Silibinin induces apoptosis in HL-60 and K562 leukemia cells

Keimyung Medical Journal 2009;28(1):45-52.

백혈병 세포주에서 Silibinin의 세포자멸사 유도 효과

정희정; 백원기

Abstract

Silibinin is a polyphenolic flavonoid antioxidant isolated from the milk thistle and is used clinically to treat certain liver diseases. Recently it has been reported that silibinin has anticancer properties. However; the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying silibinin induced growth inhibition in cancer cells are not clearly understood. In this study; we have investigated whether silibinin exerts anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects on HL-60 and K562 human leukemia cells. It was found that silibinin inhibits cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner inducing apoptotic cell death. These findings suggest that silibinin could be a candidate for anti-leukemic drug.

Key Words: Apoptosis, HL-60, K562, Leukemia, Silibinin.

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