Antiproliferative effect of chlorophyllin derived from a traditional Chinese medicine Bombyx mori excreta on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.

Chlorophyllin (CHL) is the sodium-copper salts of chlorophyll derivatives. In this study, the CHL was derived from a traditional Chinese medicine, the Bombyx mori excreta. The CHL, at concentrations 25-400 microg/ml, reduced the proliferation of HL-60, K-562, S-180, and MCF-7 cells by 8.2-95.7% after 72 h of incubation. The CHL also accumulated G2/M cells and induced apoptosis in the MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the breast carcinoma cells exhibited lower cyclin D1 and cyclin E levels but higher cyclin B1 level after incubation with the CHL showing that these cyclin changes may be important for the antiproliferative effect of the CHL.