Antitumor agent yatein from Calocedrus formosana Florin leaf induces apoptosis in non-small-cell lung cancer cells

Calocedrus formosana Florin is a softwood tree species with high economic value in Taiwan. Several bioactivities of the extracts of C. formosana have been reported; however, only one study focused on the anti-non-small-cell lung cancer cells’ (anti-NSCLC) effect of C. formosana extract and its active phytocompound. In the present study, the anti-lung cancer effects of C. formosana leaf extract and its active derivative yatein were evaluated. The results revealed that the n-hexane fraction of the crude extract exhibited the highest cytotoxicity potential against two non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines, namely A549 and CL1-5. Yatein, isolated from the n-hexane fraction, exhibited the highest cytotoxicity in the A549 and CL1-5 cells. In addition, the CL1-5 cells were more sensitive than the A549 cells after yatein treatment. Flow cytometry results revealed that yatein induced apoptosis in the two cell lines. Furthermore, expression of regulatory proteins related to apoptosis, such as caspase 3, caspase 8, caspase 9, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), increased in the A549 and CL1-5 cells after yatein treatment. These findings provide insight into the in vitro anti-lung tumor efficacy of yatein, thus rendering this phytocompound a potential anticancer lead compound for NSCLC treatment.