Triphala inhibits both <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>xenograft growth of pancreatic tumor cells by inducing apoptosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Triphala is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat variety of diseases; however its mechanism of action remains unexplored. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism of Triphala against human pancreatic cancer in the cellul...

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Main Authors: Srivastava Sanjay K, Sahu Ravi P, Shi Yan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2008-10-01
Series:BMC Cancer
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/8/294
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author Srivastava Sanjay K
Sahu Ravi P
Shi Yan
author_facet Srivastava Sanjay K
Sahu Ravi P
Shi Yan
author_sort Srivastava Sanjay K
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Triphala is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat variety of diseases; however its mechanism of action remains unexplored. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism of Triphala against human pancreatic cancer in the cellular and in vivo model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Growth-inhibitory effects of Triphala were evaluated in Capan-2, BxPC-3 and HPDE-6 cells by Sulphoradamine-B assay. Apoptosis was determined by cell death assay and western blotting. Triphala was administered orally to nude mice implanted with Capan-2 xenograft. Tumors were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and western blotting.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Exposure of Capan-2 cells to the aqueous extract of Triphala for 24 h resulted in the significant decrease in the survival of cells in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of about 50 μg/ml. Triphala-mediated reduced cell survival correlated with induction of apoptosis, which was associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Triphala-induced apoptosis was linked with phosphorylation of p53 at Ser-15 and ERK at Thr-202/Tyr-204 in Capan-2 cells. Above mentioned effects were significantly blocked when the cells were pretreated with an antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC), suggesting the involvement of ROS generation. Pretreatment of cells with pifithrin-α or U0126, specific inhibitors of p53 or MEK-1/2, significantly attenuated Triphala-induced apoptosis. Moreover, NAC or U0126 pretreatment significantly attenuated Triphala-induced p53 transcriptional activity. Similarly, Triphala induced apoptosis in another pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3 by activating ERK. On the other hand, Triphala failed to induce apoptosis or activate ERK or p53 in normal human pancreatic ductal epithelial (HPDE-6) cells. Further, oral administration of 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg Triphala in PBS, 5 days/week significantly suppressed the growth of Capan-2 pancreatic tumor-xenograft. Reduced tumor-growth in Triphala fed mice was due to increased apoptosis in the tumors cells, which was associated with increased activation of p53 and ERK.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our preclinical studies demonstrate that Triphala is effective in inhibiting the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells in both cellular and in vivo model. Our data also suggests that the growth inhibitory effects of Triphala is mediated by the activation of ERK and p53 and shows potential for the treatment and/or prevention of human pancreatic cancer.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-ea02cf992595441eb985498d266b2f272022-12-22T03:00:55ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072008-10-018129410.1186/1471-2407-8-294Triphala inhibits both <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>xenograft growth of pancreatic tumor cells by inducing apoptosisSrivastava Sanjay KSahu Ravi PShi Yan<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Triphala is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat variety of diseases; however its mechanism of action remains unexplored. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism of Triphala against human pancreatic cancer in the cellular and in vivo model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Growth-inhibitory effects of Triphala were evaluated in Capan-2, BxPC-3 and HPDE-6 cells by Sulphoradamine-B assay. Apoptosis was determined by cell death assay and western blotting. Triphala was administered orally to nude mice implanted with Capan-2 xenograft. Tumors were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and western blotting.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Exposure of Capan-2 cells to the aqueous extract of Triphala for 24 h resulted in the significant decrease in the survival of cells in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of about 50 μg/ml. Triphala-mediated reduced cell survival correlated with induction of apoptosis, which was associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Triphala-induced apoptosis was linked with phosphorylation of p53 at Ser-15 and ERK at Thr-202/Tyr-204 in Capan-2 cells. Above mentioned effects were significantly blocked when the cells were pretreated with an antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC), suggesting the involvement of ROS generation. Pretreatment of cells with pifithrin-α or U0126, specific inhibitors of p53 or MEK-1/2, significantly attenuated Triphala-induced apoptosis. Moreover, NAC or U0126 pretreatment significantly attenuated Triphala-induced p53 transcriptional activity. Similarly, Triphala induced apoptosis in another pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3 by activating ERK. On the other hand, Triphala failed to induce apoptosis or activate ERK or p53 in normal human pancreatic ductal epithelial (HPDE-6) cells. Further, oral administration of 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg Triphala in PBS, 5 days/week significantly suppressed the growth of Capan-2 pancreatic tumor-xenograft. Reduced tumor-growth in Triphala fed mice was due to increased apoptosis in the tumors cells, which was associated with increased activation of p53 and ERK.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our preclinical studies demonstrate that Triphala is effective in inhibiting the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells in both cellular and in vivo model. Our data also suggests that the growth inhibitory effects of Triphala is mediated by the activation of ERK and p53 and shows potential for the treatment and/or prevention of human pancreatic cancer.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/8/294
spellingShingle Srivastava Sanjay K
Sahu Ravi P
Shi Yan
Triphala inhibits both <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>xenograft growth of pancreatic tumor cells by inducing apoptosis
BMC Cancer
title Triphala inhibits both <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>xenograft growth of pancreatic tumor cells by inducing apoptosis
title_full Triphala inhibits both <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>xenograft growth of pancreatic tumor cells by inducing apoptosis
title_fullStr Triphala inhibits both <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>xenograft growth of pancreatic tumor cells by inducing apoptosis
title_full_unstemmed Triphala inhibits both <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>xenograft growth of pancreatic tumor cells by inducing apoptosis
title_short Triphala inhibits both <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>xenograft growth of pancreatic tumor cells by inducing apoptosis
title_sort triphala inhibits both it in vitro it and it in vivo it xenograft growth of pancreatic tumor cells by inducing apoptosis
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/8/294
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AT shiyan triphalainhibitsbothitinvitroitanditinvivoitxenograftgrowthofpancreatictumorcellsbyinducingapoptosis