Eudesmols induce apoptosis through release of cytochrome c in HL-60 cells

Abstract

We verified that the apoptosis activities were examined by DNA fragmentation, flow cytometric analysis with annexin V staining, activation of caspase-3, and cytochrome c release. In the result, α- and β-eudesmol induced DNA fragmentation in HL-60 cells at a concentration of 80 μM, respectively. Additionally, pro-apoptotic cells sorted by flow cytometry analysis were detected in HL-60 cells to 31.77 and 29.67% with a-and β-eudesmol of 80 μM. Thus, both α- and β-eudesmol exerted caspase-3 activation and cytochrome c release at 80 μM in HL-60 cells. These results are firstly reported that the sesquiterpenes, α- and β-eudesmol are apoptosis inducers through mitochondria-dependent caspase cascade in HL-60 cells.