Lung Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Lung Cancer, including details on symptoms, smoking, genetics, treatment, causes.

Anti-proliferative activity of Bupleurum scrozonerifolium in A549 human lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Cheng YL, Lee SC, Lin SZ, Chang WL, Chen YL, Tsai NM, Liu YC, Tzao C, Yu DS, Harn HJ

Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan, ROC.

Nan-Chai-Hu, the root of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium, is a traditional Chinese herb used in treatment of liver diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis. We recently reported that the acetone extract of B. scorzonerifolium (BS-AE) could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in A549 human lung cancer cells. We further examined its anti-proliferative mechanisms and in vivo anticancer effect. Our results showed that BS-AE had the ability to cause cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase, inducing tubulin polymerization, and activating caspase-3 and -9 in A549 cells. BS-AE-induced apoptosis could be blocked by the broad caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk in majority. The result of in vivo study showed that BS-AE could suppress growth in A549 subcutaneous xenograft tumors. These results indicate that BS-AE exerts antiproliferative effects on A549 cells in vitro and in vivo, and prompted us to further evaluate and elucidate the chemical composition profile of BS-AE.

Published 2 May 2005 in Cancer Lett, 222(2): 183-93.
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