Open Access

Cytotoxic and chemosensitization effects of Scutellarin from traditional Chinese herb Scutellaria altissima L. in human prostate cancer cells

  • Authors:
    • Chen Gao
    • Yinglu Zhou
    • Zhongling Jiang
    • Yuan Zhao
    • Dongjun Zhang
    • Xia Cong
    • Rongfeng Cao
    • Huatao Li
    • Wenru Tian
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 24, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2017.5850
  • Pages: 1491-1499
  • Copyright: © Gao et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Scutellaria altissima L. is a common traditional Chinese medicine used to treat inflammation in some countries. Scutellarin, an active major flavone glycoside isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Scutellaria altissima L., has been shown to offer various beneficial biochemical effects on cerebrovascular diseases and inflammation. However, the antiproliferative effects of Scutellarin in prostate cancer and the underlying mechanism are not fully elucidated. In the present study, we aimed to ascertain whether Scutellarin inhibits cancer cell growth and to further explore the molecular mechanism. Scutellarin enhanced the sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to cisplatin. MTT assays revealed that cell viability was significantly decreased in the prostate cancer cells treated with Scutellarin. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that Scutellarin suppressed cell proliferation by promoting G2/M arrest and inducing apoptosis. We employed western blotting to delineate the underlying mechanisms involved in the G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Comet assay and γH2AX immunocytochemistry were used to detect levels of DNA damage in PC3 cells exposed to Scutellarin and/or cisplatin. Our data revealed that Scutellarin significantly induced prostate cancer cell apoptosis by activating the caspase cascade. An increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase were accompanied by the apoptosis induction. Additionally, Scutellarin altered the protein expression of cell cycle and apoptosis regulatory genes by downregulating Cdc2, cyclin B1 and Bcl-2 and upregulating caspase-3, caspase-9 and Bax in prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, Scutellarin sensitized PC3 cells to cisplastin treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, our data confirmed the cytotoxicity of Scutellarin against prostate cancer PC3 cells and provide new findings in regards to Scutellarin sensitizing prostate cancer cells to chemotherapy. Our findings suggest that Scutellarin has potential to be used as a novel antineoplastic therapeutic candidate for prostate cancer patients.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

September-2017
Volume 38 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Gao C, Zhou Y, Jiang Z, Zhao Y, Zhang D, Cong X, Cao R, Li H and Tian W: Cytotoxic and chemosensitization effects of Scutellarin from traditional Chinese herb Scutellaria altissima L. in human prostate cancer cells. Oncol Rep 38: 1491-1499, 2017
APA
Gao, C., Zhou, Y., Jiang, Z., Zhao, Y., Zhang, D., Cong, X. ... Tian, W. (2017). Cytotoxic and chemosensitization effects of Scutellarin from traditional Chinese herb Scutellaria altissima L. in human prostate cancer cells. Oncology Reports, 38, 1491-1499. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2017.5850
MLA
Gao, C., Zhou, Y., Jiang, Z., Zhao, Y., Zhang, D., Cong, X., Cao, R., Li, H., Tian, W."Cytotoxic and chemosensitization effects of Scutellarin from traditional Chinese herb Scutellaria altissima L. in human prostate cancer cells". Oncology Reports 38.3 (2017): 1491-1499.
Chicago
Gao, C., Zhou, Y., Jiang, Z., Zhao, Y., Zhang, D., Cong, X., Cao, R., Li, H., Tian, W."Cytotoxic and chemosensitization effects of Scutellarin from traditional Chinese herb Scutellaria altissima L. in human prostate cancer cells". Oncology Reports 38, no. 3 (2017): 1491-1499. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2017.5850