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    Article

    A Study of the Anti-Cancer Effects of the Hexane Fraction of the Methanol Extract of Forsythiae Fructus

    Se-Eun Lee1, Chiyeon Lim2, Soon-Cheol Ahn3, Suin Cho3★★ Corresponding author

    1. 1School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
    2. 2College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Ilsan, Gyounggi-do, Korea.
    3. 3College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.

    CORRESPONDENCE

    Suin Cho

    College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.

    sicho@pusan.ac.kr

    Received: 28-06-2016; Revised: 01-09-2016; Accepted: 01-09-2016.

    Volume 13, Issue 52 · pp. 719–724 · PUBLISHED 18 July 2017 · DOI: 10.4103/0973-1296.211079

    View on Pharmacogn. Mag. original site ↗

    ABSTRACT

    Background: Forsythiae Fructus (FF) is a well-known medicinal herb derived from the dried fruits of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl. (Oleaceae). Recently, bioactive compounds isolated from hydrophobic solvent fractions of FF have been reported to have anti-oxidant, antibacterial, and anti-cancer effects. Objective: Almost all herbal medicines are derived from water extracts, which suggests different extraction methods might enhance the practical efficacies of herbal medicines. In this study, the authors further investigated the most potential anti-cancer fraction, that is, the hexane fraction (FFH) of the methanol extract (FFM) of the dried fruits of Forsythia suspensa. Materials and Methods: FFH was investigated by measuring its effects on the viability and apoptotic death of PC-3 cells (a prostate cancer cell line), on the expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, cytochrome c, procaspase-9, procaspase-3 and PARP, and caspase-3 activity. Results: FFH significantly accelerated apoptotic cell death and decreased the protein levels of Bcl-2, procaspase-9, and procaspase-3. Conclusion: FFH can act as a pro-oxidative agent and induce the apoptosis of prostate cancer cells.

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      Lee, S., Lim, C., Ahn, S., & Cho, S. (2017). A Study of the Anti-Cancer Effects of the Hexane Fraction of the Methanol Extract of Forsythiae Fructus. Pharmacognosy Magazine, 13(52), 719–724. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-1296.211079