Gamma-mangostin, a micronutrient of mangosteen fruit, induces apoptosis in human colon cancer cells

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 17; no. 7; pp. 8010 - 8021
• Main Authors: Chang, Hui-Fang, Yang, Ling-Ling
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 03.07.2012; MDPI
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Brain cancer; Cancer therapies; Catalase - metabolism; Cell growth; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Shape - drug effects; Colonic Neoplasms - drug therapy; Colonic Neoplasms - pathology; Colorectal cancer; Cytotoxicity; Diploidy; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Fruit - chemistry; Fruits; Garcinia mangostana - chemistry; HT29 Cells; Humans; Intracellular Space - drug effects; Intracellular Space - metabolism; Micronutrients - pharmacology; Mitochondria - drug effects; Mitochondria - metabolism; Mitochondria - pathology; Mitochondrial Membranes - drug effects; Mitochondrial Membranes - metabolism; Morphology; Peroxides - metabolism; Pharmacy; Phytochemicals; Phytotherapy; Time Factors; Xanthones - chemistry; Xanthones - pharmacology; China; Taiwan
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules17078010

Recently colorectal cancer rates have increased rapidly in Taiwan. The treatment of colorectal cancer includes surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a famous Asian tropical fruit. γ-Mangostin is a xanthone derivative isolated from the fruit hull. In previous studies, we found evidence of anti-inflammatory and anti-brain tumor activities in γ-mangostin. In this study, we performed further studies to assess the apoptotic effects of γ-mangostin on colorectal adenocarcinoma cells HT29. γ-Mangostin showed concentration and time-dependent cytotoxic effects on HT29 cells. Microscopic observation under Giemsa staining showed that γ-mangostin induced cellular swelling and the appearance of apoptotic bodies, characteristic of apoptosis in HT29 cells. In addition, flow cytometry analysis showed an increase of hypodiploid cells in γ-mangostin-treated HT29 cells, while enhancement of intracellular peroxide production was detected in the same γ-mangostin-treated cells by DCHDA assay and DiOC6(3) staining. In view of the above results, γ-mangostin has demonstrated anticancer activity and induces apoptosis in HT29 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. The evidence suggests that γ-mangostin could serve as a micronutrient for colon cancer prevention and is a potential lead compound for the development of anti-colon cancer agents.