Methanolic extract of up-regulates and induces the membrane restoration of E-cadherin protein in PC-3 cells.

Teucrium persicum Boiss. an Iranian endemic plant is used in Iranian traditional medicine. E-cadherin transmembrane protein participates in adherens junctions and is the main partner for β-catenin protein. The GC-MS analysis was used to detect the chemical constituents of the methanolic extract. Its effects on the transcription of the E-cadherin encoding gene, cellular levels, and localization of E-cadherin protein in PC-3 cells were investigated. About 70 chemical constituents were identified. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy and western blotting results revealed the restoration of E-cadherin protein at cell adhesion contact sites in cells treated with extract. Gene expression studies revealed that the extract increased the transcription of the E-cadherin encoding gene in PC-3 cells. These results suggest that extract may contain potent compounds that provide further support for the anticancer properties of . Surely, detailed molecular investigations are needed to find the mechanism(s) behind these effects.