Spandidos Publications Logo
  • About
    • About Spandidos
    • Aims and Scopes
    • Abstracting and Indexing
    • Editorial Policies
    • Reprints and Permissions
    • Job Opportunities
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact
  • Journals
    • All Journals
    • Oncology Letters
      • Oncology Letters
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Oncology
      • International Journal of Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Molecular and Clinical Oncology
      • Molecular and Clinical Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
      • Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Molecular Medicine
      • International Journal of Molecular Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Biomedical Reports
      • Biomedical Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Oncology Reports
      • Oncology Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Molecular Medicine Reports
      • Molecular Medicine Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • World Academy of Sciences Journal
      • World Academy of Sciences Journal
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Functional Nutrition
      • International Journal of Functional Nutrition
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Epigenetics
      • International Journal of Epigenetics
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Medicine International
      • Medicine International
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
  • Articles
  • Information
    • Information for Authors
    • Information for Reviewers
    • Information for Librarians
    • Information for Advertisers
    • Conferences
  • Language Editing
Spandidos Publications Logo
  • About
    • About Spandidos
    • Aims and Scopes
    • Abstracting and Indexing
    • Editorial Policies
    • Reprints and Permissions
    • Job Opportunities
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact
  • Journals
    • All Journals
    • Biomedical Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Epigenetics
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Functional Nutrition
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Molecular Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Medicine International
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Molecular and Clinical Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Molecular Medicine Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Oncology Letters
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Oncology Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • World Academy of Sciences Journal
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
  • Articles
  • Information
    • For Authors
    • For Reviewers
    • For Librarians
    • For Advertisers
    • Conferences
  • Language Editing
Login Register Submit
  • This site uses cookies
  • You can change your cookie settings at any time by following the instructions in our Cookie Policy. To find out more, you may read our Privacy Policy.

    I agree
Search articles by DOI, keyword, author or affiliation
Search
Advanced Search
presentation
Oncology Letters
Join Editorial Board Propose a Special Issue
Print ISSN: 1792-1074 Online ISSN: 1792-1082
Journal Cover
June-2021 Volume 21 Issue 6

Full Size Image

Sign up for eToc alerts
Recommend to Library

Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Molecular Medicine is an international journal devoted to molecular mechanisms of human disease.

International Journal of Oncology

International Journal of Oncology

International Journal of Oncology is an international journal devoted to oncology research and cancer treatment.

Molecular Medicine Reports

Molecular Medicine Reports

Covers molecular medicine topics such as pharmacology, pathology, genetics, neuroscience, infectious diseases, molecular cardiology, and molecular surgery.

Oncology Reports

Oncology Reports

Oncology Reports is an international journal devoted to fundamental and applied research in Oncology.

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine is an international journal devoted to laboratory and clinical medicine.

Oncology Letters

Oncology Letters

Oncology Letters is an international journal devoted to Experimental and Clinical Oncology.

Biomedical Reports

Biomedical Reports

Explores a wide range of biological and medical fields, including pharmacology, genetics, microbiology, neuroscience, and molecular cardiology.

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

International journal addressing all aspects of oncology research, from tumorigenesis and oncogenes to chemotherapy and metastasis.

World Academy of Sciences Journal

World Academy of Sciences Journal

Multidisciplinary open-access journal spanning biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, environmental health, and synthetic biology.

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

Open-access journal combining biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, and genetics to advance health through functional nutrition.

International Journal of Epigenetics

International Journal of Epigenetics

Publishes open-access research on using epigenetics to advance understanding and treatment of human disease.

Medicine International

Medicine International

An International Open Access Journal Devoted to General Medicine.

Journal Cover
June-2021 Volume 21 Issue 6

Full Size Image

Sign up for eToc alerts
Recommend to Library

  • Article
  • Citations
    • Cite This Article
    • Download Citation
    • Create Citation Alert
    • Remove Citation Alert
    • Cited By
  • Similar Articles
    • Related Articles (in Spandidos Publications)
    • Similar Articles (Google Scholar)
    • Similar Articles (PubMed)
  • Download PDF
  • Download XML
  • View XML
Article Open Access

Silymarin inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells via regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway and induction of apoptosis

  • Authors:
    • Sung-Hyun Kim
    • Gang-Sik Choo
    • Eun-Seon Yoo
    • Joong-Seok Woo
    • Jae-Han Lee
    • So-Hee Han
    • Soo-Hyun Jung
    • Hyeong-Jin Kim
    • Ji-Youn Jung
  • View Affiliations / Copyright

    Affiliations: Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Chungcheongnam 340-702, Republic of Korea
    Copyright: © Kim et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.
  • Article Number: 492
    |
    Published online on: April 26, 2021
       https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12753
  • Expand metrics +
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Metrics: Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Cited By (CrossRef): 0 citations Loading Articles...

This article is mentioned in:



Abstract

Silymarin is a purified mixture of four isomeric flavonoids extracted from the seeds and fruit of the milk thistle plant, Silybum marianus (L.). Silymarin exhibits a wide variety of biological effects and is commonly used in traditional medicine. Therefore, the anticancer effects of silymarin on human breast cancer cells were investigated to determine its pharmacological mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. The viability and proliferation of MDA‑MB‑ 231 and MCF‑7 breast cancer cells were investigated using MTT and wound healing assays. Silymarin decreased the viability and proliferation of MDA‑MB‑231 and MCF‑7 cells in a concentration‑dependent manner. The number of apoptotic bodies, as shown by DAPI staining, was increased in a concentration‑dependent manner, indicating that silymarin induces apoptosis. Additionally, changes in the expression levels of apoptosis‑related proteins were demonstrated in human breast cancer cells using western blotting. Silymarin increased the levels of Bax, cleaved poly‑ADP ribose polymerase, cleaved caspase‑9 and phosphorylated (p‑)JNK, and decreased the levels of Bcl‑2, p‑P38 and p‑ERK1/2. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of silymarin on MCF‑7 tumor growth were investigated. In mice treated with silymarin for 3 weeks (25 and 50 mg/kg), MCF‑7 tumor growth was inhibited without organ toxicity. In MCF‑7 tumors, silymarin induced apoptosis and decreased p‑ERK1/2 levels, as assessed using a TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry. These results indicated that silymarin inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo by modulating the MAPK signaling pathway. Therefore, silymarin may potentially be used as a chemo‑preventive or therapeutic agent.
View Figures

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

View References

1 

Liu MM, Huang Y and Wang J: Developing phytoestrogens for breast cancer prevention. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 12:1306–1313. 2012. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

2 

Li Z, Qin B, Qi X, Mao J and Wu D: Isoalantolactone induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells via ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway and downregulation of SIRT1. Arch Pharm Res. 39:1441–1453. 2016. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

3 

Nizamutdinova IT, Lee GW, Son KH, Jeon SJ, Kang SS, Kim YS, Lee JH, Seo HG, Chang KC and Kim HJ: 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.PubMed/NCBI

4 

Panche AN, Diwan AD and Chandra SR: Flavonoids: An overview. J Nutr Sci. 5:e472016. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

5 

Comelli MC, Mengs U, Schneider C and Prosdocimi M: Toward the definition of the mechanism of action of silymarin: Activities related to cellular protection from toxic damage induced by chemotherapy. Integr Cancer Ther. 6:120–129. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

6 

Chen IS, Chen YC, Chou CH, Chuang RF, Sheen LY and Chiu CH: Hepatoprotection of silymarin against thioacetamide-induced chronic liver fibrosis. J Sci Food Agric. 92:1441–1447. 2012. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

7 

Sherif IO and Al-Gayyar MM: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of silymarin on hepatic dysfunction induced by sodium nitrite. Eur Cytokine Netw. 24:114–121. 2013. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

8 

El-Lakkany NM, Hammam OA, El-Maadawy WH, Badawy AA, Ain-Shoka AA, Ebeid FA and EI-Lakkany NM: Anti-inflammatory/anti-fibrotic effects of the hepatoprotective silymarin and the schistosomicide praziquantel against Schistosoma mansoni-induced liver fibrosis. Parasit Vectors. 5:92012. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

9 

Wu T, Liu W, Guo W and Zhu X: Silymarin suppressed lung cancer growth in mice via inhibiting myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Biomed Pharmacother. 81:460–467. 2016. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

10 

Deep G, Singh RP, Agarwal C, Kroll DJ and Agarwal R: Silymarin and silibinin cause G1 and G2-M cell cycle arrest via distinct circuitries in human prostate cancer PC3 cells: A comparison of flavanone silibinin with flavanolignan mixture silymarin. Oncogene. 25:1053–1069. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

11 

Han SI, Kim YS and Kim TH: Role of apoptotic and necrotic cell death under physiologic conditions. BMB Rep. 41:1–10. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

12 

Oda E, Ohki R, Murasawa H, Nemoto J, Shibue T, Yamashita T, Tokino T, Taniguchi T and Tanaka N: Noxa, a BH3-only member of the Bcl-2 family and candidate mediator of p53-induced apoptosis. Science. 288:1053–1058. 2000. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

13 

Donovan M and Cotter TG: Control of mitochondrial integrity by Bcl-2 family members and caspase-independent cell death. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1644:133–147. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

14 

Oltvai ZN, Milliman CL and Korsmeyer SJ: Bcl-2 heterodimerizes in vivo with a conserved homolog, Bax, that accelerates programmed cell death. Cell. 74:609–619. 1993. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

15 

Brentnall M, Rodriguez-Menocal L, De Guevara RL, Cepero E and Boise LH: Caspase-9, caspase-3 and caspase-7 have distinct roles during intrinsic apoptosis. BMC Cell Biol. 14:322013. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

16 

Yang Y, Zhu X, Chen Y, Wang X and Chen R: p38 and JNK MAPK, but not ERK1/2 MAPK, play important role in colchicine-induced cortical neurons apoptosis. Eur J Pharmacol. 576:26–33. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

17 

Joneson T, White MA, Wigler MH and Bar-Sagi D: Stimulation of membrane ruffling and MAP kinase activation by distinct effectors of RAS. Science. 271:810–812. 1996. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

18 

Doll R: The lessons of life: Keynote address to the nutrition and cancer conference. Cancer Res. 52 (Suppl 7):2024s–2029s. 1992.PubMed/NCBI

19 

Porter PL: Global trends in breast cancer incidence and mortality. Salud Publica Mex. 51 (Suppl 2):s141–s146. 2009. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

20 

Fan L, Ma Y, Liu Y, Zheng D and Huang G: Silymarin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. Eur J Pharmacol. 743:79–88. 2014. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

21 

Kalla PK, Chitti S, Aghamirzaei ST, Senthilkumar R and Arjunan S: Anti-cancer activity of silymarin on MCF-7 and NCIH-23 cell lines. Adv Biol Res (Faisalabad). 8:57–61. 2014.

22 

Vaid M, Singh T, Prasad R and Katiyar SK: Silymarin inhibits melanoma cell growth both in vitro and in vivo by targeting cell cycle regulators, angiogenic biomarkers and induction of apoptosis. Mol Carcinog. 54:1328–1339. 2015. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

23 

Katiyar SK, Roy AM and Baliga MS: Silymarin induces apoptosis primarily through a p53-dependent pathway involving Bcl-2/Bax, cytochrome c release, and caspase activation. Mol Cancer Ther. 4:207–216. 2005.PubMed/NCBI

24 

Li LH, Wu LJ, Tashiro SI, Onodera S, Uchiumi F and Ikejima T: The roles of Akt and MAPK family members in silymarin's protection against UV-induced A375-S2 cell apoptosis. Int Immunopharmacol. 6:190–197. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

25 

Huang Q, Wu LJ, Tashiro S, Onodera S, Li LH and Ikejima T: Silymarin augments human cervical cancer HeLa cell apoptosis via P38/JNK MAPK pathways in serum-free medium. J Asian Nat Prod Res. 7:701–709. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

26 

Pereira L, Igea A, Canovas B, Dolado I and Nebreda AR: Inhibition of p38 MAPK sensitizes tumour cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis mediated by reactive oxygen species and JNK. EMBO Mol Med. 5:1759–1774. 2013. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

27 

Cui L, Bu W, Song J, Feng L, Xu T, Liu D, Ding W, Wang J, Li C, Ma B, et al: Apoptosis induction by alantolactone in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells through reactive oxygen species-mediated mitochondrion-dependent pathway. Arch Pharm Res. 41:299–313. 2018. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

28 

Lin KL, Su JC, Chien CM, Tseng CH, Chen YL, Chang LS and Lin SR: Naphtho[1,2-b]furan-4,5-dione induces apoptosis and S-phase arrest of MDA-MB-231 cells through JNK and ERK signaling activation. Toxicol In Vitro. 24:61–70. 2010. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

29 

Yu P, Zhang C, Gao CY, Ma T, Zhang H, Zhou MM, Yang YW, Yang L and Kong LY: Anti-proliferation of triple-negative breast cancer cells with physagulide P: ROS/JNK signaling pathway induces apoptosis and autophagic cell death. Oncotarget. 8:64032–64049. 2017. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

30 

Palit S, Kar S, Sharma G and Das PK: Hesperetin induces apoptosis in breast carcinoma by triggering accumulation of ROS and activation of ASK1/JNK pathway. J Cell Physiol. 230:1729–1739. 2015. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

31 

Rabi T and Banerjee S: Novel synthetic triterpenoid methyl 25-hydroxy-3-oxoolean-12-en-28-oate induces apoptosis through JNK and p38 MAPK pathways in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells. Mol Carcinog. 47:415–423. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

32 

Singh RP, Tyagi AK, Zhao J and Agarwal R: Silymarin inhibits growth and causes regression of established skin tumors in SENCAR mice via modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and induction of apoptosis. Carcinogenesis. 23:499–510. 2002. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

33 

Kim LH, Khadka S, Shin JA, Jung JY, Ryu MH, Yu HJ, Lee HN, Jang B, Yang IH, Won DH, et al: Nitidine chloride acts as an apoptosis inducer in human oral cancer cells and a nude mouse xenograft model via inhibition of STAT3. Oncotarget. 8:91306–91315. 2017. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

34 

Shivakumar P, Rani MU, Reddy AG and Anjaneyulu Y: A study on the toxic effects of Doxorubicin on the histology of certain organs. Toxicol Int. 19:241–244. 2012. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

Related Articles

  • Abstract
  • View
  • Download
  • Twitter
Copy and paste a formatted citation
Spandidos Publications style
Kim S, Choo G, Yoo E, Woo J, Lee J, Han S, Jung S, Kim H and Jung J: Silymarin inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells via regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway and induction of apoptosis. Oncol Lett 21: 492, 2021.
APA
Kim, S., Choo, G., Yoo, E., Woo, J., Lee, J., Han, S. ... Jung, J. (2021). Silymarin inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells via regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway and induction of apoptosis. Oncology Letters, 21, 492. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12753
MLA
Kim, S., Choo, G., Yoo, E., Woo, J., Lee, J., Han, S., Jung, S., Kim, H., Jung, J."Silymarin inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells via regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway and induction of apoptosis". Oncology Letters 21.6 (2021): 492.
Chicago
Kim, S., Choo, G., Yoo, E., Woo, J., Lee, J., Han, S., Jung, S., Kim, H., Jung, J."Silymarin inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells via regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway and induction of apoptosis". Oncology Letters 21, no. 6 (2021): 492. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12753
Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Kim S, Choo G, Yoo E, Woo J, Lee J, Han S, Jung S, Kim H and Jung J: Silymarin inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells via regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway and induction of apoptosis. Oncol Lett 21: 492, 2021.
APA
Kim, S., Choo, G., Yoo, E., Woo, J., Lee, J., Han, S. ... Jung, J. (2021). Silymarin inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells via regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway and induction of apoptosis. Oncology Letters, 21, 492. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12753
MLA
Kim, S., Choo, G., Yoo, E., Woo, J., Lee, J., Han, S., Jung, S., Kim, H., Jung, J."Silymarin inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells via regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway and induction of apoptosis". Oncology Letters 21.6 (2021): 492.
Chicago
Kim, S., Choo, G., Yoo, E., Woo, J., Lee, J., Han, S., Jung, S., Kim, H., Jung, J."Silymarin inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells via regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway and induction of apoptosis". Oncology Letters 21, no. 6 (2021): 492. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12753
Follow us
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
About
  • Spandidos Publications
  • Careers
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
How can we help?
  • Help
  • Live Chat
  • Contact
  • Email to our Support Team