ABSTRACT
Objective: Taraxerol acetate has potent anti-cancer effects via the induction of apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle arrest, and inhibition of cell migration. However, whether taraxerol induced apoptosis and its underlying mechanisms of action is not clear. In the present study, we assess the effects of taraxerol on the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and determine the release of cytochrome c to the cytosol and activation of caspases
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, we mainly investigated the effect of taraxerol on HeLa cells. We tested cell viability by the MTT assay and morphologic changes, analyzed apoptosis by DAPI staining and flow cytometry. We also determined reactive oxygen species [ROS] and mitochondrial membrane potential [MMP] using a Microplate Reader. In addition, the apoptotic proteins were tested by Western blot
Results: Taraxerol enhanced ROS levels and attenuated the MMP [delta psi m] in HeLa cells. Taraxerol induced apoptosis mainly via the mitochondrial pathway including the release of cytochrome c to the cytosol and activation of caspases 9 and 3, and anti-poly [ADP- ribose] polymerase [PARP]. Taraxerol could induce the down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and up-regulation of pro-apoptotic protein Bax. It suppressed the PI3K/ Akt signaling pathway
Conclusion: These results demonstrated that taraxerol induced cell apoptosis through a mitochondria-mediated pathway in HeLa cells. Thus, taraxerol might be a potential anticervical cancer candidate
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate any anti-inflammatory and curative effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on mice with acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccaride endotoxin. Methods Fortysix Sprague-Dawley rats, half male and half female, were randomly divided into a normal saline group with 10 rats,an LPS group with 12 rats, and an HBO group with 24 rats. LPS was injected via the tail vein at 5 mg/kg weight to establish the ALI model. The HBO group rats were treated with HBO. Then leucocyte counts, arterial blood gas analysis, interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the blood and lung wet/dry weight (W/D) were compared among the 3 groups at the 3rd and 6th hours. Pathological changes were examined under a light microscope. Results Compared with the LPS group, blood oxygen and W/D were higher in the HBO group, the white blood cell, neutrophil and IL-8 all were lower, and inflammatory cell infiltration was less in lung slides from the HBO group. Conclusions HBO therapy can improve oxygen deficiency and has an anti-inflammatory effect. As a result it might have protective effect against ALI.