The mechanistic antitumor study of myricanol 5-fluorobenzyloxy ether in human leukemic cell HL-60

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to explore the growth inhibitory effect of myricanol 5-fluorobenzyloxy ether (5FEM) and the underlying mechanism in human leukemic cells HL-60. Materials & methods: 5FEM was obtained by chemical modification of myricanol with fluorobenzyloxy ether at the OH(5) position. The cytotoxicity, cell apoptosis, cell cycle and the expression of key apoptosis-related genes in HL-60 were evaluated. Results & conclusion: 5FEM can significantly inhibited growth of HL-60 cells, increased the G2/M population and upregulated the expression of Bax, Fas, FasL, caspase-9 and p21 and downregulated that of Bcl-2 and survivin. The results enhance our understanding of 5FEM and aid the discovery of novel myricanol derivatives as potential antitumor agents.