Apoptotic and anti-adhesion effect of ajoene, a garlic derived compound, on the murine melanoma B16F10 cells: possible role of caspase-3 and the alpha(4)beta(1) 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 B16F10 cells. Ajoene induced a significant reduction in B16F10 viability (IC(50)=62 microM), 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 microM 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.