J Tradit Chin Med. 2013 Oct;33(5):658-63. doi: 10.1016/s0254-6272(14)60038-8.
To investigate the mechanism underlying the anticancer effect of Artemisia species through the inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis in breast carcinoma cells.
To evaluate the anticancer activity of methanol extracts of eight Artemisia species (Artemisia stolonifera, Artemisia selengensis, Artemisia japonica, Artemisia Montana, Artemisia capillaris, Artemisia sylvatica, Artemisia keiskeana, and Artemisia scoparia), we first investigated the proliferation of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells exposed to 5 or 200 g/mL for 72 h. Apoptosis induction was assessed by an Annexin V binding assay in cells exposed to extracts at a high concentration (200 g/mL). To verify the mechanism of apoptosis, ER expression and its related signaling was investigated using an immunoblot assay under the same conditions.
MCF-7 cells showed the strongest antiproliferative response to the tested extracts. However, a biphasic effect was observed: the extracts inhibited proliferation at high concentrations whereas they stimulated it at low ones. ER expression was similarly modulated by the extracts. However, all of the extracts induced apoptosis at a high concentration (200 g/mL). Compared to the control level, exposure to the extracts resulted in a remarkable increase in the shift of cell populations.
The present study suggests that the tested Artemisia species exerted their anticancer effects through the induction of apoptosis via an ER-related pathway.
通过抑制乳腺癌细胞的生长和诱导细胞凋亡来探究艾属植物抗癌作用的机制。
为评估 8 种艾属植物（地肤、节节麦、青蒿、蒙古蒿、细叶蒿、林艾、黄花蒿和猪毛蒿）甲醇提取物的抗癌活性，我们首先检测了暴露于 5 或 200μg/ml 提取物中 72 小时的雌激素受体（ER）阳性 MCF-7 乳腺癌细胞的增殖情况。通过 Annexin V 结合实验检测高浓度（200μg/ml）提取物诱导的细胞凋亡情况。为验证凋亡的作用机制，在相同条件下通过免疫印迹实验检测 ER 表达及其相关信号通路。
MCF-7 细胞对测试提取物表现出最强的抗增殖反应。然而，观察到了一种双相作用：提取物在高浓度时抑制增殖，而在低浓度时刺激增殖。提取物同样调节 ER 表达。然而，所有提取物在高浓度（200μg/ml）时均诱导细胞凋亡。与对照水平相比，暴露于提取物导致细胞群体的显著转移增加。
本研究表明，所测试的艾属植物通过 ER 相关途径诱导细胞凋亡发挥抗癌作用。
