Benzyl isothiocyanate and phenethyl isothiocyanate, are derived isothiocyanates from cruciferous vegetable, including watercress, broccoli and cabbage. Benzyl isothiocyanate has been shown that to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in many human cancer cell lines, such as ovarian cancer cells, breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells and pancreatic cancer Capan-2 cells. Phenethyl isothiocyanate also has been shown that to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in many human cancer cell lines, such as human non-small lung cancer cells, prostate cancer PC-3 cells (Prostate cancer metastasized to bone). In this study, we investigate the effect of benzyl isothiocyanate and phenethyl isothiocyanate on human prostate cancer DU-145 cells, the results demonstrate that benzyl isothiocyanate and phenethyl isothiocyanate induced cause G2 / M phase arrest and apoptosis. These effects are in a dose- and time-dependent manners. Besides, benzyl isothiocyanate and phenethyl isothiocyanate also decreased the levels of mitochondria membrane potential, induced reactive oxygen species and calcium ion production in examined DU-145 cells. Benzyl isothiocyanate and phenethyl isothiocyanate induced apoptosis of DU-145 cells which also were confirmed by DAPI staining and DNA gel electrophoresis. Western blotting show that benzyl isothiocyanate and phenethyl isothiocyanate treatment gradually decreased the level of anti-apoptotic proteins, but increased the level of pro-apoptotic proteins. Besides, benzyl isothiocyanate and phenethyl isothiocyanate increased caspase-3 activity. Therefore, benzyl isothiocyanate and phenethyl isothiocyanate induce apoptosis in human prostate cancer DU-145 cells.
