Apoptosis of human highly metastatic lung cancer cell line 95-D induced by acutiaporberine, a novel bisalkaloid derived from Thalictrum acutifolium.

The present study demonstrates for the first time that acutiaporberine, a bisalkaloid isolated from the tranditional Chinese medical herb Thalictrum acutifolium (Hand.-Mazz.) Boivin. (TAB), induces apoptosis of a cultured highly metastatic human lung cancer cell line 95-D. Immunohistochemistry assay (IHC) and Western-blot analysis show down-regulation of bcl-2 gene and up-regulation of bax gene and c-myc gene in the treated cells. These results suggest that acutiaporberine may be a natural potential apoptosis-inducing agent for highly metastatic lung cancer.