• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.643-647
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• 2003

The Methylene Chloride(MC) fraction of Trichosanthis kirilowii Maxim has been investigated anti-tumor activities in vitro. The MC fraction of Trichosanthis kirilowii Maxim significantly inhibited the proliferation of human leukemic U937 cell with an IC50 of approximately 10μg/ml in a dose-dependent manner. We found that the MC fraction upregulated of caspase9 and caspase-3 activity and cleaved PARP expression but it didn't affect bax and bcl-2. which were demonstrated by western blot analysis. Taken together, these results exerted that the MC fraction suppessed human leukemic U937 cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis, suggesting the MC fraction of Trichosanthis kirilowii Maxim is possible to show anti-cancer activity in vivo.