Withaferin A, a cytotoxic steroid from Vassobia breviflora, induces apoptosis in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: As part of a program to discover drug leads from plant biodiversity, the present investigation was undertaken to explore the anticancer potential of compounds derived from selected Latin American plants. Bioassay-guided fractionation of a crude extract of the aerial parts of Vassobia breviflora led to the isolation of the withanolide-type steroidal lactone withaferin A (1). This compound was tested for antiproliferative activity against the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines, MDA1986, JMAR, UM-SCC-2, and JHU011. The inhibitory concentrations to reduce cell viability to 50% (IC(50)) were determined by the MTS cytotoxicity assay, and 1 reduced cell viability with IC(50) values in the range 0.5-2.2 μM. A mechanistic study showed that 1 induces apoptosis and cell death in

SUBMITTER: Samadi AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2945430 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature