Exp Mol Med.  1999 Dec;31(4):174-178.

Tanshinone IIA, an ingredient of Salvia miltiorrhiza BUNGE, induces apoptosis in human leukemia cell lines through the activation of caspase-3

• Sung HJ
• Choi SM
• Yoon YS
• An KS

Abstract

Tanshinone II-A is a derivative of phenanthrene-quinone isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza BUNGE, a traditional herbal medicine that is known to induce antiinflammatory, anti-oxidative and cytotoxic activity. We have examined cellular effects of Tanshione II-A on HL60 human promyelocytic leukemic cells and K562 human erythroleukemic cells. Tanshione II-A induced a dose- and time-dependent DNA fragmentation into the multiples of 180 bp and specific proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in both cell lines. PI-staining and flow cytometry analysis of K562 cells following Tanshione II-A treatment showed an increase of the cells possessing hypodiploid DNA indicative of apoptotic state of cells. Caspase-3 activity was significantly increased during Tanshinone II-A treatment of both HL60 and K562 cells, whereas caspase-1 activity was not changed. These results suggest that Tanshione II-A induced HL60 and K562 cellular apoptosis that may be associated with the selective members of caspase family. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Keyword

apoptosis; caspase-3; leukemia; Salvia miltiorrhiza BUNGE; tanshinone II-A

MeSH Terms

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology*
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemistry
Apoptosis/physiology*
Caspases/metabolism*
Caspases/drug effects*
Cell Cycle/drug effects
DNA Fragmentation/drug effects
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry
Enzyme Activation/drug effects
HL-60 Cells/pathology
HL-60 Cells/metabolism
HL-60 Cells/drug effects
Human
Lamiaceae/chemistry
Leukemia/pathology*
Leukemia/metabolism
Leukemia/drug therapy
Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute/pathology
Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute/metabolism
Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute/drug therapy
Phenanthrenes/pharmacology*
Phenanthrenes/chemistry
Tumor Cells, Cultured