Arachidin-1, a peanut stilbenoid, induces programmed cell death in human leukemia HL-60 cells

The stilbenoids, arachidin-1 (Ara-1), arachidin-3, isopentadienylresveratrol, and resveratrol, have been isolated from germinating peanut kernels and characterized as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. Resveratrol possesses anticancer activity, and studies have indicated that it induces programmed cell death (PCD) in human leukemia HL-60 cells. In this study, the anticancer activity of these stilbenoids was determined in HL-60 cells. Ara-1 had the highest efficacy in inducing PCD in HL-60 cells, with an approximately 4-fold lower EC50 than resveratrol. Ara-1 treatment caused mitochondrial membrane damage, activation of caspases, and nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor, resulting in chromosome degradation and cell death. Therefore, Ara-1 induces PCD in HL-60 cells through caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways. Ara-1 demonstrates its efficacy as an anticancer agent by inducing caspase-independent cell death, which is an alternative death pathway of cancer cells with mutations in key apoptotic genes. These findings indicate the merits of screening other peanut stilbenoids for anticancer activity.