Bakkenolide A is an anticancer agent. Bakkenolide A reduces the viability of leukemia cells, inhibits cell colony formation and invasion, and downregulates the expression of HDAC3 in cells. Bakkenolide A downregulates the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-alpha, interleukins such as IL-1beta, TGF-beta1 and IFN-gamma, as well as the expression of PI3K, PDK and PKC in leukemia cells. Bakkenolide A downregulates activated Akt, GSK and Bad, while upregulates Cyto-c, cleaved Caspase3 and cleaved Caspase7, induces apoptosis (apoptosis) in leukemia cells and thereby inhibits inflammatory responses in leukemia cells. Bakkenolide A significantly slows the growth of subcutaneous leukemia tumors in nude mice. Bakkenolide A is applicable to leukemia-related research[1].
