In vitro porcine brain tubulin assembly inhibition by water extract from a Chinese medicinal herb, Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch

AIM: To investigate the effect of Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch (THH) on the assembly and disassembly process of tubulin and its possible mode of action. METHODS: In vitro porcine brain tubulin assembly assay was employed to analyze the inhibitory effects of THH at different concentrations (0.05 microg/L, 0.07 microg/L, 0.09 microg/L). Colchicine (0.0025 mmol/L, 0.0050 mmol/L, 0.0075 mmol/L) was used as a positive control. RESULTS: THH could significantly inhibit the assembly of isolated porcine brain tubulin at all tested concentrations. CONCLUSION: THH is capable of inducing aneuploidy in mammals via tubulin polymerization inhibition pathway and may pose a genetic risk to human beings.