p53/p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression and its possible role in G1 arrest and apoptosis in ellagic acid treated cancer cells

Narayanan, Bhagavathi A.; Geoffroy, Otto; Willingham, Mark C.; Re, Gian G.; Nixon, Daniel W.

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Volume 136, Issue 2 , Pages 215-221, 1 March 1999

p53/p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression and its possible role in G1 arrest and apoptosis in ellagic acid treated cancer cells

Bhagavathi A. Narayanan
- Cancer Prevention Program, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Corresponding author. Present address: Hollings Cancer Center, Room 209, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. Tel.: +1-843-792-4859; fax: +1-843-792-3200
Otto Geoffroy
- Cancer Prevention Program, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
Mark C. Willingham
- Present address: Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
- Cancer Prevention Program, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
Gian G. Re
- Dept. of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
Daniel W. Nixon
- Cancer Prevention Program, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA

Received 25 August 1998; received in revised form 15 October 1998; accepted 15 October 1998.

Abstract

Ellagic acid is a phenolic compound present in fruits and nuts including raspberries, strawberries and walnuts. It is known to inhibit certain carcinogen-induced cancers and may have other chemopreventive properties. The effects of ellagic acid on cell cycle events and apoptosis were studied in cervical carcinoma (CaSki) cells. We found that ellagic acid at a concentration of 10⁻⁵ M induced G1 arrest within 48 h, inhibited overall cell growth and induced apoptosis in CaSki cells after 72 h of treatment. Activation of the cdk inhibitory protein p21 by ellagic acid suggests a role for ellagic acid in cell cycle regulation of cancer cells.

Keywords: Ellagic acid, Ellagitannins, Apoptosis, CaSki cells