title: Role of caspases and Bax protein in saffron-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells.
abstract: Saffron (Crocus sativus), widely used as a spice in Middle Eastern cuisine and is known for anti-cancer properties. The mechanism of saffron-induced cytotoxicity, in tumor cells has not been adequately explored. Therefore, we investigated the role of caspases and Bax protein in saffron-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, a commonly used cell culture system for in vitro studies on breast cancer. Cells were incubated with different concentrations of saffron extract. Cell viability was quantitated by MTT assay. Apoptotic cells were determined using PI staining of DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry (sub-G1 peak). Role of caspase were studied using the pan-caspase inhibitor. Bax protein expression was analysed by western blotting. Saffron extract (200-2000 microg/ml) decreased cell viability in MCF-7 cells as a concentration- and time-dependent manner with an IC50 of 400+/-18.5 microg/ml after 48 h. Analysis of DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry showed apoptotic cell death in MCF-7 cell treated with saffron extract. Saffron-induced apoptosis could be inhibited by pan-caspase inhibitors, indicating caspase-dependent pathway was induced by saffron in MCF-7 cells. Bax protein expression was also increased in saffron-treated cells. Thus saffron exerts proapoptotic effects in a breast cancer-derived cell line and could be considered as a potential chemotherapeutic agent in breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacological Research Centre of Medicinal Plants, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. mousavih@mums.ac.ir
authors.forename: Seyed Hadi
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.forename: Jalil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tavakkol-Afshari
authors.forename: Azam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brook
authors.forename: Iraj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jafari-Anarkooli
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000502:physiology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D020169:Caspases; C022616:thiazolyl blue