Resveratrol-4-O-D-(2-galloyl)-glucopyranoside exerts an anticancer effect on leukemia cells via inducing apoptosis

The aim of the present study was to investigate the anticancer effects of resveratrol-4-O-D-(2-galloyl)-glucopyranoside (REG) on leukemia and the mechanism underlying its effects. Three leukemia cell lines (HL-60, Jurkat and U937) were used in this study. A Cell Counting kit-8 assay was performed to evaluate the anti-proliferative activity of REG on leukemia cell lines, and flow cytometric analysis was used to detect REG-induced apoptosis. In addition, western blot analysis was conducted to detect the levels of apoptosis-related proteins including, cytochrome c, cleaved (c)-caspases-3 and -9, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated protein x (Bax). Finally, a HL-60 cell xenograft model in nude mice was used to evaluate the antitumor effect of REG on leukemia in vivo. The present results indicated that REG can significantly inhibit the proliferation of HL-60, Jurkat and U937 cell lines in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The half maximal inhibitory concentration values were 38.4, 49.1 and 48.2 mu g/ml for HL-60, Jurkat and U937 cells, respectively. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that REG can induce the apoptosis of HL-60 cells, as well as increase the levels of cytochrome c, c-caspases-3 and -9, and Bax, as well as downregulate the expression of Bcl-2. In vivo, REG was found to possess a marked anticancer effect on leukemia. In combination, the present results indicated that REG exerts significant anticancer effects on leukemia in vivo and in vitro through the induction of apoptosis.