Icariin, a natural flavonol glycoside, induces apoptosis in human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells via a ROS/JNK-dependent mitochondrial pathway

In this study the anticancer effect of icariin a natural flavonol glycoside against human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells and the underlying mechanisms were investigated Icariin triggered the mitochondrial/caspase apoptotic pathway indicated by enhanced Bax-to-Bcl-2 ratio loss of mitochodrial membrane potential cytochrome c release and caspase cascade Moreover icariin induced a sustained activation of the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (INK) but not p38 and ERK1/2 and SP600125 (an inhibitor of JNK) almost reversed icariin-induced apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells In addition icariin provoked the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in SMMC-7721 cells while the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine almost completely blocked icariin-induced JNK activation and apoptosis Taken together these findings suggest that icariin induces apoptosis through a ROS/JNK-dependent mitochondrial pathway (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd All rights reserved