Herbal isoprenols induce apoptosis in human colon cancer cells through transcriptional activation of PPARgamma.

Farnesol (FOH) and geranylgeraniol (GGOH) possess anti-tumor potential, while peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) has exhibited modulating effects in colorectal cancers. We investigated the anti-carcinogenic effects of these isoprenols in HT-29 and HCT116 colon cancer cells and PPARgamma involvement. Results indicate that the FOH- and GGOH-induced apoptosis involve caspase 3 activation, PARP cleavage, nuclear chromatin condensation, down-regulation of Bcl-x(L) and survivin expression, with increased PPARgamma promoter activity. Pretreatment of the PPARgamma antagonist GW9662 reduces FOH-induced growth inhibition and the associated PARP cleavage. We conclude that PPARgamma activation is essential to elicit the anti-carcinogenic action of herbal isoprenols in colonic cancer cells.