Anti-cancer properties of a sesquiterpene lactone-bearing fraction from Artemisia khorassanica

• Published in: Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP Vol. 16; no. 3; p. 863
• Main Authors: Rabe, Shahrzad Taghizadeh, Emami, Seyed Ahmad, Iranshahi, Mehrdad, Rastin, Maryam, Tabasi, Nafise, Mahmoudi, Mahmoud
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thailand 2015
• Subjects: Apoptosis - drug effects; Artemisia - chemistry; Blotting, Western; Caspases - metabolism; Cell Cycle - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Cytochromes c - metabolism; Fibroblasts - cytology; Fibroblasts - drug effects; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Humans; Lactones - pharmacology; Melanoma - drug therapy; Melanoma - metabolism; Melanoma - pathology; Plant Components, Aerial - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Sesquiterpenes - pharmacology

Artemisia species are important medicinal plants throughout the world. The present in vitro study, using a sesquiterpene lactone-bearing fraction prepared from Artemisia khorassanica (SLAK), sought to investigate anti-cancer properties of this plant and elucidate potential underlying mechanisms for the effects. Anti-cancer potential was evaluated by toxicity against human melanoma and fibroblast cell lines. To explore the involved pathways, pattern of any cell death was determined using annexin-V/PI staining and also the expression of Bax and cytochrome c was investigated by Western blotting. The results showed that SLAK selectively caused a concentration-related inhibition of proliferation of melanoma cells that was associated with remarkable increase in early events and over-expression of both Bax and cytochrome c. The current experiment indicates that Artemisia may have anti-cancer activity. We anticipate that the ingredients may be employed as therapeutic candidates for melanoma.