engleski

Anticancer effect of apigenin on human breast cancer cells MCF-7 and MDA MB-231

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent malignant diseases in women and its occurrence is rapidly increasing due to modern life stress. Targeted therapy includes treatment with selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM), such as tamoxifen, in cells that express estrogen receptors (ER-positive cells) or antibodies like trastuzumab in HER2/Neu expressing breast cancer cells. However, not all breast cancer cells express ER, progesterone or HER2/Neu receptor. Such triple-negative breast cancer cells responds poorly to therapy and is often associated with negative prognosis. Several studies have shown that consumption of cruciferous vegetables suppresses the progression of malignant tumors including breast cancer. One of such natural phytochemicals is apigenin, a non-mutagenic and low toxicity flavone existing in fruits and vegetables. The aim of our study was to investigate possible anticancer effect of apigenin on the morphology and viability of breast cancer cells. Our model cells were hormone responsive, ER-positive MCF-7 and triple-negative MDA MB-231. After the treatment with apigenin we observed changes in cell morphology in dose- (10- 100 μM) and time-dependent manner. Moreover, apigenin caused cell death in both cell lines (with MCF-7 cells being more sensitive towards apigenin treatment) leading to significant toxicity, which was evaluated by MTT and XTT tetrazolium colorimetric assay. Differential staining using acridine orange/ethidium bromide on fluorescent microscope showed apoptosis as dominant type of cell death in both cell lines after 24 and 72 h treatment. This was further proved by Western blot analysis which detected cleaved PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase) in samples treated for 72 h with apigenin concentrations of IC50 and above. Observed cytotoxic and pro-cell death activities of apigenin coupled with its low toxicity towards normal cells, indicate that this natural product could be used as a future anticancer agent.

apigenin ; breast cancer

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