RASAGENTHI LEGIUM - lung cancer-research report

A herbal medicine for the treatment
of lung cancer
Rama S. Ranga,1 Srinivasan Sowmyalakshmi,1 Ravshan Burikhanov,2
Mohammed A. Akbarsha3 and Damodaran Chendil1
1Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; 2Department of
Radiation Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; 3Department of Animal Science,
Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli, India
Received 21 March 2005; accepted 2 June 2005
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths throughout the world. Extracts of medicinal plants are believed to
contain different chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic compounds. In this study, we determined the anti-cancer property of
one of the traditional Indian medicine Rasagenthi Lehyam (RL) for the treatment of lung cancer. Two lung cancer cell lines
(A-549 and H-460) and one normal bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cell line were used to test the chemotherapeutic effect of
RL. Out of five fractions of RL, chloroform fraction of RL (cRL) demonstrated a significant inhibition of cell proliferation
and induction of apoptosis in A-549 and H-460 cells but not in normal BEAS-2B cells. The cRL fraction up-regulated the
pro-apoptotic genes p53 and Bax and induced caspase-3 activation, and down-regulated the pro-survival gene Bcl-2 in both the
lung cancer cell lines. Also, nuclear export of p53 was seen in cRL-treated lung cancer cells. In addition, cRL induced G2/M
arrest of cell cycle and enhanced the radio-sensitivity of both the lung cancer cell lines. This study suggests that cRL may prove
to be a potent anti-cancer agent that may be used for the treatment of lung cancer. However, further studies are required to bring
cRL into the mainstream of medicine in the treatment of lung cancer. (Mol Cell Biochem 280: 125–133, 2005)
Key words: anti-cancer activity, apoptosis, herbal medicine, lung cancer, radio-sensitisation
Introduction
Lung cancer is the most common cancer throughout the
world, particularly in the United States [1] and it accounts
for 14% of all cancers and 28% of all cancer-related deaths
worldwide [2, 3]. Chemotherapy is the standard treatment for
lung cancer patients, but in spite of its ability to improve the
symptoms and the quality of life of the patients with lung cancer,
only a minimal increase in survival rate can be achieved
[4, 5]. Along with palliative care, many cancer patients tend to
use alternative medicines, among which herbal therapies are
more common [6, 7]. Natural products are lead molecules
for many of the drugs that are currently in use [8]. Herbal
Address for offprints: D. Chendil, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, Room 209D, 900 South Limestone
Street, Lexington, KY-40536-0200 (E-mail: dchen2@uky.edu)
medicines derived from plant extracts are being increasingly
utilized to treat a wide variety of clinical conditions; however,
the scientific basis regarding their modes of action is
limited. Extracts of medicinal plants are believed to contain
different chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic compounds,
which possess more than one mechanism of action.
The induction of apoptosis is known to be an efficient strategy
for cancer therapy. Several studies have demonstrated that
extracts from herbal medicines or mixtures have anti-cancer
potential [9, 10] in vitro and in vivo [11, 12]. Recently, several
dietary phytochemicals that play a significant role in the
anti-carcinogenic process have been identified. Apoptosis is
regulated by various genes such as p53, Bcl2 and Bax [13, 14]