β-acetoxyisovalerylalkannin suppresses proliferation and induces ROS-based mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in human melanoma cells

Abstract

β-acetoxyisovalerylalkannin (β-AIVA) is one of shikonin/alkannin derivative, which were mainly extracted from Boraginaceae family. The effects of β-AIVA on human melanoma A375 cells and U918 cells were investigated in vitro. The CCK-8 assay showed that β-AIVA inhibited proliferation of cells. Results from flow cytometry, ROS assay and JC-1 assay showed that β-AIVA increased late apoptosis rate, induced the production of ROS and promoted mitochondrial depolarization in cells. β-AIVA regulated expressions of BAX and Bcl-2 proteins, and increased the expression of cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3. These findings suggest that β-AIVA may be a potential therapeutic drug for treating melanoma.

Keywords:

• β-acetoxyisovalerylalkannin
• melanoma
• antitumor
• naphthoquinone
• Arnebia euchroma

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by Science and technology support Xinjiang project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China [2018E02069], Graduate innovation and entrepreneurship plan of Xinjiang Medical University, China [CXCY2018008], Graduate scientific research project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China [XJ2019G178], and Tianshan Talent Training Program of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China [2022TSYCCX0019].