S-petasin induces apoptosis and inhibits cell migration through activation of p53 pathway signaling in melanoma B16F10 cells and A375 cells

Melanoma is a dangerous type of skin cancer that develops from the melanocytes. Activation of p53 in melanoma cells has been validated as a strategy for melanoma therapy. S-Petasin, a dietary sesquiterpene isolated from Petasites japonicas, has been shown to possess multiple biological effects. However, no studies have reported that s-petasin exerted anti-melanoma or inhibited activity in melanoma cells. We investigated the effect of s-petasin in B16F10 cells and A375 cells and the underlying molecular mechanism. S-Petasin exerted a significant anti-proliferation effect on B16F10 cells and A375 cells as measured by the MTT assay and crystal violet staining assay. S-Petasin induced cell apoptosis in B16F10 cells and A375 cells as evidenced by flow cytometry assay and western blot assay. Wound healing assay and transwell cell migration and invasion assay revealed that s-petasin suppressed B16F10 cells and A375 cells migration in vitro. For mechanism study, western blot assay indicated that s-petasin activated the p53 pathway signaling. Furthermore, expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-L-X, Baox, MMP-2, MMP-9, p21, CDK4 and cyclin D-1 were regulated by s-petasin. Taken together, our data suggest that s-petasin is a novel compound which can induce apoptosis and inhibit cell migration through activation of the p53 pathway signaling in melanoma B16F10 cells and A375 cells.