We evaluated the effects of Bidens pilosa, a plant found in tropical and subtropical regions, and investigated the molecular pathways responsible for the anti-adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) effect. Water extracts of B. pilosa had growth suppressive effects on human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-infected T-cell lines and ATL cells. B. pilosa extracts arrested cells in G1 cell cycle and induced apoptosis of HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines. B. pilosa extracts inhibited also the phosphorylation of IκB kinase β and IκBα, and NF-κB-DNA binding, in conjunction with reduction of expression of proteins involved in G1/S cell cycle transition and suppression of apoptosis. Reactive oxygen species played a role in B. pilosa-mediated suppression of NF-κB activity. B. pilosa extracts also inhibited the expression of JunB and JunD, resulting in suppression of AP-1-DNA binding. In animals harboring tumors of HTLV-1-infected T-cell origin, treatment with B. pilosa extracts suppressed tumor growth. Our results suggest that B. pilosa is a potentially useful medicinal plant for treatment of ATL.

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