Maslinic acid, a natural triterpene from Olea europaea L., induces apoptosis in HT29 human colon-cancer cells via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway

Cancer Lett. 2009 Jan 8;273(1):44-54. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2008.07.033. Epub 2008 Sep 14.

Abstract

We have investigated the mechanisms of maslinic acid with regard to its inhibitory effects on the growth of HT29 colon-cancer cells. High concentrations of maslinic acid are present in the protective wax-like coating of olives. Our results show that treatment with maslinic acid results in a significant inhibition of cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and causes apoptotic death in colon-cancer cells. We found that it inhibits considerably the expression of Bcl-2 whilst increasing that of Bax; it also stimulates the release of mitochondrial cytochrome-c and activates caspase-9 and caspase-3. All these results point clearly to the activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in response to the treatment of HT29 colon-cancer cells with maslinic acid. Our results suggest that maslinic acid has the potential to provide significant natural defence against colon-cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Caspase 9 / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Colonic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Cytochromes c / metabolism
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Olea / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Triterpenes / chemistry
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology*
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Triterpenes
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • Cytochromes c
  • maslinic acid
  • Caspase 3
  • Caspase 9