The Extracts from Allium hookeri induces p53-independent Apoptosis through Mitochondrial Intrinsic Pathways in AGS Human Gastric Carcinoma Cells

Allium hookeri is a traditional plant to treat inflammatory diseases in India and Myanmar. Allium hookeri has anti-cancer and anti-microbial properties. However, till date, apoptotic mechanisms of Allium hookeri extract (AHE) were not investigated yet. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the apoptotic effects of AHE in AGS human gastric carcinoma cells. We confirmed the anti-proliferative activity and apoptotic effects of AHE by MTT assay and Annexin-V staining. In addition, treatment with AHE reduced the expression level of p-Akt. Akt plays an important role in cancer cell survival, growth, and division. Akt down-regulates apoptosis-mediated proteins, such as antiapoptotic proteins. Moreover, AHE increases expression level of tumor suppressor p53 and pro-apoptotic proteins. We treated LY294002 (inhibitor of Akt) and rapamycin (inhibitor of mTOR), pifitrin-α (p53 inhibitor) to determine the relationship between signal transduction of proteins associated with apoptosis. Taken together, our results indicate that AHE could induce apoptosis in AGS human gastric carcinoma cells.