32-48.7% in MCF- 7/TH and 0-37.1% in MCF- 10A cells at 1-8 micro g/ml concentrations. The induction of apoptosis in AMR treated cells was accompanied by the elevation of total caspase and caspase-8 activities," they stated.

Flow cytometric analysis showed that AMR induced caspase-8 activation in 40.8-71% MCF- 7, 28.5-43.2% MCF- 7/TH and 4-32.8% MCF- 10A cells at 1-8 micro g/ml concentrations. Our results suggest that AMR is a novel drug having potential for clinical development against human malignancies," the researchers concluded.

Rabi and colleagues published the results of their research in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment (Novel drug amooranin induces apoptosis through caspase activity in human breast carcinoma cell lines. Breast Cancer Res Treat, 2003;80(3):321-330).

For additional information, contact C. Ramachandran, Miami Children's Hospital, Research Institute, 3100 S.W. 62nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33155, USA.

The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of Oncology and Pharmaceutical & Drug Development. This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports.

This story has been adapted from a news release issued by NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net