Induction of apoptosis by penta-acetyl geniposide in rat C6 glioma cells

Penta-acetyl geniposide. (Ac)(5)-GP. was produced by acetylation of a glycoside, isolated from an extract of Gardeida fructus. Previously, We ha c reported that C6 glioma cells could be inhibited in culturing as well as in bearing rats by treating with (Ac)(5)-GP. In this study, the effect and action of (Ac)(5)-GP on inducing cell death was examined in rat C6 glioma cells. Treatment of C6 glioma cells with (Ac)(5)-GP caused cell death, chromatin condensation, and internucleosomal DNA ladder. Also, cell cycle arrest at G(0)/G(1) phase revealed that (Ac)(5)-GP-induced cell death appears to be mediated by apoptosis. In addition. the results also showed that p53 and c-Myc increased due to treatment of (Ac)(5)-GP in a dose-response and time-dependent manner, Concomitant with the expression of p53 and c-Myc. decreased level of Bcl-2 and increased level of Bax protein were observed. These results Suggest that cell death caused by (Ac)(5)-GP through apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G(0)/G(1) may be associated with the induction of p53. c-Myc and may be mediated with apoptosis-related Bcl-2 family proteins. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.