Salidroside induces cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.

Recently, salidroside (p-hydroxyphenethyl-beta-d-glucoside) has been identified as one of the most potent compounds isolated from plants of the Rhodiola genus used widely in traditional Chinese medicine, but pharmacokinetic data on the compound are unavailable. We were the first to report the cytotoxic effects of salidroside on cancer cell lines derived from different tissues, and we found that human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells (estrogen receptor negative) were sensitive to the inhibitory action of low-concentration salidroside. To further investigate the cytotoxic effects of salidroside on breast cancer cells and reveal possible ER-related differences in response to salidroside, we used MDA-MB-231 cells and MCF-7 cells (estrogen receptor-positive) as models to study possible molecular mechanisms; we evaluated the effects of salidroside on cell growth characteristics, such as proliferation, cell cycle duration, and apoptosis, and on the expression of apoptosis-related molecules. Our results demonstrated for the first time that salidroside induces cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells and may be a promising candidate for breast cancer treatment.

Effects of single herbal drugs on adhesion and migration of melanocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To find herbs with effects on adhesion and migration of melanocytes in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethanol extracts from 14 herbs were tested. Normal human melanocytes were obtained from neonatal foreskin, and the 48-well culture dish covered with fibronectin was used for the melanocyte adhesion assay. Motility was assessed by using the micropore filter method. RESULTS: The extracts of Danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae), Tusizi (Semen Cuscutae) and Honghua (Flos Carthami) could enhance melanocyte adhesion to fibronectin, while Cijili (Fructus Tribuli) and Huangqi (Radix Astragali) promote melanocyte migration in vitro. Buguzhi (Fructus Psoraleae), Nü Zhen Zi (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi) and Baizhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae) could promote both adhesion and migration of melanocytes. CONCLUSION: The above herbs may play a role through promoting adhesion and/or migration of melanocytes in the treatment of vitiligo.

[Effects of MSF on melanocyte adhesion and migration in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the Malytea Scurfpea fruit (MSF) on melanocyte adhesion and migration. METHOD: Human epidermal melanocytes were treated with MSF and Ginger respectively, then adhesion to bovine serum fibronectin-coated culture dishes was checked. Control and treated cells were also examined for migration into micropore filters coated with the same protein. RESULT: Compared with control, MSF treated melanocytes were obviously easier to adhere to the dishes and move into the filters in a dose-dependent manner. When the dose of MSF was 200 mg x L(-1), it could not reincrease melanocyte adhesion and migration. At 10 mg x L(-1), under every other concentrations of MSF, there was no marked difference among MSF-treated, Ginger-treated and untreated melanocytes (P < 0.05) when adhesion test were studied. But to migration, even at 10 mg x L(-1) MSF, there was obvious increased migration compared with MSF-untreated or Ginger-treated melanocytes (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: MSF has effect on melanocyte adhesion and migration, which can explain, in part, the capacity of MSF to modulate melanocyte function in vitiligo lesions.