Genistein Induces G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Rat Neuroblastoma B35 Cells; Involvement of p21(waf1/cip1), Bax and Bcl-2

BACKGROUND: The effect of genistein on different types of cells has been investigated. However, its effect on the nervous system is still unclear. The aim of the present work is to explore the effect of genistein on rat neuroblastoma B35 cells. METHODS: The effect of genistein on the proliferation of B35 cells, its cytotoxicity, the cell-cycle distribution, the ultra-structural changes and the induction of apoptosis were determined using MTT assay, LDH assay, Flow-cytometric analysis, transmission electron microscopy and Hoechst staining, respectively. Furthermore, Real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to examine the transcriptional and post-translational alterations of the G2/M cell-cycle arrest marker cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(waf1/cip1) and the apoptosis-related genes after genistein treatment. RESULTS: Genistein significantly inhibits cell survival, slightly elevates the release of lactate dehydrogenase and induced apoptosis in B35 cells. Genistein increased the number of cells at S-phase and induced cells to accumulate at the G2/M phase. These G2/M arrested cells are associated with a marked up-regulation of p21(waf1/cip1) at both the mRNA and protein levels. We observed that genistein up-regulates pro-apoptotic Bax with concurrent down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that the anticancer effect of genistein on B35 neuroblastoma cells is mediated through multiple cellular pathways including G2/M cell-cycle arrest and the induction of apoptosis.

Biological and insecticidal effects of total glucosinolates and different extracts of carrichtera annua [L.] DC. and farsetia aegyptia turra. on spodoptera littoralis [Boisd.]

Different extracts of Carrichtera annua and Farsetia aegyptia as well as theirglucosinolates were prepared and the efficacy of these extracts and totalglucosinolates was studied against the Egyptian cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis. Aqueous extracts and total glucosinolates of both plants wereremarkably toxic against Spodoptera littoralis larvae. They exhibited strongantifeedant effect against the 4th instar larvae and proved to be the mostpotent extracts as compared to all other tested ones, where the ovipositionalrepellent effect reached 100%. Larval growth and development weresignificantly affected and no pupae were developed