gambogic-acid and Leukemia--Myeloid--Acute

Gambogic acid (GA) is the major active ingredient of gamboges, a brownish to orange resin product from Garcinia hanburyi tree in Southeast Asia. This compound exhibits anti-cancer effect on solid tumors. In this study, we investigated the effects of GA on the growth and differentiation of acute myeloid leukemia cells by growth-inhibition detection, morphological changes observation, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, and the expression of the relative cell-surface differentiation markers. The results showed that GA could inhibit cell growth and promote differentiation in U937 and HL-60 cells. In addition, GA upregulated the expression of p21waf1/cip1 in the two cell lines. Finally, downregulating the p21waf1/cip1 expression with small interfering RNA partially blocked GA-induced cell growth inhibition and differentiation. These results of this study revealed that GA may be used as one of the investigational drugs for acute myeloid leukemia.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Asia, Southeastern; Cell Cycle; Cell Proliferation; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Garcinia; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Molecular Structure; Up-Regulation; Xanthones