Myristica fragrans Houtt. Methanolic Extract induces Apoptosis in a Human Leukemia Cell Line through SIRT1 mRNA Downregulation
Chintana Chirathaworn PhD*, Wisatre Kongcharoensuntorn PhD**, Thitiporn Dechdoungchan BSc**, Alisa Lowanitchapat BSc***, Pattaratida Sa-nguanmoo MS***, Yong Poovorawan MD****
Affiliation : * Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok ** Department of Biology, Burapha University, Chonburi *** Program in Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok **** Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok
Background : Myristica fragrans Houtt. (nutmeg) contains antibacterial, antiviral and anti-cancer activities.
However, the mechanisms underlying those activities have not been clearly explained.
Objective : To study the effect of Myristica fragrans Houtt. methanolic extract on Jurkat human leukemia T cell
line.
Materials and Methods : Methanol extract of Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Myristicaceae) was used to study the
effect on Jurkat cell metabolic activity using an MTT assay and on apoptosis using annexin V staining.
Expression of SIRT1 gene was determined by RT-PCR.
Results : At the concentrations 50 and 100 µg/mL, the methanol extract of Myristica fragrans Houtt signifi-
cantly inhibited Jurkat cell proliferation and induced apoptosis as detected by annexin V staining.
Downregulation of SIRT1 mRNA expression in Jurkat cells was observed even when the amount of methanol
extract was 10 µg/mL.
Conclusion : Methanol extract of Myristica fragrans Houtt induced apoptosis of Jurkat leukemia T cell line in
a mechanisms involving SIRT1 mRNA downregulation.
Keywords : Myristica fragrans, Apoptosis, SIRT1, Jurkat
