International Journal of Applied Science and Engineering
Published by Chaoyang University of Technology

Po-Lin Kuoa, Ya-Ling Hsub, and Chun-Ching Linb*

a Department of Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
b Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan


 

Download Citation: |
Download PDF


ABSTRACT


There is accumulating scientific evidence that many of the natural herbs have medicinal properties that can alleviate symptoms or prevent disease. A growing number of researches have demonstrated that commonly used herbs such as green tea, licorice, Cirisium rhinoceros Nakai, cloves, Terminalia arjuna Linn., Euphorbia jolkini Bioss, Polygonum cuspidatums, Myrica rubra Sieb et Zucc, Centella asiatica, Bupleurum kaoi, Ochrosia elliptica Labill, Stephania tetrandra, and Rhei Rhizoma possess chemopreventive properties that, in some cases, can be used therapeutically. These herbs have been found to possess significant antiproliferative activity against various cancer cells and this activity is supposed to be associated with the modulation of cell cycle progression and induction of apoptosis. In this review, we summarize our findings from studies performed to date regarding the chemopreventive activities of the above-mentioned herbs and their ingredients on the various types of cancer cells.


Keywords: cancer; cell cycle; apoptosis; natural product.


Share this article with your colleagues

 


REFERENCES


  1. [1] Jemal, A., Tiwari, R.-C., Murray, T., Ghafoor, A., Samuels, A., Ward, E., Feuer, E.-J., Thun, M.-J. 2004. American Cancer Society. Cancer statistics, 2004. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 54(1): 8-29.

  2. [2] Wooster, R. and Weber, B.-L. 2003. Breast and ovarian cancer. The New England Journal of Medicine, 348(23): 2339-2347.

  3. [3] Kim, P.-K., Park, S.-Y., Koty, P.-P., Hua, Y., Luketich, J.-D., Billiar, T.-R. 2003. Fas-associating death domain protein overexpression induces apoptosis in lung cancer cells. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 125(6): 1336-1342.

  4. [4] Harris, C.-C. 1990. Hepatocellular carcinogenesis: recent advances and speculations. Cancer Cells, 2(5):146-148.

  5. [5] Danial, N.-N. and Korsmeyer, S.-J. 2004. Cell death: critical control points. Cell, 116(2): 205-219.

  6. [6] Ghobrial, I.-M., Witzig, T.-E. and Adjei, A.-A. 2005. Targeting apoptosis pathways in cancer therapy. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 55 (3): 178-194.

  7. [7] Hengartner, M.-O. 2000. The biochemistry of apoptosis. Nature, 407(6805): 770-776.

  8. [8] Kaufmann, S.-H. and Earnshaw, W.-C. 2000. Induction of apoptosis by cancer chemotherapy. Experimental Cell Research, 256(1): 42-49.

  9. [9] Esposti, M.-D. 2002. The roles of Bid. Apoptosis, 7(5): 433-440.

  10. [10] Brown, J.-M. and Wouters, B.-G. 1999. Apoptosis, p53, and tumor cell sensitivity to anticancer agents. Cancer Research, 59(7): 1391-1399.

  11. [11] May, P. and May, E. 1999. Twenty years of p53 research: structural and functional aspects of the p53 protein. Oncogene, 18(53): 7621-7636.

  12. [12] Cholbi, M.-R., Paya, M. and Alcaraz, M.-J. 1991. Inhibitory effects of phenolic compounds on CCl4-induced microsomal lipid peroxidation. Experientia, 47(2): 195-199.

  13. [13] Hsu, Y.-L., Kuo, P.-L. and Lin, C.-C. 2004. Acacetin inhibits the proliferation of Hep G2 by blocking cell cycle progression and inducing apoptosis. Biochemical Pharmacology, 67(5): 823-829.

  14. [14] Hsu, Y.-L., Kuo, P.-L., Liu, C.-F. and Lin, C.-C. 2004. Acacetin-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. Cancer Letters, 212(1): 53-60.

  15. [15] Hsu, Y.-L., Kuo, P.-L., Chiang, L.-C. and Lin, C.C. 2004. Isoliquiritigenin inhibits the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 31(7): 414-418.

  16. [16] Hsu, Y.-L., Kuo, P.-L., Lin, L.-T. and Lin, C.-C. 2005. Isoliquiritigenin inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in human hepatoma cells. Planta Medica, 71(2): 130-134.

  17. [17] Dimmock, J.-R., Elias, D.-W., Beazely, M.-A. and Kandepu, N.M. 1999. Bioactivities of chalcones. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 6(12): 1125-1149.

  18. [18] Hsu, Y.-L., Tzeng, W.-S., Kuo, P.-L. and Lin, C.-C. 2005. Chalcone inhibits the proliferation of human breast cancer cell by blocking cell cycle progression and inducing apoptosis. Food and Chemical Toxicology (Accepted).

  19. [19] Balentine, D.-A., Wiseman, S.-A. and Bouwens, L.-C. 1997. The chemistry of tea flavonoids. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 37(8): 693-704.

  20. [20] Berger, S.-J., Gupta, S., Belfi, C.-A., Gosky, D.-M., and Mukhtar, H. 2001. Green tea    constituent (--)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits topoisomerase I activity in human colon carcinoma cells. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 288(1): 101-105

  21. [21] Bushman, J.-L.1998. Green tea and cancer in humans: a review of the literature. Nutrition and Cancer, 31: 151-159

  22. [22] Kuo, P.-L. and Lin, C.-C. 2003. Green    Tea  Constituent      (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Inhibits Hep G2 Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis through p53-Dependent and Fas-Mediated Pathways. Journal of Biomedical Science, 10(2): 219-227.

  23. [23] Kuo, P.-L., Hsu, Y.-L., Lin, T.-C. and Lin, C.C. 2005. The antiproliferative activity of prodelphinidin B-2 3'-O-gallate from green tea leaf is through cell cycle arrest and Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway in A549 cells. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 43(2): 315-323.

  24. [24] Kuo, P.-L., Hsu, Y.-L., Lin, T.-C., Lin, L.-T., Chang, J.-K. and Lin, C.-C. 2005. Casuarinin from the bark of Terminalia arjuna Linn. induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells. Planta Medica, 71(3): 237-243.

  25. [25] Kuo, P.-L., Hsu, Y.-L., Lin, T.-C., Chang, J.-K. and Lin, C.-C. 2005. Induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells by casuarinin from the bark of Terminalia arjuna Linn. Anti-Cancer Drugs, 16(4): 409-415.

  26. [26] Kuo, P.-L., Cho, C.-Y., Hsu, Y.-L., Lin, T.-C. and Lin,C.-C. 2005. Putranjivain A from Euphorbia jolkini inhibits proliferation of human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells via blocking cell cycle progression and inducing apoptosis. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology (Accepted).

  27. [27] Gusman, J., Malonne, H. and Atassi, G. 2001. A reappraisal of the potential chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic properties of resveratrol. Carcinogenesis, 22(8): 1111-1117.

  28. [28] Jang, M., Cai, L., Udeani, G.-O., Slowing, K.-V., Thomas, C.-F., Beecher, C.-W., Fong, H.-H., Farnsworth, N.-R., Kinghorn, A.-D., Mehta, R.-G., Moon, R.-C. and Pezzuto, J.-M. 1997. Cancer chemopreventive activity of resveratrol, a natural product derived from grapes. Science, 275(5297): 218-220.

  29. [29] Kuo, P.-L., Chiang, L.-C., and Lin, C.-C. 2002. Resveratrol- induced apoptosis is mediated by p53-dependent pathway in Hep G2 cells. Life Sciences, 72(1): 23-34.

  30. [30] Kuo, P.-L., Hsu, Y.-L., Lin, T.-C., Lin, L.-T. and Lin, C.-C. 2004. Induction of Apoptosis in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma MCF-7 Cells by Prodelphinidin B-2 3,3’-di-O-gallate from Myrica rubra via Fas-mediated Pathway. The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 56(11): 1399-1406.

  31. [31] Kuo, P.-L., Hsu, Y.-L., Lin, T.-C. and Lin, C.-C. 2004. Prodelphinidin B-2 3,3’-di-O-gallate from Myrica rubra inhibits proliferation of A549 carcinoma cells via blocking cell cycle progression and inducing apoptosis. European Journal of Pharmacology, 501(1-3): 41-48.

  32. [32] Abe, H., Sakaguchi, M. and Arichi, S. 1982. Pharmacological studies on a prescription containing Bupleuri Radix (IV). Effects of saikosaponin on the anti-inflammatory action of glucocorticoid. Nippon yakurigaku zasshi. Folia Pharmacologica Japonica, 80: 155-161.

  33. [33] Hsu, Y.-L., Kuo, P.-L., Chiang, L.-C. and Lin, C.-C. 2004. Involvement of p53, nuclear factor B and Fas/Fas ligand in induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by saikosaponin d in human hepatoma cell lines. Cancer Letters, 213(2): 213-221.

  34. [34] Hsu, Y.-L., Kuo, P.-L., and Lin, C.-C. 2004. The proliferative inhibition and apoptotic mechanism of Saikosaponin D in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. Life Sciences, 75(10): 1231-1242.

  35. [35] Hsu, Y.-L., Kuo, P.-L. and  Lin, C.-C. 2004. Proliferative inhibition, cell-cycle dysregulation, and induction of apoptosis by ursolic acid in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. Life Sciences, 75(19): 2303-2316.

  36. [36] Hsu, Y.-L., Kuo, P.-L., Lin, L.-T. and Lin, C.-C. 2005. Asiatic acid, a triterpene, induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest through activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in human breast cancer cells. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 313(1): 333-344.

  37. [37] Hsu, Y.-L, Kuo, P.-L., Weng, T.-C., Yen, M.-H., Chiang, L.-C. and Lin, C.-C. 2004. The antiproliferative activity of saponin-enriched fraction from Bupleurum Kaoi is through Fas-dependent apoptotic pathway in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 27(7): 1112-1115.

  38. [38] Peng, Y., Li, C., Chen, L., Sebti, S. and Chen, J. 2003. Rescue of mutant p53 transcription function by ellipticine. Oncogene, 22(29): 4478-4487.

  39. [39] Kuo, P.-L., Hsu, Y.-L., Chang, C.-H., and Lin, C.-C. 2005. The mechanism of ellipticine-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human breast MCF-7 cancer cells. Cancer Letters, 223(2): 293-301.

  40. [40] Kuo, P.-L., Hsu, Y.-L., Kuo, Y.-C., Chang, C.-H., and Lin, C.-C. 2005. The antiproliferative inhibition of ellipticine in human breast MDA-MB-231 cancer cells is through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction. Anti-Cancer Drugs, 16(7): 789-95.

  41. [41] Kuo, Y.-C., Kuo, P.-L., Hsu, Y.-L., Cho, C.-Y., Lin, C.-C. 2005. Ellipticine induces apoptosis through p53 dependent pathway in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma HepG2 Cells. Life Science (Accepted)

  42. [42] Shen, Y.-C., Chou, C.-J., Chiou, W.-F. and Chen, C.-F. 2001. Anti-inflammatory effects of the partially purified extract of radix Stephaniae tetrandrae: comparative studies of its active principles tetrandrine and fangchinoline on human polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions. Molecular Pharmacology 60(5): 1083-1090.

  43. [43] Kuo, P.-L. and Lin, C.-C. 2003. Tetrandrine-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in Hep G2 cells. Life Sciences, 73(2): 243-252.

  44. [44] Agarwal, S.-K, Singh, S.-S., Verma, S. and Kumar, S. 2000. Antifungal activity of anthraquinone derivatives from Rheum emodi. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 72(1-2): 43-46.

  45. [45] Kuo, P.-L., Lin, T.-C. and Lin, C.-C. 2002. The antiproliferative activity of aloe-emodin is through p53-dependent and p21-dependent apoptotic pathway in human hepatoma cell lines. Life Sciences, 71(16): 1879-1892.

  46. [46] Krumbiegel, G. and Schulz, H.-U. 1993. Rhein and aloe-emodin kinetics from senna laxatives in man. Pharmacology., 47(1): 120-124.

  47. [47] Kuo, P.-L., Hsu, Y.-L., Ng, L.-T. and Lin, C.-C. 2004. Rhein inhibits the growth and induces the apoptosis of Hep G2 cells. Planta Medica, 70(1): 12-16.

  48. [48] Hsiao, G., Shen, M.-L., Lin, K.-H., Lan, M.-H., Wu, Y.-L., Chou, D.-S., Lin, C.-H., Su, C.-H. and Sheu, J. L. 2003. Antioxidative and hepatoprotective effects of Antrodia camphorata extract. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 51 (11): 3302-3308.

  49. [49] Lee, I.-H., Huang, R.-L., Chen, C.-T., Chen, H.-C., Hsu, W.-C. and Lu, M.-K. 2002. Antrodia camphorata polysaccharides exhibit anti-hepatitis B virus effects. FEMS Microbiology   Letters, 209(1): 63-67.

  50. [50] Hsu, Y.-L., Kuo, Y.-C., Kuo, P.-L., Ng, L.-T., Kuo, Y.-H. and Lin, C.-C. 2005. Apoptotic effects of extract from Antrodia camphorata fruiting bodies in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Cancer Letters, 221(1): 77-89.


ARTICLE INFORMATION




Accepted: 2005-12-04
Available Online: 2005-12-13


Cite this article:

Kuo, P.-L., Hsu, Y.-L., Lin, C.-C. 2005. The chemopreventive effects of natural products against human cancer cells. International Journal of Applied Science and Engineering, 3, 203–214. https://doi.org/10.6703/IJASE.2005.3(3).203

, Ya-Ling Hsu, and Chun-Ching Lin