Cancer Suppressing Activity of Aceriphyllum rossii Extract Exerted through Induction of G0/G1 Arrest and Apoptosis in HCT116 Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Abstract

Aceriphyllum rossii, a wild edible green is distributed in Gyeonggi and Gangwon Province of Korea. In order to examine cancer suppressing activity of the ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of A. rossii, we measured the antiproliferative activity of the extract in HCT116 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells by using MTT assay. The extract induced a dose- and time-dependent cell growth inhibition in HCT116 cells. We also examined cell cycle distribution and apoptosis induction after treatment of the extract to find out the cause of its anti-proliferation activity. We discovered that the extract induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase through flow cytometric DNA content analysis. We also found out that the extract induced apoptosis inference from peculiar biochemical changes: the increase of the sub G0/G1 content (%) and externalization of phosphatidylserine through flow cytometric analysis. In addition, the extract induced apoptotic morphological changes such as chromatin condensation and the formation of apoptotic bodies. In brief, A. rossii extract exerted antiproliferative activity through the induction of G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in HCT116 cells. Therefore, the ethanolic extract of A. rossii may be served as a potential chemopreventive agent for prevention and treatment of human colorectal cancer.