A triterpenoid from wild bitter gourd inhibits breast cancer cells

Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 1:6:22419. doi: 10.1038/srep22419.

Abstract

The antitumor activity of 3β,7β,25-trihydroxycucurbita-5,23(E)-dien-19-al (TCD), a triterpenoid isolated from wild bitter gourd, in breast cancer cells was investigated. TCD suppressed the proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells with IC50 values at 72 h of 19 and 23 μM, respectively, via a PPARγ-independent manner. TCD induced cell apoptosis accompanied with pleiotrophic biological modulations including down-regulation of Akt-NF-κB signaling, up-regulation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and p53, increased reactive oxygen species generation, inhibition of histone deacetylases protein expression, and cytoprotective autophagy. Together, these findings provided the translational value of TCD and wild bitter gourd as an antitumor agent for patients with breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Autophagy / drug effects*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Histone Deacetylases / biosynthesis
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Momordica charantia / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • PPAR gamma / drug effects
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Phytochemicals / pharmacology
  • Plant Preparations / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • 3beta,7beta,25-trihydroxycucurbita-5,23(E)-dien-19-al
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • NF-kappa B
  • PPAR gamma
  • Phytochemicals
  • Plant Preparations
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • TP53 protein, human
  • Triterpenes
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Histone Deacetylases