![](/images/graphics-bg.png)
Shikonin Directly Targets Mitochondria and Causes Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cancer Cells
Joint Authors
Efferth, Thomas
Eichhorn, Tolga
Paulsen, Malte
Wiench, Benjamin
Source
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Issue
Vol. 2012, Issue 2012 (31 Dec. 2012), pp.1-15, 15 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2012-10-15
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
15
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Chemotherapy is a mainstay of cancer treatment.
Due to increased drug resistance and the severe side effects of currently used therapeutics, new candidate compounds are required for improvement of therapy success.
Shikonin, a natural naphthoquinone, was used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of different inflammatory diseases and recent studies revealed the anticancer activities of shikonin.
We found that shikonin has strong cytotoxic effects on 15 cancer cell lines, including multidrug-resistant cell lines.
Transcriptome-wide mRNA expression studies showed that shikonin induced genetic pathways regulating cell cycle, mitochondrial function, levels of reactive oxygen species, and cytoskeletal formation.
Taking advantage of the inherent fluorescence of shikonin, we analyzed its uptake and distribution in live cells with high spatial and temporal resolution using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy.
Shikonin was specifically accumulated in the mitochondria, and this accumulation was associated with a shikonin-dependent deregulation of cellular Ca2+ and ROS levels.
This deregulation led to a breakdown of the mitochondrial membrane potential, dysfunction of microtubules, cell-cycle arrest, and ultimately induction of apoptosis.
Seeing as both the metabolism and the structure of mitochondria show marked differences between cancer cells and normal cells, shikonin is a promising candidate for the next generation of chemotherapy.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Wiench, Benjamin& Eichhorn, Tolga& Paulsen, Malte& Efferth, Thomas. 2012. Shikonin Directly Targets Mitochondria and Causes Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cancer Cells. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine،Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-15.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1028505
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Wiench, Benjamin…[et al.]. Shikonin Directly Targets Mitochondria and Causes Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cancer Cells. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine No. 2012 (2012), pp.1-15.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1028505
American Medical Association (AMA)
Wiench, Benjamin& Eichhorn, Tolga& Paulsen, Malte& Efferth, Thomas. Shikonin Directly Targets Mitochondria and Causes Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cancer Cells. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012. Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-15.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1028505
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1028505