Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 6, 2026
15:53
Cell Death Associated with Abnormal Mitosis Observed by Confocal Imaging in Live Cancer Cells
Published on: August 21, 2013
15.7K
Mitotic abnormality induced by evodiamine, a tryptamine indole alkaloid
Ryoya Shigefuji1, Seiji Komatsu1, Takeshi Terabayashi2
1Department of Advanced Medical Sciences, Oita University, Yufu, Oita 879-5503, Japan.
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
|April 5, 2026
Summary
Evodiamine, a compound from herbal medicine, shows promise as an anticancer drug candidate. It selectively kills proliferating cells by disrupting chromosome segregation during mitosis.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Cell Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Mitotic inhibitors are crucial in cell biology research and cancer chemotherapy.
- East Asian herbal medicines are a potential source of novel anticancer agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize new anticancer drug candidates from herbal medicines.
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms of evodiamine's cytotoxic effects.
Main Methods:
- Screening of herbal medicine compounds for cytotoxic activity.
- Comparative analysis of evodiamine and rutaecarpine effects on cell proliferation.
- Microscopic examination of chromosome segregation and mitotic progression in treated cells.
Main Results:
- Evodiamine exhibited selective cytotoxicity against proliferating cells, unlike structurally similar rutaecarpine.
- Evodiamine treatment led to premature chromatid distribution and micronucleus formation during mitosis.
- Higher concentrations of evodiamine induced prophase arrest, indicating mitotic disruption.
Conclusions:
- Evodiamine is a potential anticancer drug candidate with selective toxicity towards proliferating cells.
- The compound induces chromosomal segregation abnormalities, leading to cell death.
- Evodiamine's mechanism of action involves disrupting mitosis, making it a promising therapeutic agent.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules
4.3K
Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
4.3K
01:21Nondisjunction
5.8K
Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers. Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis. Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold...
5.8K
01:29Nondisjunction
83.6K
During meiosis, chromosomes occasionally separate improperly. This occurs due to failure of homologous chromosome separation during meiosis I or failed sister chromatid separation during meiosis II. In some species, notably plants, nondisjunction can result in an organism with an entire additional set of chromosomes, which is called polyploidy. In humans, nondisjunction can occur during male or female gametogenesis and the resulting gametes possess one too many or one too few chromosomes.
83.6K
01:15Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules
2.9K
Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
2.9K
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
3.8K
3.8K
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
5.4K
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.4K