The effects of 4-thujanol on chromosome aberrations,sister chromatid exchanges and micronucleus in human peripheral blood lymphocytes

4-Thujanol, a bicyclic monoterpene alcohol, is present in the essential oils of many medicinal and aromatic plants. It is commonly used as a fragrance and flavouring ingredient in a lot of different products. The potential genotoxic effects of 4-thujanol on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were investigated in vitro by the chromosome aberrations (CAs), sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), and micronucleus (MN) tests. The cells were treated with 13, 26 and 52 μg/mL 4-thujanol in the presence and absence of a metabolic activator (S9 mix). 4-Thujanol induced CA (P < 0.001) and MN formation (P < 0.05) at all concentrations (13, 26 and 52 μg/mL) in the presence and absence of the S9 mix without a concentration-dependent manner. However, the treatment of peripheral lymphocytes with 4-thujanol did not produce a statistical difference in the frequency of SCEs when compared with control group. Furthermore, this monoterpene did not significantly decrease the mitotic index (MI), proliferation index (PI), and nuclear division index (NDI). In conclusion, 4-thujanol had a significant clastogenic effect at the tested concentrations (13, 26 and 52 μg/mL) for human PBLs. In addition, no cytotoxic and/or cytostatic effects were observed regardless of the concentrations used. This work presents the first report on genotoxic properties of 4-thujanol.     

Chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges in cultured human lymphocytes treated with sodium metabisulfite, a food preservative

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of sodium metabisulfite (SMB) which is used as an antimicrobial substance in food, to induce chromosome aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in human lymphocytes. SMB-induced CAs and SCEs at all concentrations (75, 150 and 300 μg/ml) and treatment periods (24 and 48 h) dose-dependently. However, SMB decreased the replication index (RI) and the mitotic index (MI) at the concentrations of 150 and 300 μg/ml for 24 and 48 h treatment periods. This decrease was dose-dependent as well.     

Sister chromatid exchanges of human peripheral blood lymphocytes induced by N,N-diethylaniline in vitro

N,N-Diethylaniline is a reagent used in organic synthesis and is an important intermediate in the manufacturing of dyes. To evaluate its genotoxicity, we examined whether it can induce sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in human lymphocytes. We found that N,N-diethylaniline significantly increased the frequency of SCEs both in the absence and presence of S-9 mix. The SCEs from cultures treated by N,N-diethylaniline in the presence of S-9 mix displayed a marked increase which was about 5-fold greater than the control. ANOVA analyses indicated that there is a dose–response relationship between doses of N,N-diethylaniline and the frequency of SCEs, especially in the presence of S-9 mix. The results suggested that N,N-diethylaniline has genotoxicity.     

Influence of duration of exposure to styrene oxide on sister chromatid exchanges and cell-cycle kinetics in cultured human blood lymphocytes in vitro

Styrene-7,8-oxide, an intermediate of styrene, is a known alkylating mutagen. The present study was carried out to investigate the influence of duration of exposure to styrene-7,8-oxide (styrene oxide) on induction of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and inhibition of cell-cycle kinetics using cultured human blood lymphocytes in vitro. Phytohemagglutinin-stimulated whole-blood lymphocyte cultures obtained from heparinized whole blood from healthy donors were exposed to 100 μM styrene oxide for 22, 36, 48 and 72 h. A reduction of SCEs induction with increase in duration of exposure to styrene oxide was observed, i.e. a clear significant inverse relationship between exposure time and frequencies of SCEs induction due to styrene oxide was obtained. Styrene oxide induces significant elevations in unscheduled DNA synthesis DNA repair as well as S-phase synthesis in human blood lymphocytes in vitro, depending on the duration of exposure. The decrease in the induction of SCEs due to styrene oxide with increasing duration of its exposure may be principally due to an increased DNA repair and partly due to an increasing metabolic transformation to styrene glycol with increasing duration of its exposure as well as to some extent due to cell death at the maximum period of exposure, i.e. 72 h. Although the proliferations of lymphocytes exposed to 100 μM styrene oxide were significantly inhibited at different durations of exposure, no linear relationship between the replication index and the duration of exposure was noticed (r=0.47, p>0.05). Similarly, there was no relationship between replication index and SCE frequency (r=−0.36, p>0.05), suggesting that these two parameters may reflect two different endpoints for the cytogenotoxic effects of styrene oxide.     

The effects of boric acid on sister chromatid exchanges and chromosome aberrations in cultured human lymphocytes

The aim of this study was to determine the possible genotoxic effects of boric acid (BA) (E284), which is used as an antimicrobial agent in food, by using sister chromatid exchange (SCEs) and chromosome aberration (CAs) tests in human peripheral lymphocytes. The human lymphocytes were treated with 400, 600, 800, and 1000 μg/mL concentrations of BA dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), for 24 h and 48 h treatment periods. BA did not increase the SCEs for all the concentrations and treatment periods when compared to control and solvent control (DMSO). BA induced structural and total CAs at all the tested concentrations for 24 and 48 h treatment periods. The induction of the total CAs was dose dependent for the 24 h treatment period. However, BA did not cause numerical CAs. BA showed a cytotoxic effect by decreasing the replication index (RI) and mitotic index (MI). BA decreased the MI in a dose-dependent manner for the 24 h treatment period.     

Effects of auxin and cytokinin on induction of sister chromatid exchanges in cultured cells of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Summary In order to know the mutagenic effects of synthetic auxins (NAA, 2,4-D, and 2,4,5-T) and a cytokinin (kinetin) in vitro, sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) were analyzed in cultured cells of a hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In the MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l 2,4-D, the mean number of SCEs per cell was 15.2, and per pg of DNA, 0.42. No significant effect was found in the treatments of NAA or 2,4-D at concentrations of 0.5–10.0 mg/l, whereas more than 2.0 mg/l of 2,4,5-T induced dramatic increases of SCEs. Kinetin itself had no significant effect on SCE induction, but there was a tendency that SCEs induced by 2,4,5-T were suppressed by kinetin.     

The genotoxic and anti-genotoxic effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stachys petrokosmos</Emphasis> leaf extract in human lymphocytes using microsomal fractions

The genotoxic and anti-genotoxic effects of Stachys petrokosmos leaf extracts (Sp) were investigated in human lymphocytes. The cells were treated with 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 μL/mL concentrations of Sp leaf extracts for 24 and 48 h treatment periods in the absence and presence of metabolic activator (S9mix). In the absence of S9mix, Sp alone did not induce chromosome aberrations and formation of micronucleus while inducing the mean sister chromatid exchange at the highest concentration. In addition, Sp decreased the mutagenic effect of mitomycin-c. Sp alone showed a cytotoxic effect determined by a decrease in the proliferation index, mitotic index and nuclear division index. On the other hand a mixture of Sp and mitomycin-c resulted in a higher cytotoxic effect especially for 48 h treatment period. In the presence of S9mix, Sp was not genotoxic and cytotoxic however, it showed an anti-genotoxic effect by decreasing the effects of cyclophosphamide.     

A model for signal transduction in suspension cultures of Taxus chinensis var. mairei induced by an oligosaccharide from Fusarium oxysporum

A non-linear cascade model is proposed to describe the signal transduction pathway in suspension cultures of Taxus chinensis var. mairei induced by an oligosaccharide from Fusarium oxysporum. The oxidative burst intensity, which was defined as the amount of the free radicals including superoxide anion (O² ), H₂O₂ and OH^– and measured by ESR spectrometry, was used as the signal characteristic and the theory of electronic signal transduction cascade was then applied to derive the initial model. The model shows that the signal transduction cascade process is composed of three cascade nets, represented by the phosphorylation of a G-protein, activation of an ion channel and phospholipase C, and phosphorylation of protein kinase C. The three reactions were calculated as beginning at 30.5, 48.8 and 141.4 min after elicitation, and the maximum variation rates of the signal intensity in the three nets occurred at 43.2, 80.6 and 192.6 min, respectively. The validity of the model predictions was verified by experimental data.     

UV-B辐射对神农香菊萜类物质合成 及其相关基因表达的影响

该研究以神农香菊为材料,用强度为400μw·cm~(-2)的紫外光UV-B对其进行辐射处理,辐射时间分别为0、0.5、1、2、4 h,探讨了UV-B辐射对神农香菊萜类物质合成及其相关基因表达的影响。结果表明:(1)较短时间的UV-B辐射对神农香菊萜类物质合成相关基因表达量有明显的促进作用。与对照相比,0.5、1、2、4 h处理对相关基因表达量均有不同程度的提高;在2 h处理下HMGR、DXR、TPS、GPS基因的相对表达量达到最大值,在4 h处理下FPS和DXS的相对表达量达到最大值,其中FPS基因表达量变化最显著,为对照的69倍。(2) MVA途径中,去氢白菖烯、杜松萜烯的含量与FPS基因表达量4 h内持续上升的变化趋势保持一致,1-石竹烯与HMGR的变化趋势保持一致,表现为先升高后降低。(3) MEP合成途径中,α-侧柏酮、崖柏酮、β-侧柏酮的含量呈现与DXR、GPS、TPS基因表达量相同的变化趋势,桉树脑在UV-B辐射4 h内持续上升,与DXS基因的变化一致。由此可以推断,UV-B辐射通过影响各自途径中一些关键基因的表达量,进而影响了神农香菊萜类物质的合成量。     

钾对兰州百合鳞茎中多酚类物质积累代谢及其抗氧化活性的影响

为探究施钾对兰州百合鳞茎中多酚类物质的积累、抗氧化能力及差异代谢物的影响,该研究以兰州百合鳞茎为试材,通过固定氮素(N)和磷素(P)用量,设置不同钾(K)浓度处理,即K_(0)(不施肥)、K_(1)(447.6 mg·L^(-1))、K_(2)(671.4 mg·L^(-1))、K_(3)(895.2 mg·L^(-1)),采用福林-肖卡法、溴甲酚绿比色法、香草醛比色法、DPPH法、铜离子还原能力(CUPRAC)法测定不同K浓度处理下兰州百合鳞茎中多酚类物质含量及其抗氧化活性,并采用LC-MS法分析多酚类物质的差异代谢物,并进行差异代谢物筛选,功能注释及富集分析,为兰州百合的优质栽培提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)不同K浓度处理下兰州百合鳞茎中多酚类物质的含量及其抗氧化活性存在显著差异(P<0.05),与K_(0)相比,K_(1)、K_(2)、K_(3)均能促进鳞茎多酚类物质的积累及其抗氧化能力的提高,其中以K_(2)(671.4 mg·L^(-1))效果最佳。(2)相关性分析表明,兰州百合鳞茎多酚类物质含量与抗氧化活性指标呈极显著(P<0.01)相关关系,相关系数为0.451~0.959。(3)K_(0)、K_(2)浓度处理下兰州百合鳞茎中存在89种多酚类及相关化合物,其中52种相对含量显著上调,37种相对含量显著下调,且显著富集到黄酮类及苯丙类化合物生物合成的通路上。研究认为,兰州百合的最佳施钾量(671.4 mg·L^(-1))能有效促进鳞茎中多酚类物质的积累并提高其抗氧化能力。     

干旱胁迫对蒙古黄芪生长及根部次生代谢物含量的影响

以山西道地药材黄芪一年生幼苗为试验材料,设置常规水分条件(CK)、轻度干旱胁迫(A1)、中度干旱胁迫(A2)、重度干旱胁迫(A3)4个不同处理,研究土壤干旱胁迫对黄芪生长及生理的影响。结果表明:黄芪茎叶快速生长集中在出苗后80—120d,以后生长减缓;当茎叶枯萎时,根中生物量短期快速积累。与常规水分条件相比,干旱胁迫处理显著降低了黄芪苗高及茎叶生物量,但对抗氧化能力、根系生长及次生代谢物积累产生了不同的影响。轻度干旱胁迫下SOD、POD、CAT 3种抗氧化酶活性升高,丙二醛(MDA)含量和细胞膜透性降低,同时根长与根生物量增加、多糖与皂苷两种次生代谢物积累增多,黄芪药材的质量得到显著提高(P0.05);胁迫上升到中度、重度时,SOD酶活性逐渐降低,重度胁迫下低于对照,而POD及CAT酶活性、MDA含量、细胞膜透性均随胁迫增强而升高,相反,根长、根生物量、多糖与皂苷含量降低,导致黄芪药材的质量显著降低(P0.01)。综上表明,干旱胁迫下,SOD酶表现较为敏感,可能在清除活性氧中起主要作用;轻度水分胁迫能有效启动黄芪体内抗氧化酶系统和次生代谢,它们相互协作共同对抗胁迫对细胞产生的伤害,通过降低地上部分的生长,将营养物质优先运往根部,促进根产量及药材质量的提高。这一结论,可在黄芪多糖和皂苷次生代谢物定向培育的水分管理中加以利用。     

酸枣果提取物在体内外对抗生素的增效作用及机制研究

作者研究团队先前从酸枣果的氯仿提取物中精制得到其低极性范围的活性组合物Fr.2a,发现Fr.2a与多种抗生素联用显示出广泛的协同抗菌作用。该研究在Fr.2a的基础上利用硅胶柱层析对酸枣果氯仿提取物中其他极性范围内的活性成分进行了分离纯化,得到精制物Fr.B,并对精制物Fr.B进行GC MS、核磁共振氢谱、红外光谱分析,以确定Fr.B的组成成分;通过抗菌谱分析和细胞通透性分析,以明确Fr.B的抗菌增效谱和抗菌增效机制;采用熔和法将精制物Fr.B制备成软膏,通过小鼠伤口感染模型评价该软膏对抗生素的增效效果。结果表明：(1)由酸枣果氯仿提取物进一步精制得到的Fr.B组分,主要包含反油酸、油酸、顺 10 十六碳烯醇、棕榈酸等脂肪酸类化合物。(2)Fr.B分别与庆大霉素、妥布霉素、氨苄青霉素、氯霉素、红霉素、夫西地酸、制霉菌素、酮康唑和两性霉素B等多种抗生素联用时显示出广泛的协同抗菌作用。(3)Fr.B可破坏细胞膜和细胞壁的完整性而增强细菌细胞的通透性。(4)在体内和体外Fr.B均能显著增强红霉素对耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)的杀菌作用,从而提高红霉素对MRSA菌株引起的伤口感染的治疗效果。研究表明,本研究所得到的Fr.B具有广谱的抗菌增效活性,能够增强红霉素对伤口耐药菌感染的治疗效果。该研究结果为克服微生物对抗生素的耐药性提供了新的思路和解决方案。     

UV-B辐射对南方红豆杉生活史型和紫杉烷类含量的影响

运用植物生活史型的理论与方法,研究了UV-B辐射增强对南方红豆杉Taxus chinensis var. mairei表型性状和紫杉烷类次生代谢产物的影响。结果表明,随UV-B辐射强度增加,南方红豆杉无性生殖表型性状(C)明显增强(z值由0.18增加到0.52),营养生长表型性状(V)相应降低(x值由0.82降低至0.48);3.25 μW · cm^-2 · nm^-1UV-B辐射处理较对照组和9.76 μW · cm^-2 · nm^-1 UV-B辐射处理组生物量增量更高;增补UV-B辐射处理显著促进了南方红豆杉叶片中紫杉醇(Taxol)的积累,但对10-去乙酰基巴卡亭Ⅲ(10-deacetylbaccatin Ⅲ,10-DAB)、7-木糖-10-去乙酰基紫杉醇(7-xylosyl-10-deacetyltaxol,7-xyl-10-DAT)有一定的抑制效应,其中3.25 μW · cm^-2 · nm^-1UV-B辐射处理对紫杉醇诱导效果最为明显。结果表明,在南方红豆杉田间栽培中应注意上层树种搭配、修剪,从而形成适当的UV-B辐射胁迫以诱导紫杉醇含量及生物量增量,达到高产、优质的生态培植目标。     

风沙流持续吹袭对樟子松幼树光合蒸腾作用的影响

为了解风沙流持续吹袭对樟子松幼树光合蒸腾特征影响,2013年春季在内蒙古科尔沁沙地研究了0(CK)、6、9、12、15、18m/s等6个梯度风速处理30min持续风沙流吹袭下樟子松幼树光合蒸腾速率和水分利用效率等指标的变化规律。结果表明:随着风沙流吹袭强度的增加,光合速率、气孔导度和水分利用效率的日变化规律发生了明显改变,而蒸腾速率和胞间CO2浓度日变化曲线没有显著变化。和CK相比,6m/s和12m/s风沙流吹袭下其日均光合速率分别提高13.8%和38.9%,18m/s风沙流吹袭下则下降18.9%;6m/s和15m/s风沙流吹袭下其日均蒸腾速率分别提高16.9%和53.0%,18m/s风沙流吹袭下其日均蒸腾速率降低18.54%。和CK相比,其日均胞间CO2浓度在6—12m/s风沙流吹袭下没有显著变化,15m/s和18m/s风沙流吹袭下则分别提高16.2%和3.3%。6m/s和15m/s风沙流吹袭使其日均气孔导度较CK分别增加26.6%和45.2%,18m/s风沙流吹袭则使其降低13.7%。6、9、12、18m/s风沙流吹袭使其日均水分利用效率分别较CK增加7.3%、1.9%、18.2%和3.1%,而15m/s风沙流吹袭下其水分利用效率下降13.5%。     

肥料类型对盐碱地蒙古黄芪生长与光合特征及药材产量和品质的影响

以一年生蒙古黄芪种苗为材料,在盐碱地探究二年生蒙古黄芪根系产量和药效成分对不同肥料(海藻酸水溶肥、腐殖酸水溶肥、微生物菌剂生物肥、复合肥和有机肥)的响应以及其光合生理机制,为盐碱地蒙古黄芪的推广种植提供参考.结果 显示:在盐碱地,微生物菌剂生物肥的施用对蒙古黄芪的抗逆性、光合作用效率、生长特性、根系产量及质量均无显著性...     

Modulatory effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymbra spicata</Emphasis> L. different extracts against the mercury induced genotoxicity in human lymphocytes in vitro

Mercury, a xenobiotic metal, is a highly deleterious environmental pollutant. Moreover, in any form mercury is reported to be toxic. On the other hand, Thymbra spicata L., a member of the Lamiaceae family, has long been investigated popularly of biological roles; mainly antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. However, there are very scarce data on the cytogenetic effects of thyme species. The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic safety of different extracts from T. spicata (water extract, methanol extract, and ethanol extract) and the effects of T. spicata on mercury (as HgCl₂) induced genotoxicity. Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and micronucleus (MN) assays were performed to assess DNA damages in cultured human lymphocytes (n = 5). Our results clearly revealed that, the SCE and MN rates induced by HgCl₂ were alleviated by the presence of T. spicata. As conclusion, this study demonstrated for the first time that the T. spicata provided increased resistance of DNA against HgCl₂ induced genetic damage in human lymphocytes. Based on the results of this study, it may be concluded that the T. spicata is a nontoxic material that could be used as a suppressor of heavy metal-induced genotoxicity.     

Effects of isolates of ectomycorrhizal fungi and endophytic Mycelium radicis atrovirens that were dominant in soil from disturbed sites on growth of Betula platyphylla var. japonica seedlings

Effects of ectomycorrhizal fungi and endophytic Mycelium radicis atrovirens Melin (MRA) on growth of Betula platyphylla var. japonica seedlings were investigated under aseptic culture conditions. Three isolates of ectomycorrhizal fungi and two isolates of MRA were used. One MRA isolate was Phialocephala fortinii. Previous field work revealed that these isolates were dominant on the roots of B. platyphylla var. japonica seedlings grown in a mineral subsoil that had been exposed by the removal of surface soil. After a 100-day incubation, the growth of the seedlings was significantly enhanced by the colonization of these ectomycorrhizal fungal isolates as compared with uninoculated seedlings. In contrast, the growth of seedlings was retarded by the colonization of the MRA isolates. The growth of seedlings that were co-inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungi and MRA was similar to that of uninoculated seedlings in most cases. These results suggest that ectomycorrhizal fungi have a beneficial effect on the growth of B. platyphylla var. japonica seedlings and that they suppress the deleterious effect of MRA. Thus, these ectomycorrhizal fungi probably have an important role in establishing B. platyphylla var. japonica seedlings during the initial stage of re-vegetation following site disturbance by the removal of surface soil.     

Identity and frequency of occurrence ofTrichoderma spp. in roots of wheat and rye-grass in Western Australia and their effect on root rot caused byGaeumannomyces graminis var.tritici

Trichoderma hamatum, T. harzianum andT. koningii were isolated from wheat and rye-grass roots from a field in Western Australia. Frequency of occurrence ofTrichoderma spp. was higher on roots subjected to washing only, for both wheat and rye-grass than the roots which were surface-sterilized with 0.6% or 1.25% NaOCl.Trichoderma spp. were recovered at a higher frequency on PDA amended with lactic acid (pH 4.5) than on PDA alone (pH 5.6) or PDA with streptomycin. In general,Trichoderma spp. were isolated at a higher frequency from roots of wheat than that of rye-grass.T. hamatum occurred at a higher frequency in rye-grass roots than in wheat, whereasT. harzianum was more common in roots of wheat than in rye-grass, especially in seedling and milky ripe stages.T. koningii was recovered at a higher frequency from roots at seedling stage of rye-grass than wheat, the reverse being true at tillering stage.T. koningii was not recovered from roots of either host in any sampling when they were surface sterilized with 1.25% NaOCl.The take-all fungus was isolated from wheat and rye-grass roots more frequently at tillering and stem extension stages than others. It was severely pathogenic to both hosts in sterilized and non-sterilized soil.Addition of lactic acid, HCl or streptomycin to PDA did not affect the growth of theTrichoderma spp. tested, but the growth was slower on Martin's medium than on other media. In generalT. harzianum andT. koningii grow faster thanT. hamatum. The growth of the three species were not different at 20 and 25°C, but at 15°c growing of all species was significantly reduced.Incorporation of lactic acid into PDA prevented the bacterial growth in all treatments. Streptomycin too reduced but to a lesser degree than lactic acid. Surface sterilization with NaOCl decreased the recovery of both bacteria and fungi. T. hamatum andT. koningii reduced the mortality of wheat and rye-grass plants inoculated with the take-all fungus in sterilized and non-sterilized soil, whereT. harzianum did not protect wheat or rye-grass from infection by the take-all fungus.     

升温突变对川西道孚林线川西云杉和鳞皮冷杉生长的影响

高山林线作为理想的全球气候变化监测器,是研究植被与气候变化关系的重要场所。利用川西道孚县高山林线川西云杉（Picea likiangensis var.balfouriana）和鳞皮冷杉（Abies squamata）的年轮宽度资料,基于树木年代学的方法,构建差值年表并通过升温突变前后（1995年前后）年轮指数与气候要素的相关分析,探讨了该区林线主要针叶树种的年轮响应变化,为研究青藏高原地区树木与气候响应关系提供研究基础。结果表明：（1）年尺度上,1995年气温突变前后川西云杉和鳞皮冷杉年轮指数和生长弹性时间变化趋势均不显著,没有发生显著的响应分歧现象。（2）月尺度上,升温突变前川西云杉年轮指数与前一年11月月均最高温、5-7月月均温、6月月均最高温、7月月均最低温呈显著正相关;鳞皮冷杉则与前一年11月月均温、11月月均最高温和12月月均温呈显著正相关;表明升温突变前林线树木生长分别受夏季和冬季温度控制;升温突变后川西云杉年轮指数与前一年11月月均温呈显著负相关,和当年2月降水量及7月月均最低温呈显著正相关;而鳞皮冷杉则与当年5月月均温和5月月均最低温呈显著负相关,与5月降水的正相关性达到最大;表明升温突变后林线川西云杉生长依然受夏季温度控制,而鳞皮冷杉生长则受到春季干旱胁迫的影响。未来气候若随着升温出现干暖化,则林线鳞皮冷杉可能会发生明显的响应分歧现象。     

Antiproliferative activity and induction of apoptosis in human colon cancer cells treated in vitro with constituents of a product derived from Pistacia lentiscus L. var. chia

In this report, we demonstrate that a 50% ethanol extract of the plant-derived product, Chios mastic gum (CMG), contains compounds which inhibit proliferation and induce death of HCT116 human colon cancer cells in vitro. CMG-treatment induces cell arrest at G(1), detachment of the cells from the substrate, activation of pro-caspases-8, -9 and -3, and causes several morphological changes typical of apoptosis in cell organelles. These events, furthermore, are time- and dose-dependent, but p53- and p21-independent. Apoptosis induction by CMG is not inhibited in HCT116 cell clones expressing high levels of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, or dominant-negative FADD, thereby indicating that CMG induces cell death via a yet-to-be identified pathway, unrelated to the death receptor- and mitochondrion-dependent pathways. The findings presented here suggest that CMG (a) induces an anoikis form of cell death in HCT116 colon cancer cells that includes events associated with caspase-dependent pathways; and (b) might be developed into a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of human colon and other cancers.