Aerial Parts of Peucedanum chenur Have Anti-Cancer Properties through the Induction of Apoptosis and Inhibition of Invasion in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Authors
Saeed Yadegari 1
Massuod Saidijam 1
Mohammadreza Moradi 1
Dara Dastan 2
Ali Mahdavinezhad 1
1 Research Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
2 Medicinal Plants and Natural Products Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
10.29252/ibj.24.5.309
Abstract
Background: The Peucedanum species have many pharmacological effects due to the presence of coumarins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and essential fatty acids in these species. In this study, for the first time, the anticancer activity of Peucedanum chenur methanolic extract via the induction of apoptosis and inhibition of invasion in HCT-116 human colon cancer cells was investigated. Methods: P. chenur methanolic extract effect on HCT-116 cells viability and antioxidant activity were evaluated using MTT assay, 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, and iron chelating tests, respectively. Changes in mRNA expression level in a panel of relevant genes were assessed by the quantitative real-time PCR. Also, apoptosis was assessed by cell cycle analysis and Annexin V/PI (propidium iodide) method, and the effect on cell migration was tested using scratch test. Results: P. chenur methanolic extract increased significantly the expression of BAX while decreased the expression of BCL-2, AKT1, FAK, RhoA, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes compared to the control group. BAX/BCL-2 ratio and apoptosis elevated, whereas cell migration reduced significantly. Besides, our extract showed an appropriate antioxidant activity. Conclusion: P. chenur may be introduced as a new chemopreventive agent in medicine due to its notable power in terms of induction of apoptosis and inhibition of invasion.
Keywords
Antioxidant
Apoptosis
Colorectal neoplasm
Medicinal plant
Neoplasm invasiveness