In vitro porcine brain tubulin assembly inhibition by water extract from a Chinese medicinal herb, Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch

Abstract

To investigate the effect of Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch (THH) on the assembly and disassembly process of tubulin and its possible mode of action. In vitro porcine brain tubulin assembly assay was employed to analyze the inhibitory effects of THH at different concentrations (0.05 microg/L, 0.07 microg/L, 0.09 microg/L). Colchicine (0.0025 mmol/L, 0.0050 mmol/L, 0.0075 mmol/L) was used as a positive control. THH could significantly inhibit the assembly of isolated porcine brain tubulin at all tested concentrations. THH is capable of inducing aneuploidy in mammals via tubulin polymerization inhibition pathway and may pose a genetic risk to human beings.