Naphthoquinones from Onosma paniculata induce cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in melanoma Cells

J Nat Prod. 2012 May 25;75(5):865-9. doi: 10.1021/np2006499. Epub 2012 Apr 24.

Abstract

Activity-guided fractionation of a petroleum ether-soluble extract of the roots of Onosma paniculata, which has been shown to affect the cell cycle and to induce apoptosis in melanoma cells, led to the isolation of several shikonin derivatives, namely, β-hydroxyisovalerylshikonin (1), acetylshikonin (2), dimethylacrylshikonin (3), and a mixture of α-methylbutyrylshikonin and isovalerylshikonin (4+5). All compounds exhibited strong cytotoxicity against eight cancer cell lines and MRC-5 lung fibroblasts, with 3 found to possess the most potent cytotoxicity toward four melanoma cell lines (SBcl2, WM35, WM9, and WM164). Furthermore, 3 and the mixture of 4+5 were found to interfere with cell-cycle progression in these cell lines and led to an increasing number of cells in the subG1 region as well as to caspase-3/7 activation, indicating apoptotic cell death.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / isolation & purification*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Boraginaceae / chemistry*
  • Caspase 3 / drug effects
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Caspase 7 / drug effects
  • Caspase 7 / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects*
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / chemistry
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / isolation & purification*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Melanoma
  • Molecular Structure
  • Naphthoquinones / chemistry
  • Naphthoquinones / isolation & purification*
  • Naphthoquinones / pharmacology*
  • Plant Roots / chemistry

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Naphthoquinones
  • Caspase 3
  • Caspase 7