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Z-ajoene induces tumor cells to die by apoptosis

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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

To unravel the pharmacological actions of garlic, a simple thio-compound, z-ajoene, was purified from the fresh cloves. Three tumor cell lines were subjected to treatment with z-ajoene at different concentrationsin vitro and the morphological changes, DNA content of the cells and chromosome DNA fragmentation were observed by light microscopy, flow cytometry and agarose gel electrophoresis respectively. It was found that z-ajoene induced cell death by apoptosis in human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells, MGc-803 gastric mucoid adenocarcinoma cells and Molt4 T lymphocyte leukemia cells. Western blot assay showed that z-ajoene Inhibited proto-oncogene bcl-2 expression in the three different kinds of tumor cells, suggesting that z-ajoene may be a potential agent for tumor chemotherapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology. Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100005, Beijing, China

    Dexian Zheng, Siqing Zhang, Song Zhao & Shilian Liu

  2. State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing Medical University, 100083, Beijing, China

    Jimei Min & Kui Wang

  3. State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 300020, Tianjin, China

    Dexian Zheng

Authors
  1. Dexian Zheng
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  2. Siqing Zhang
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  3. Song Zhao
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  4. Jimei Min
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  5. Kui Wang
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  6. Shilian Liu
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Zheng, D., Zhang, S., Zhao, S. et al. Z-ajoene induces tumor cells to die by apoptosis. Chin.Sci.Bull. 43, 1135–1140 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02883088

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02883088

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