Abstract
Background:
Pine needle oil from crude extract of pine needles has anti-tumor effects, but the effective component is not known.
Methods:
In the present study, compounds from a steam distillation extract of pine needles were isolated and characterized. Alpha-pinene was identified as an active anti-proliferative compound on hepatoma carcinoma BEL-7402 cells using the MTT assay.
Results:
Further experiments showed that α-pinene inhibited BEL-7402 cells by arresting cell growth in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, downregulating Cdc25C mRNA and protein expression, and reducing cycle dependence on kinase 1(CDK1) activity.
Conclusion:
Taken together, these findings indicate that α-pinene may be useful as a potential anti-tumor drug.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
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Apoptosis / drug effects
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Bicyclic Monoterpenes
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CDC2 Protein Kinase
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Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / drug therapy*
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
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Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / biosynthesis
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Down-Regulation
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Humans
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Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects*
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Monoterpenes / pharmacology*
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Pinus / metabolism
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Plant Extracts / pharmacology
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RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
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cdc25 Phosphatases / biosynthesis
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cdc25 Phosphatases / genetics
Substances
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Bicyclic Monoterpenes
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Monoterpenes
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Plant Extracts
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RNA, Messenger
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CDC2 Protein Kinase
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CDK1 protein, human
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Cyclin-Dependent Kinases
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CDC25C protein, human
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cdc25 Phosphatases
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alpha-pinene