Induction of apoptosis in human leukaemia HL-60 cells by furanone-coumarins from Murraya siamensis

J Pharm Pharmacol. 2008 Mar;60(3):385-9. doi: 10.1211/jpp.60.3.0015.

Abstract

To identify potential anti-tumour agents, we screened five furanone-coumarins isolated from Murraya siamensis Craib (Rutaceae) for their ability to inhibit the growth of human leukaemia HL-60 cells. Among the furanone-coumarins tested, murrayacoumarin B (compound 2) showed significant cytotoxicity against HL-60 cells. Fluorescence microscopy with Hoechst 33342 staining revealed that the percentage of apoptotic cells with fragmented nuclei and condensed chromatin increased in a time-dependent manner after treatment with murrayacoumarin B. Interestingly, this furanone-coumarin induced the loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, treatment with murrayacoumarin B stimulated the activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and caspase-9 and caspase-3 inhibitors suppressed the apoptosis induced by murrayacoumarin B. These results suggest that murrayacoumarin B induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells through activation of the caspase9/caspase-3 pathway triggered by mitochondrial dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 4-Butyrolactone / isolation & purification
  • 4-Butyrolactone / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / isolation & purification
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Caspase 3 / drug effects
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Caspase 9 / drug effects
  • Caspase 9 / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / drug effects
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Chromatin / drug effects
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Coumarins / isolation & purification
  • Coumarins / pharmacology*
  • HL-60 Cells
  • Humans
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Murraya / chemistry*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Chromatin
  • Coumarins
  • murrayacoumarin B
  • Caspase 3
  • Caspase 9
  • 4-Butyrolactone