[Mechanism study of beta-elemene derivative (ET) in NB4 cell on apoptosis induction].

OBJECTIVE: beta-Elemene is an active component of herb medicine Curcuma wenyujin, N-(beta-elemene-13-yl)tryptophan (ET) was synthesized to increase the activity. The antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of ET were investigated with NB4 cell. METHOD: The mechanism of ET were studied with the technology of cell culture in vitro using MTT assay, flow cytometry and Western blot analysis. RESULT: ET inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in NB4 cell at concentrations less than 40 micromol x L(-1). The apoptosis induction of ET in NB4 cell was associated with the generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and activation of caspase-3. Catalase pretreatment blocked ET-induced apoptosis in NB4 cells. CONCLUSION: ET induces apoptosis through generation of H2O2 in NB4 cell.