Cytotoxic Effect and Its Mechanism of Dioscorealide B from Dioscorea membranacea against Breast Cancer Cells
Jiraporn Saekoo PhD*, Chavaboon Dechsukum MD, PhD**, Potchanapond Graidist PhD*, Arunporn Itharat PhD***
Affiliation : * Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand ** School of Pathology, Gene Therapy and Application Research Group, Institute of Medicine, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand *** Department of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
Background : Dioscorealide B is an active compound from the rhizome of Dioscorea membranacea Pierre which locally
known as “Hua-Khao-Yen”. This medicinal plant has long been used in the anticancer prescription of Thai traditional
medicine..
Objective : To examine the cytotoxic effect and mechanism of Dioscorealide B in human breast carcinoma cells.
Material and Method: Dioscorealide B was isolated from the rhizome of Hua KhaoYen (Dioscorea membranacea).The
cytotoxicity of Dioscorealide B was evaluated in two human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB 468 by
Sulphorhodamine B (SRB) assay. RT-PCR and Caspase-Glo® assay were used to further elucidate its cytotoxic mechanism.
Results : Dioscorealide B showed cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 (IC50=2.76 μM) and MDA-MB 468 (IC50=9.93 μM). The mRNA
level for p53, p21 and Bax were increased while Bcl-2 was decreased after the treatment. MCF-7 treated with Dioscorealide
B showed the induction of apoptosis via the activation of caspase-9 and -7
Conclusion : The results suggested that the mechanisms of Dioscorealide B might be involved in p53 and the intrinsic
apoptotic pathway
Keywords : Dioscorea membranace, Dioscorealide B, SRB assay, Apoptosis, MCF-7
