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

• Published in: International journal of oncology Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 485 - 491
• Main Authors: Nizamutdinova, Irina Tsoy, Lee, Gyeong Won, Son, Kun Ho, Jeon, Su Jin, Kang, Sam Sik, Kim, Yeong Shik, Lee, Jae Heun, Seo, Han Geuk, Chang, Ki Churl, Kim, Hye Jung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Athens Editorial Academy of the International Journal of Oncology 01.09.2008
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; Apoptosis - drug effects; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - biosynthesis; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Caspase 3 - drug effects; Caspase 3 - metabolism; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Diterpenes, Abietane; Enzyme Activation - drug effects; Female; Flow Cytometry; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Phenanthrenes - pharmacology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - biosynthesis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - drug effects; Receptors, Estrogen - metabolism; Tumors; Bcl-2; Estrogen receptor; Breast disease; Enzyme; Cysteine endopeptidases; Breast cancer; Malignant tumor; Mammary gland diseases; Peptidases; Cancerology; tanshinone I; Cell death; C-Onc gene; Established cell line; Bax; Hydrolases; Tumor cell; Protooncogene; Cancer; Apoptosis; Hormonal receptor; caspase-3
• ISSN: 1019-6439
• DOI: 10.3892/ijo_00000031

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.