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Planta Med 2009; 75(10): 1134-1140
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185479
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Cytotoxic Activity of Isoliquiritigenin towards CCRF‐CEM Leukemia Cells and its Effect on DNA Damage

Yuangang Zu1 , Xia Liu1 , Yujie Fu1 , Xiaoguang Shi1 , Nan Wu1 , Liping Yao1 , Thomas Efferth2
  • 1Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, P. R. China
  • 2German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

received Dec. 10, 2008 revised February 1, 2009

accepted February 9, 2009

Publication Date:
16 March 2009 (online)

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Abstract

The cytotoxic activity of isoliquiritigenin (ISL) towards CCRF‐CEM human T-cell leukemia cells and DNA damage induction were investigated in the present study. The anti-proliferative effect of ISL on CCRF‐CEM cell line in vitro was analyzed. In order to further explore the underlying mechanism of cell growth inhibition of ISL towards CCRF‐CEM cell line, the cell cycle distribution and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) disruption were measured. ISL exerted significant activity towards CCRF‐CEM cells. The growth inhibitory ratio was concentration- and time-dependent with an IC50 value of 18.38 µM. The cell cycle was arrested in the G2/M phase upon treatment with low doses of ISL. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) disruption was observed at low ISL doses. The effect of ISL on DNA damage was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Either ISL or Cu2+ failed to cause pBR322 DNA damage. However, plasmid DNA was damaged after treatment with ISL in the presence of Cu2+. Two forms of plasmid DNA closed circular and linear forms were visualized by AFM.

Key words

isoquiritigenin (ISL) - anticancer activity - CCRF‐CEM cell line - DNA damage

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Prof. Yujie Fu

Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology
Ministry of Education
Northeast Forestry University

Harbin 150040

People's Republic of China

Fax: + 86 4 51 82 19 05 35

Email: yujie_fu2002@yahoo.com

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