Apoptotic and anti-adhesion effect of ajoene, a garlic derived compound, on the murine melanoma B16F10 cells:: possible role of caspase-3 and the α4β1 integrin

In this study we evaluated the hypothesis that the antitumor activity of ajoene could be associated with its apoptosis-inducing effect, and with its ability to block the expression of the alpha(4)beta(1) integrin, in the murine melanoma B 161710 cells. Ajoene induced a significant reduction in B16F10 viability (IC50 = 62 muM), in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the cytotoxic effect of this compound was associated with caspase-3 activation. Ajoene at 25 muM altered the alpha(4)beta(1) integrin expression on B16F10. and induced a significant reduction in the adhesion of these cells to an endothelial cell monolayer. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.