Evaluation of the anticancer effect of violacein, phycocyanin and phycocyanobilin on apoptotic genes expression and glycan profiles in breast cancer cells

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Applied Medical Chemistry, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria, Egypt.

2 Medical Research Institute, Alexandria, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Cancer researchers have been concentrated on finding the best therapeutic strategies to decline cancer mortality rates. Marine natural products with pharmacological activities have potent anticancer activities. Aim: This study investigated the anticancer effect of violacein, phycocyanin, and phycocyanobilin in MCF-7 cells. Additionally, the elucidation of combined therapy efficiency (violacein-phycocyanin) on enhancing the anticancer activity of monotherapy. Materials and Methods: The cultured untreated, and treated cells by etoposide, violacein, phycocyanin, phycocyanobilin, and combined therapy were subjected to molecular studies, and glycan profiles by real time-PCR, and MALDI-TOF respectively. Results: Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3 genes expression, and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in all groups were significantly upregulated compared to the untreated cells except for a significant decrease in Bcl-2 by etoposide or combined therapy and an insignificant difference in Bax/Bcl-2 by PC or PCB treatment. The intensity of tetra-, tri-sialylated N-glycan, and di-sialylated O-glycan was significantly decreased in violacein, and combined-treated cells when compared to untreated or PC-treated cells. Mono-sialylated O-glycan was also decreased in combined therapy compared to the treated or untreated cells. Conclusion: Cotreatment with violacein/PC generated synergistic, antiproliferative, and pro-apoptotic effects on MCF-7 cells. Therefore, these compounds may be promising chemotherapeutic agents for breast cancer

Keywords

Main Subjects

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics