Abstract 223: Apoptotic activity of Polygonum cuspidatum in KB human oral cancer cells through the downregulation of specificity protein 1

Abstract

Abstract Polygonum cuspidatum (Polygonaceae) has traditionally been used in folk medicine to improve oral public health. However, there are no reports related to its potential of controlling oral cancer. In this study, we evaluated the anti-tumorigenic effects and mechanisms of methanol extract and its fractions separated from Polygonum cuspidatum root in KB human oral cancer cells. The methanol extract of Polygonum cuspidatum (MEPC) inhibited the proliferation of KB cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner by inducing caspase-dependent apoptosis. Protein and mRNA expression levels and the transactivation of Specificity protein 1 (Sp1) were markedly decreased in KB cells treated with MEPC. Ethyl acetate fraction (EA) from MEPC was more potent than aqueous fraction (AQ) from MEPC to induce apoptosis. F2, F3 and F4 from EA differentially inhibited the growth of KB cells and it depends on the amount of Emodin in F2, F3 and F4. Moreover, Emodin inhibited KB cell growth and induced caspse-dependent apoptosis. Thus, the results from this study strongly suggest that MEPC, its fraction and Emodin may be potential bioactive materials to cause apoptosis mechanism via the down-regulation of Sp1 in KB human oral cancer cells. This paper was supported by the Korea Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korean Government (MOEHRD, Basic Research Promotion Fund, KRF-2008-331-E00260) and Bio R&D program through the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (M10870050003-08N7005-00311). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 223.