Bak is a key molecule in apoptosis induced by methanol extracts of Codonopsis lanceolata and Tricholoma matsutake in HSC-2 human oral cancer cells

Abstract

Since the 5-year survival rate of oral cancer remains low, more effective and non-toxic therapeutic and preventive strategies are required. Certain natural products possess anticancer properties. The present study investigated the effects of the methanol extracts of Codonopsis lanceolata (MECI) and Tricholoma matsutake (METM) and identified the molecular target in HSC-2 human oral cancer cells. The results revealed that MECI and METM inhibited growth and induced apoptosis, as demonstrated by poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage and nuclear condensation and fragmentation. The compounds also increased Bak protein expression, while Bax, Bcl-XL and Mcl-1 were not affected. The results of the present study show that MECI and METM induce apoptosis to inhibit tumor growth of HSC-2 cells by modulating the Bak protein and suggest that Codonopsis lanceolata and Tricholoma matsutake are potential anticancer drug candidates for oral cancer.