Korean J Anat.  2009 Dec;42(4):245-256.

Chios Gum Mastic Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Osteosarcoma Cells

• Min JH
• Kim DK
• Kwak HH
• Kim GC
• Lee SE
• Kim IR
• Kim CH
• Park BS

Abstract

Chios gum mastic (CGM) is a resin produced from the stem and leaves of Pistiacia lentiscus L var chia, a plant which grows only on Chios Island in Greece. CGM has been used for many centuries as a dietary supplement and folk medicine for stomach and duodenal ulcers in many Mediterranean countries and is also known to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in some cancer cells. This study was undertaken to investigate the alteration of the cell cycle and induction of apoptosis by CGM treatment on human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells. The viability and the growth inhibition of HOS cells were assessed by the MTT assay and clonogenic assay respectively. The hoechst staining, TUNEL assay and DNA electrophoresis were conducted to observe the HOS cells undergoing apoptosis. HOS cells were treated with CGM, and Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, FACScan flow cytometry, mitochondrial membrane potential change and proteasome activity were conducted. CGM treatment of HOS cells was found to result in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability, a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth, and apoptotic cell death. Tested HOS cells also showed several lines of apoptotic manifestation and G1 arrest in cell cycle progression. In summary, this study clearly demonstrated that CGM induces G1 cell cycle arrest via the modulation of cell cycle-related proteins, and apoptosis via proteasome, mitochondrial and caspase cascades in HOS cells. Therefore, our data provide the possibility that a natural product, CGM could be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy for human osteosarcoma.

Keyword

Chios gum mastic (CGM); Apoptosis; Cell cycle arrest; Human osteosarcoma cells (HOS cells)

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis
Blotting, Western
Cell Cycle
Cell Cycle Checkpoints
Cell Death
Cell Survival
Dietary Supplements
DNA
Duodenal Ulcer
Electrophoresis
Flow Cytometry
G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints
Gingiva
Greece
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
In Situ Nick-End Labeling
Medicine, Traditional
Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial
Microscopy, Confocal
Osteosarcoma
Plants
Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
Proteins
Resins, Plant
Stomach
DNA
Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
Proteins
Resins, Plant