The Chinese herbal medicine Tien-Hsien liquid inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in a wide variety of human cancer cells
Journal
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Journal Volume
11
Journal Issue
2
Pages
245-256
Date Issued
2005
Author(s)
Abstract
Objective: Tien-Hsien liquid (THL) is a commercially available Chinese herbal mixture that has been used as an anticancer dietary supplement for more than 10 years. We recently showed that THL has strong immunomodulatory effects on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and T cells. To investigate the anti-tumor activity of THL further, we sought to test whether THL could induce apoptosis in various human cancer cell lines based on the fact that THL contains several components with tumor killing functions. Design: The growth inhibitory effect of THL on human cervical carcinoma C-33A cells, human lung carcinoma H1299 cells, and human PBMC was assessed by counting viable cells using the trypan blue dye exclusion method. The apoptosis-inducing activity of THL in H1299 cells was assessed by analyzing the cells with four assays: (1) Hoechst 33258 nuclear DNA staining; (2) the terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase- mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay; (3) the nucleosomal DNA fragment ladder assay; and (4) the sub-G1 cell analysis. The activities of caspase-8, -9, and -3 in H1299 cells treated with or without THL were also measured to elucidate the possible mechanism underlying THL apoptosis-inducing effect. Finally, the apoptotic effect of THL on fifteen human cancer cell lines and normal human cells were analyzed by the TUNEL assay. Results: THL could induce apoptosis in all human cancer cell lines tested but not in normal human cells. THL treatment of H1299 cancer cells resulted in activation of caspase-8, -9, and -3 and the inhibitors of these caspases could partially block THL-induced apoptosis. Conclusions: THL has been used by numerous patients with cancer for many years with no known adverse effect. Our present study showing that THL had a broad-range tumor killing function has provided a molecular basis underlying THL therapeutic activity. Furthermore, because THL had apoptotic effects only on cancer cells but not on normal cells, this selectivity suggests that THL could be a potential cancer therapeutic agent. ? Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
SDGs
Other Subjects
caspase 3; caspase 3 inhibitor; caspase 8; caspase 8 inhibitor; caspase 9; apoptosis; article; cancer cell; cell assay; cell cycle G1 phase; cell growth; Chinese medicine; diet supplementation; DNA determination; enzyme activity; herbal medicine; human; human cell; immunomodulation; liquid; lung carcinoma; nick end labeling; peripheral blood mononuclear cell; priority journal; staining; T lymphocyte; tien hsien liquid; uterine cervix carcinoma; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Carcinoma; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Immunoassay; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Tumor Cells, Cultured
Type
journal article