Sulforaphane (SFN) is a biological active compound extracted from cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is a nitric oxide (NO) donor which is a reactive free radical compound. These have been shown to inhibit proliferation and to induce apoptosis of variable cancer cells, although the accurate mechanisms of action of SFN and SNP remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of a combination of SFN and SNP on proliferation and apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells. SFN and SNP respectively inhibit proliferation. SNP enhances SFN-mediated inactivation of Akt and accelerates SFN-prevented proliferation. Co-treatment with SFN and SNP did not cause apoptosis, but inhibition of C-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNKinase) with SP600125 in the presence of SFN and SNP significantly increase apoptosis determined by DNA fragmentation and activation of caspase-3 by Western blot analysis. These findings indicate that SFN and SNP regulate proliferation and mediate apoptosis via JNKinase pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells. (Cancer Prev Res 16, 318-325, 2011)

Keywords: Sulforaphane, Apoptosis, Caspase-3, MDA-MB-231