Research: LIU and colleagues, De

Listed in Issue 38

Abstract

LIU and colleagues, Department of Immunology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya Japan studied the anti-tumour effect and its mechanism of action of the herbal medicine sho-saiko-to upon a murine malignant melanoma cell line (Mel-ret).

Background

Methodology

Results

Sho-saiko-to induced apoptotic cell death of Mel-ret cells with a definite increase of cell surface Fas antigen and Fas ligand (FasL) [Editor's Note: Fas is a protein recognition/ signalling pathway.] Sho-saiko-to arrested Mel-ret cells in G1 phase (a phase during cell division) by decreasing the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) 4 and its homologue cdk6. Kinase activities of cdk4 and cdk6 were shown to be downregulated by sho-saiko-to. Ingredient analysis revealed that baicalin is likely to be the main active constituent in the upregulation of Fas antigen and Fas ligand, while glycyrrhizin is the main constituent in the inhibition of cdks .

Conclusion

References

Lie W et al The herbal medicine sho-saiko-to inhibits the growth of malignant melanoma cells by upregulating Fas-mediated apoptosis and arresting cell cycle through downregulation of cyclin dependent kinases. Int J Oncol 12(60): 1321-6 June 1998.

Comment

This research makes my heart sing. It is music to my ears to read about the elucidation of action of this herb upon cancer cells in such detail. Sho-saiko-to's anti-tumour activity works via two activities, the increase in apoptosis - cell suicide, and arrest of cancer cell growth by downregulation of a group of growth-specific enzymes.

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