pubmed:abstractText |
The efficacy of the antitumor activity of 1'-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA), reported to be a suppressor of chemically induced carcinogenesis, was evaluated in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. ACA treatment resulted in changes in morphology and a dose-dependent suppression of cell viability. Apoptosis, characterized by nuclear condensation, membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage and a significant induction of caspase-3-like protease activity at 8 h in a time-course study were observed. Formation of apoptotic bodies was preceded by lowering of intracellular polyamines, particularly putrescine, and both dose- and time-dependent inhibitory and activation effect by ACA on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and spermidine/spermine N(1)-acetyltransferase (SSAT), respectively. Administration of exogenous polyamines prevented ACA-induced apoptosis represented by a reduction in the number of apoptotic bodies and also caused reduction in the induced caspase-3-like protease activity at 8 h. These findings suggest that the anticarcinogenic effects of ACA might be partly due to perturbation of the polyamine metabolic pathway and triggering of caspase-3-like activity, which result in apoptosis.
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pubmed:affiliation |
Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Human Life Science, Osaka, City University, Osaka 558-8585, Japan.
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