Fig. 5. Proposed molecular mechanism of cedrol through G1 arrest and apoptosis association with MCM downregulation in A549 cells.

Cedrol induces G1 arrest through the upregulation of p53 and p21, and downregulation of cyclin, CDK, and phosphorylated pRb. At the same time, cedrol induces apoptosis through the regulation of Bcl-2 family proteins and activation of caspase. Induction of G1 arrest and apoptosis by cedrol may be linked by its strong MCM inhibitory activity in A549 cells.