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Keto- and acetyl-keto-boswellic acids inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in Hep G2 cells via a caspase-8 dependent pathway.

Liu, Jian-Jun LU ; Nilsson, Åke LU ; Oredsson, Stina LU ; Badmaev, Vladimir and Duan, Rui-Dong LU (2002) In International Journal of Molecular Medicine 10(4). p.501-505
Abstract
Boswellic acids are the compounds isolated from the gum resin of Boswellia serrata and have been used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases for many years in the countries of the east. Recently, a few studies showed that the acids may have anti-cancer effect on leukemia and brain tumours. We investigated the apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of two types of boswellic acids, keto-beta-boswellic acid and acetyl-keto-beta-boswellic acid, on liver cancer Hep G2 cells. After treating the cells with the boswellic acids, cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, and apoptosis were analysed. The activities of caspase-3, -8 and -9 were assayed. To explore the apoptotic pathway, specific caspase inhibitors were employed. It was found that... (More)
Boswellic acids are the compounds isolated from the gum resin of Boswellia serrata and have been used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases for many years in the countries of the east. Recently, a few studies showed that the acids may have anti-cancer effect on leukemia and brain tumours. We investigated the apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of two types of boswellic acids, keto-beta-boswellic acid and acetyl-keto-beta-boswellic acid, on liver cancer Hep G2 cells. After treating the cells with the boswellic acids, cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, and apoptosis were analysed. The activities of caspase-3, -8 and -9 were assayed. To explore the apoptotic pathway, specific caspase inhibitors were employed. It was found that boswellic acids decreased cell viability and [3H]thymidine incorporation, checked the cells in the G1 phase, and increased percentage of sub-G1. Boswellic acids strongly induced apoptosis accompanied by activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9. The apoptosis was blocked completely by caspase-8 or caspase-3 inhibitor, but inhibited partly by caspase-9 inhibitor. However, these caspase inhibitors did not show any effect on the alternations of cell viability caused by boswellic acids. In conclusion, boswellic acids have anti-proliferation and anti-cancer effects on Hep G2 cells. The apoptotic effect is mediated by a pathway dependent on caspase-8 activation. The acids may be a promising drug for the chemoprevention of liver cancer. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
boswellic acids, apoptosis, caspase, proliferation, liver cancer
in
International Journal of Molecular Medicine
volume
10
issue
4
pages
501 - 505
publisher
Spandidos Publications
external identifiers
  • pmid:12239601
  • wos:000178162100023
  • scopus:0036780654
ISSN
1791-244X
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8f46326d-5db2-4e8f-ba3e-487e917b7b03 (old id 110243)
alternative location
http://147.52.72.117/IJMM/2002/volume10/number4/501-505.pdf
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:04:04
date last changed
2024-01-11 00:44:20
@article{8f46326d-5db2-4e8f-ba3e-487e917b7b03,
  abstract     = {{Boswellic acids are the compounds isolated from the gum resin of Boswellia serrata and have been used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases for many years in the countries of the east. Recently, a few studies showed that the acids may have anti-cancer effect on leukemia and brain tumours. We investigated the apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of two types of boswellic acids, keto-beta-boswellic acid and acetyl-keto-beta-boswellic acid, on liver cancer Hep G2 cells. After treating the cells with the boswellic acids, cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, and apoptosis were analysed. The activities of caspase-3, -8 and -9 were assayed. To explore the apoptotic pathway, specific caspase inhibitors were employed. It was found that boswellic acids decreased cell viability and [3H]thymidine incorporation, checked the cells in the G1 phase, and increased percentage of sub-G1. Boswellic acids strongly induced apoptosis accompanied by activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9. The apoptosis was blocked completely by caspase-8 or caspase-3 inhibitor, but inhibited partly by caspase-9 inhibitor. However, these caspase inhibitors did not show any effect on the alternations of cell viability caused by boswellic acids. In conclusion, boswellic acids have anti-proliferation and anti-cancer effects on Hep G2 cells. The apoptotic effect is mediated by a pathway dependent on caspase-8 activation. The acids may be a promising drug for the chemoprevention of liver cancer.}},
  author       = {{Liu, Jian-Jun and Nilsson, Åke and Oredsson, Stina and Badmaev, Vladimir and Duan, Rui-Dong}},
  issn         = {{1791-244X}},
  keywords     = {{boswellic acids; apoptosis; caspase; proliferation; liver cancer}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{501--505}},
  publisher    = {{Spandidos Publications}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Molecular Medicine}},
  title        = {{Keto- and acetyl-keto-boswellic acids inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in Hep G2 cells via a caspase-8 dependent pathway.}},
  url          = {{http://147.52.72.117/IJMM/2002/volume10/number4/501-505.pdf}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}