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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

So-Cheong-Ryong-Tang induces apoptosis through activation of the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways, and inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells

Authors: Cheol Park, Su Hyun Hong, Gi-Young Kim, Yung Hyun Choi

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

So-Cheong-Ryong-Tang (SCRT), a traditional Korean medicine containing eight species of medicinal plant, has been used to treat patients with bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis for hundreds of years; however, its anti-cancer potential is poorly understood. The present study was designed to evaluate the apoptotic effect of SCRT against human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells.

Methods

The effects of SCRT on cell growth and viability were evaluated by trypan blue dye exclusion and 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assays, respectively. Apoptosis was detected using 4,6-diamidino-2-phenyllindile (DAPI) staining, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry. The protein levels were determined by Western blot analysis. Caspase activity was measured using a colorimetric assay.

Results

SCRT treatment resulted in significantly decreased A549 cell growth and viability by induction of apoptosis. SCRT induced the translocation of pro-apoptotic Bax to the mitochondria, mitochondrial membrane permeabilization, cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol, and activated caspase-9 and caspase-3. SCRT also increased death receptor-associated ligands and enhanced the activation of caspase-8 and cleavage of its substrate Bid. However, the pan-caspases inhibitor significantly blocked the SCRT-induced apoptosis, suggesting that it is a caspase-dependent pathway. In addition, SCRT suppressed the phosphorylation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt, and treatment with a potent inhibitor of PI3K further increased the apoptotic activity of SCRT.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that SCRT may play its anti-cancer actions partly through a suppression of the PI3K/Akt signal pathway in A549 cells, and further in vivo studies on the potential of SCRT for prevention and therapy of NSCLCs are warranted.
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Metadata
Title
So-Cheong-Ryong-Tang induces apoptosis through activation of the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways, and inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells
Authors
Cheol Park
Su Hyun Hong
Gi-Young Kim
Yung Hyun Choi
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-015-0639-y

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