Rhus verniciflua Stokes extract induces inhibition of cell growth and apoptosis in human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells

Abstract

Rhus verniciflua Stokes has been widely used as a traditional medicinal plant with a variety of pharmacological activities. We investigated the mechanisms involved in mediating the effects of Rhus verniciflua Strokes (R. verniciflua) extract in human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells, including caspase-dependent apoptotic pathways related to cell-cycle arrest, as well as the inhibition of nuclear factor NF-κB activation and upregulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. R. verniciflua extract suppressed the abnormal cellular proliferation of K562 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner and increased the quantitative proportions of cells involved in the early and late process of apoptosis. Furthermore, R. verniciflua extract significantly mediated the mRNA levels of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic regulators, such as Bcl-2, Bax, Mcl-1 and survivin in apoptotic cells. Particularly, the treatment of K562 cells with R. verniciflua extract augmented the caspase-3 activity and increased the expression of caspase-3 protein, while co-treatment with R. verniciflua extract and the permeant pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK and caspase-3 inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK inversely enhanced the proliferation of K562 cells. The extract of R. verniciflua inhibited the activation of NF-κB and the phosphorylation of ERK. Collectively, these results indicated that the extract of R. verniciflua inhibited the proliferation of human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells by activating the apoptotic process via caspase-3 overexpression and the regulation of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling.

Phytochemical Targeting of STAT3 Orchestrated Lipid Metabolism in Therapy-Resistant Cancers

“…In a high-fat diet-induced obesity mouse model, resveratrol significantly reduced CTLA-4 expression in regulatory T cells [ 161 ], demonstrating results similar to those reported elsewhere in an inflammatory bowel disease model [ 162 , 163 ]. Furthermore, studies show that active compounds in Rhus verniciflua Stokes extract, used in Korean herbal medicine, successfully blocked the expression of both PD-1/PDL-1 and CTLA-4 [ 164 , 165 , 166 ].…”

Fermented Rhus Verniciflua Stokes Extract Alleviates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver through the AMPK/SREBP1/PCSK9 Pathway in HFD-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Animal Model

“…Rhus verniciflua stokes (RV) is reported to have anticancer [9][10][11][12][13], anti-adipogenic [14,15], antioxidant [16], and anti-inflammatory effects [17][18][19][20][21]. Despite these beneficial effects, RV utilization is limited due to the presence of allergen urushiol in it.…”

Toxicodendron vernicifluum Stokes extract inhibits solid tumor growth and lung metastasis of 4T1 murine mammary carcinoma cells in BALB/c mice

“…Toxicodendron vernicifluum Stokes (TVS) was found to contain a number of bioactive phytochemicals, including alkaloids, polyphenols and flavonoids [12]. Previous research has shown that TVS extract has antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-obesity, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. Despite the beneficial pharmacological effects of TVS, its use has been somewhat limited due to the presence of urushiol an allergenic substance, that is a mixture of several derivatives of catechol.…”