Chalcones from Angelica keiskei Induce Apoptosis in Stomach Cancer Cells

Abstract

ABSTRACT Apoptosis was observed in human stomach cancer KATO III cells exposed to two chalcones isolated from the stems of ashitaba (Umbelliferae, Angelica keiskei). Exposure of the KATO III cells to the chalcones, identified by mass spectrometry (MS) and 1H-NMR to be xanthoangelol and 4-hydroxyderricin, produced oligonucreosomal-sized fragments, a characteristic of apoptosis. The DNA fragmentation of the KATO III cells could be observed at concentration of 10 μg L-1 at 2 days after the addition of the chalcones to a culture of KATO III cells, fragmented DNA of human stomach cancer KATO III cells. These findings suggest that growth inhibition by xanthoangelol and 4-hydroxyderricin results from the induction of apoptosis by these chalcones.