Characterization of apoptosis induced by fucoxanthin in human promyelocytic leukemia cells

Apoptosis induced by fucoxanthin in HL-60 cells was associated with a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential at an early stage, but not with an increase in reactive oxygen species. Fucoxanthin treatment caused cleavages of procaspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase without any effect on the protein level of Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L), or Bax. Apoptosis induction by fucoxanthin may be mediated via mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and caspase-3 activation.