Anticancer Activity of Camel Milk via Induction of Autophagic Death in Human Colorectal and Breast Cancer Cells

Abstract

Background/ Objective: Camel milk is traditionally known for its human health benefits and believed to be a remedy<br />for various human ailments including cancer. The study was aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of commercially<br />available camel milk on cancer cells and its underlying mechanism(s). Materials and Methods: Two cell lines:<br />colorectal cancer HCT 116 and breast cancer MCF-7 were cultured with different doses of camel milk. The effects of<br />camel milk on cell death were determined by MTT assay, viability by trypan blue exclusion assay and migration by in<br />vitro scratch assay. The mechanism was elucidated by western blotting and confocal microscopy was used to confirm<br />autophagy. Results: Camel milk significantly reduced proliferation, viability as well as migration of both the cells.<br />The accumulation of LC3-II protein along with reduction in expression of p62 and Atg 5-12, the autophagy proteins<br />implied induction of autophagy. The (GFP)-LC3 puncta detected by confocal microscopy confirmed the autophagosome<br />formation in response to camel milk treatment. Conclusion: Camel milk exerted antiproliferative effects on human<br />colorectal HCT 116 and breast MCF-7 cancer cells by inducing autophagy.