Ferutinin, an Apoptosis Inducing Terpenoid from Ferula ovina

Abstract

A current hurdle in cancer management is the intrinsic or acquired resistance of cancer cells to chemical agentsthat restricts the efficacy of therapeutic strategies. Accordingly, there is an increasing desire to discover newnatural compounds with selective toxicity to combat malignancies. In present study, the cytotoxic and apoptosisinducingactivities of ferutinin, a terpenoid derivative from Ferula ovina, were investigated on human breast(MCF7) and bladder (TCC) cancer cells as well as normal fibroblasts (HFF3).The toxicity and DNA damageinducing effects of ferutinin were studied by MTT and comet assays, DAPI and PI staining and DNA laddering.The IC50 values of ferutinin were identified and compared with routine prescribed drugs, doxorubicin andvincristine, by MTT test. Alkaline comet assay and DAPI staining revealed DNA damage due to ferutinin, whichwas significantly (p<0.001) higher in MCF7 and TCC than HFF3 cells. Apoptosis induction was evidenced by PIstaining and DNA laddering. Our results suggest that ferutinin could be considered as an effective anticanceragent for future in vivo and clinical experiments.