Croton Tiglium Extract Induces Apoptosis via Bax/Bcl-2 Pathways in Human Lung Cancer A549 Cells

Abstract

<br /> <strong><span style="font-size: small;">Objective: </span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;">To investigate the impact of a Croton tiglium extract on cellular proliferation and apoptosis in a non-</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;">small cell lung cancer cell line (A549) in vitro. </span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Methods: </span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;">A Croton tiglium seed methanol extract was prepare and assessed for effects on A549 cells regarding cellular proliferation, apoptotic rates, and expression of apoptosis related </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;">genes and proteins using real-time PCR and immunofluorescence. </span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Results: </span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The tested Croton tiglium extract inhibited A549 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with significant elevation of apoptotic indexes at </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;">various concentrations after 24 h. In addition, rates in both early and late stages were higher in treated than untreated </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;">groups, the 100 μg/ml dose causing the highest levels of apoptosis. RT-PCR showed that A549 cells treated with 100 μg/ml Croton tiglium extract for 24 h has markedly higher Bax mRNA expression levels and obviously lower Bcl-2 expression levels than controls, equivalent results being observed for proteins by immunofluorescence. However, the mRNA expression levels of Fas and caspase-8 were not significantly altered. </span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Conclusion: </span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;">A Croton tiglium extract </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;">can inhibit proliferation of A549 cells and promote apoptosis though Bax/Bcl-2 pathways. </span></span>