Apigenin induced apoptosis through p53-dependent pathway in human cervical carcinoma cells

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) 2005-02, Vol.76 (12), p.1367-1379
• Main Authors: Zheng, Pei-Wen, Chiang, Lien-Chai, Lin, Chun-Ching
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Apigenin; Apigenin - pharmacology; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Bcl-2; Caspase 3; Caspases - biosynthesis; Cell Cycle - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; DNA Fragmentation; DNA-Binding Proteins - biosynthesis; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fas; fas Receptor - biosynthesis; Female; HeLa Cells - drug effects; HeLa Cells - metabolism; HeLa Cells - pathology; Humans; p21; p53; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - metabolism; Transcription Factors - biosynthesis; Transcription Factors - genetics; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - metabolism
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2004.08.023

Apigenin is a widely distributed plant flavonoid and was proposed as an antitumor agent. In this study, we reported for the first time that apigenin inhibited the growth of human cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa) and through apoptotic pathway. The results showed that apigenin significantly decreased the viability of HeLa cells at 37–74 μM and the IC 50 value was 35.89 μM. Apigenin-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells was confirmed by DNA fragmentation assay and induction of sub-G 1 phase by flow cytometry. Apigenin-treated HeLa cells were arrested at G 1 phase, which was associated with a marked increment of the expression of p21/WAF1 protein. The induction of p21/WAF1 appeared to be transcriptionally upregulated and was p53-dependent. In addition, apigenin induced Fas/APO-1 and caspase-3 expression which were also correlated with apoptosis. Apigenin decreased in the protein expression of Bcl-2 protein, which is an anti-apoptotic factor. The conclusion of this study is the apigenin induced p53 expression which caused cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. These findings suggest that apigenin has strong potential for development as an agent for preventing cervical cancer.