Tanshinone I effectively induces apoptosis in estrogen receptor-positive (MCF-7) and estrogen receptor-negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells

  • Authors:
    • Irina Tsoy Nizamutdinova
    • Gyeong Won Lee
    • Kun Ho Son
    • Su Jin Jeon
    • Sam Sik Kang
    • Yeong Shik Kim
    • Jae Heun Lee
    • Han Geuk Seo
    • Ki Churl Chang
    • Hye Jung Kim
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 1, 2008     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000031
  • Pages: 485-491
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Abstract

Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge) is a herb that has been widely and successfully used for treating inflammatory diseases in clinics in Asia. The relatively abundant tanshinones, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, cryptotanshinone, and dihydrotanshinone, have been isolated from Danshen. These tanshinones are the major diterpenes isolated from Danshen, and show cytotoxic effects on cell lines derived from human carcinomas of the colon, ovary, lung, mouth, and breast. Recently, anti-cancer activities of tanshinone IIA have been reported, which suggest that the structurally similar tanshinone I may possess similar cytotoxic effects on tumor cells. We investigated the effect of tanshinone I on the induction of apoptosis in human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) in vitro. Tanshinone I inhibited cell proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, as assayed by MTT. In addition, TUNEL assay and flow cytometry showed that tanshinone I significantly induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The induction of apoptotic cell death was mediated by the activation of caspase 3, the downregulation of the level of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, and the upregulation of the level of the pro-apoptotic protein, Bax. Taken together, these results reveal a potential mechanism for the anti-cancer effect of tanshinone I on human breast cancer cells, and suggest that tanshinone I may serve as an effective adjunctive reagent in the treatment of human breast cancer.

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September 2008
Volume 33 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Nizamutdinova IT, Lee GW, Son KH, Jeon SJ, Kang SS, Kim YS, Lee JH, Seo HG, Chang KC, Kim HJ, Kim HJ, et al: Tanshinone I effectively induces apoptosis in estrogen receptor-positive (MCF-7) and estrogen receptor-negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells. Int J Oncol 33: 485-491, 2008.
APA
Nizamutdinova, I.T., Lee, G.W., Son, K.H., Jeon, S.J., Kang, S.S., Kim, Y.S. ... Kim, H.J. (2008). Tanshinone I effectively induces apoptosis in estrogen receptor-positive (MCF-7) and estrogen receptor-negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells. International Journal of Oncology, 33, 485-491. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000031
MLA
Nizamutdinova, I. T., Lee, G. W., Son, K. H., Jeon, S. J., Kang, S. S., Kim, Y. S., Lee, J. H., Seo, H. G., Chang, K. C., Kim, H. J."Tanshinone I effectively induces apoptosis in estrogen receptor-positive (MCF-7) and estrogen receptor-negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells". International Journal of Oncology 33.3 (2008): 485-491.
Chicago
Nizamutdinova, I. T., Lee, G. W., Son, K. H., Jeon, S. J., Kang, S. S., Kim, Y. S., Lee, J. H., Seo, H. G., Chang, K. C., Kim, H. J."Tanshinone I effectively induces apoptosis in estrogen receptor-positive (MCF-7) and estrogen receptor-negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells". International Journal of Oncology 33, no. 3 (2008): 485-491. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000031