zerumbone and Melanoma

Topics: alpha-MSH; Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; Melanoma; Membrane Glycoproteins; Mice; Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; Oxidoreductases; Phosphorylation; Plant Extracts; Sesquiterpenes; Zingiber officinale

Zerumbone (ZER) is a phytochemical that appears to regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis. It has been reported to have an anti-tumour effect in various malignant cells; however, the effect and the mechanism of ZER on melanoma cells needs to be clarified.. To explore whether ZER has an effect on human melanoma cells and to identify the mechanisms involved.. We determined the chemotherapeutic action of ZER on the human malignant melanoma (MM) A375 cell line by CCK-8 immunohistochemistry, Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cytometry analysis. We also investigated the signalling pathways by which ZER induces apoptosis in A375 cells, using western blotting, reverse transcription PCR and caspase-3 activity analysis.. ZER induced significant cytotoxic action in A375 cells. Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cytometry apoptosis analysis further demonstrated that ZER induced apoptosis in A375 cells. Treatment with ZER downregulated Bcl-2 gene and protein levels, upregulated Bax and Cytochrome c gene and protein levels, and activated Caspase-3.. ZER might have a chemotherapeutic effect on human melanoma cells through mitochondria-mediated pathways.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Caspase 3; Cell Line, Tumor; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Melanoma; Mitochondria; Phytochemicals; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sesquiterpenes; Signal Transduction