Extracts of Opuntia humifusa Fruits Inhibit the Growth of AGS Human Gastric Adenocarcinoma Cells

• Published in: Preventive nutrition and food science pp. 31 - 37
• Main Authors: 함상욱, 박지은, 박건영, 손용석, 한형철
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 한국식품영양과학회 01.03.2016
• Subjects: 식품과학
• ISSN: 2287-1098; 2287-8602
• DOI: 10.3746/pnf.2016.21.1.37

Opuntia humifusa (OHF) has been used as a nutraceutical source for the prevention of chronic diseases. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of ethyl acetate extracts of OHF on the proliferation of AGS human gastric cancer cells and the mode of action were investigated. To elucidate the antiproliferative mechanisms of OHF in cancer cells, the expression of genes related to apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were determined with real-time PCR and western blot. The cytotoxic effect of OHF on AGS cells was observed in a dose-dependent manner. Exposure to OHF (100 μg/mL) significantly induced (P＜0.05) the G1 phase cell cycle arrest. Additionally, the apoptotic cell population was greater (P＜0.05) in OHF (200 μg/mL) treated AGS cells when compared to the control. The expression of genes associated with cell cycle progression (Cdk4, Cdk2, and cyclin E) was significantly downregulated (P＜0.05) by the OHF treatment. Moreover, the expression of Bax and caspase-3 in OHF treated cells was higher (P＜0.05) than in the control. These findings suggest that OHF induces the G1 phase cell cycle arrest and activation of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway in AGS human gastric cancer cells. KCI Citation Count: 0