Anti-metastatic effect of rhodomyrtone from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa on human skin cancer cells.

This study focused on the inhibitory effect of rhodomyrtone, a bioactive compound isolated from the leaves of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Aiton) Hassk., on cancer metastasis in epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells and on the verification of the underlying related molecular mechanisms of this event. We demonstrated that rhodomyrtone at the subcytotoxic concentration (0.5 and 1.5 µg/ml) exhibited pronounced inhibition of cancer metastasis by reducing cell migration, cell adhesive ability and cell invasion of A431 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Data demonstrated that rhodomyrtone could inhibit the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT), c-Raf, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 MAPK involved in the downregulation the enzyme activities and protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9. Moreover, we found that rhodomyrtone increased the expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, which are inhibitors of MMP-9 and MMP-2, respectively. Rhodomyrtone also inhibited the expression of NF-κB and phosphorylation of NF-κB in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that rhodomyrtone inhibited A431 cell metastasis by reducing MMP-2/9 activities and expression through inhibiting ERK1/2, p38 and FAK/Akt signaling pathways via NF-κB activities. This finding suggested that rhodomyrtone may be a novel antimetastasis agent for treatment of skin cancer cells.

Anti-Proliferation and Apoptosis Induction in Breast Cancer Cells by Cratoxylum cochinchinense Extract.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer in females worldwide. It was found about 37.5% in Thai females and is one of the leading causes of death-related cancers in women. Therefore, new finding of anti-cancer compound as a therapeutic candidate in breast cancer is necessary. Objective: To investigate the effect of Cratoxylum cochinchinense extract on anti-proliferation and apoptosis induction in breast cancer cells. Material and Method: Cell proliferation and cell viability assay were determined by MTT assay. Hoechst 33342 and JC-1 staining were used to determined nuclear morphological changes and mitochondrial membrane potential, respectively. Resu;ts: C. cochinchinense extract showed anti-proliferation in MDA-MB-468 treated cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner with IC50 value of 19.19+0.8 µg/ml. In addition, C. cochinchinense extract induced nuclear condensation and apoptotic bodies in MDA-MB-468 treated cells. JC-1 staining revealed that C. cochinchinense extract induced mitochondrial membrane dysfunction. Conclusion: C. cochinchinense extract showed anti-proliferation and apoptosis induction properties in MDA-MB-468 treated cells. These results suggested that C. cochinchinense extract may be a potential candidate for anti-cancer drug developing. The underlying mechanisms of apoptosis induction should be further studied.