Ursolic acid, a naturally occurring triterpenoid, demonstrates anticancer activity on human prostate cancer cells

Authors: Kassi, E.; Papoutsi, Z.; Pratsinis, H.; Aligiannis, N.; Manoussakis, M.; Moutsatsou, P.

Source: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, Volume 133, Number 7, July 2007 , pp. 493-500(8)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Glucocorticoids are widely used as adjuvant therapy in hormonal refractory prostate cancer; their therapeutic role, however, remains unclear. Ursolic acid, a natural triterpene, structurally similar to dexamethasone, exhibits antitumor effects in various cell types. Our main objective was to investigate the effects of ursolic acid on cell viability, apoptosis and bcl-2 protein, in human hormone refractory and androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells.

The ursolic acid-induced changes in cell viability, apoptosis and bcl-2 protein were examined in human hormone refractory prostate cancer PC-3 cells and androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells, by MTT assay, flow cytometry and western blot analysis, respectively.

Ursolic acid inhibited significantly the cell viability and induced apoptosis in PC-3 cells at 55 μM and in LNCaP cells at 45 μM associated with a downregulation of bcl-2 protein.

The antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of ursolic acid in PC-3 and LNCaP cells implicate its potential therapeutic use for the treatment of hormone refractory and androgen-sensitive prostate cancer. The downregulation of bcl-2 may be one of the molecular mechanisms via which it induces apoptosis in PC-3 and LNCaP cells.

Keywords: LNCaP cells; Dexamethasone; RU486; Ursolic acid; Prostate cancer

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00432-007-0193-1

Affiliations: 1: Email: pmoutsatsou@med.uoa.gr

Publication date: 2007-07-01