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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

Antitumor mechanisms of S-allyl mercaptocysteine for breast cancer therapy

Authors: Hong Zhang, Kaiming Wang, Guimei Lin, Zhongxi Zhao

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

S-allyl mercaptocysteine (SAMC), a water-soluble component derived from garlic, has been found to exert multi-antitumor activities. This study was to investigate the responsible molecular mechanisms of SAMC in human breast cancer cell lines.

Methods

Sulforhodamine B assay was used to determine cell viability, flow cytometry was applied for the analysis of cell cycle and cell apoptosis, the change of protein was detected by Western blot.

Results

It was found that SAMC exhibited an effective cell growth inhibition of human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 (ER positive) and MDA-MB-231 (ER negative) in a dose- and time-dependent manner by inducing cell cycle arrested in G0/G1 phase, the block of cell cycle was associated with the up-regulation of p53 and p21. Furthermore, the SAMC-mediated cell cycle arrest was accompanied with promotion of apoptosis, as indicated by the changes in the nuclear morphology and expressions of apoptosis-related proteins. SAMC clearly triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway as indicated by activation of Bax, decreased expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL, and subsequent activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3.

Conclusion

These results highlight the value of a continued investigation into the use of SAMC as a potential antitumor candidate for breast cancer.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Antitumor mechanisms of S-allyl mercaptocysteine for breast cancer therapy
Authors
Hong Zhang
Kaiming Wang
Guimei Lin
Zhongxi Zhao
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-14-270

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