Wedelolactone, A Medicinal Plant-Derived Coumestan, Induces Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis In Prostate Cancer Cells Via Downregulation Of PKCε Without Inhibiting Akt

Wedelolactone (WDL), a compound from medicinal plants, was found to induce caspase-dependent apoptosis in prostate cancer cells by downregulating protein kinase Cε (PKCε) without affecting Akt. The study showed that WDL reduced the viability of both androgen-sensitive and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner, while sparing normal prostate epithelial cells. The apoptosis was linked to the inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase (5-Lox) activity, as it was prevented by 5-oxoETE, a 5-Lox metabolite. These findings suggested that WDL could be a promising therapeutic agent for prostate cancer treatment due to its selective action on cancer cells and novel mechanism of inducing apoptosis.