In vitro activity: Costunolide inhibits the growth and telomerase activity of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Costunolide also inhibits the farnesylation process of human lamin-B by farnesyl–proteinttransferase (FPTase), in a dose dependent manner. Continuously treatment of Costunolide for 48 hours will significantly decrease proliferation of human tumor cells (A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, XF498 and HCT-1) in a dose-dependent manner. Costunolide induces apoptosis by ROS-mediated mitochondrial permeability transition and cytochrome C release to the cytosol in HL-60 human leukemia cells. A recent study indicates that Costunolide shows significant antifungal activity, including Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T.simlii,T.rubrum, and so on.

Kinase Assay: The telomerase activity is measured by the TRAP assay using the TRAPez Telomerase Detection Kit, which includes primers of a 36-bp internal control (IC) for quantifying the amplification of telomerase activity within a linear range close to 2.5 logs. For RNase treatment, 10μL of extract are incubated with 1μg of RNase at 37 °C for 20 minutes. The products of the TRAP assay are resolved by electrophoresis in a nondenaturing12% PAGE in a buffer containing 0.5 × Tris–borate EDTA and detected by autoradiograph. For quantification of TRAP products, the dried gels are exposed to Fuji Imaging Plate at room temperature. Results are corrected for background, and a standard value of 100 is given to the untreated control cell signal. Signal intensities of Costunolide-treated cells are compared to the standard and are expressed as a fraction of the maximum value of 100.

Cell Assay: 1) Plate 500-10,000 cells in 200 μL media per well in a 96 well plate. Leave 8 wells empty for blank controls. 2) Incubate (37 °C, 5% CO2) overnight to allow the cells to attach to the wells. 3) Add 2 μL of Costunolide dissolved in DMSO to each well. Place on a shaking table, 150 rpm for 5 minutes, to thoroughly mix the samples into the media. 5) Incubate (37 °C, 5% CO2) for 48 hours to allow Costunolide to take effect. 6) Make 2 mL or more of MTT solution per 96 well plate at 5 mg/mL in PBS. Do not make a stock as MTT in solution is not stable long-term. 7) Add 20 μL MTT solution to each well. Place on a shaking table, 150 rpm for 5 minutes, to thoroughly mix the MTT into the media. 8) Incubate (37 °C, 5% CO2) for 1-5 hours to allow the MTT to be metabolized. 9) Dump off the media. (Dry plate on paper towels to remove residue if necessary. 10) Resuspend formazan (MTT metabolic product) in 200 μL DMSO. Place on a shaking table, 150 rpm for 5 minutes, to thoroughly mix the formazan into the solvent. 11) Read optical density at 560 nm and subtract background at 670 nm. Optical density should be directly correlated with cell quantity.

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