Antiproliferative activity and apoptosis induction of crude extract and fractions of avicennia marina.
OBJECTIVE
Regarding the presence of many active biological constituents in Avicennia marina, the present investigation was carried out to study cytotoxic activity of crude methanol leave extract and column chromatographic fractions of A. marina against MDA-MB 231 cell line (human breast cancer cell) and HEK (Human embryonic kidney cell) line.


METHODS
The anticancer activity of crude methanol extract and sub-fractions were evaluated, using MTT assay. The induction of apoptosis was determined by analyzing DNA fragmentation in breast cancer cells treated with active fraction of crude methanol extract using agarose gel electrophoresis. To investigate molecular mechanism of apoptosis, gene expression levels of p53 and Bcl-2 were measured using quantitative real time PCR.


RESULTS
Fraction 10 was the most active fraction and was detected with HPLC as luteolin. The 50% cell cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of crude methanol extract and luteolin was 250 and 28 µg/ml, respectively. This fraction was found to be an apoptotic agent against MDA-MB 231 cells, which leads to causing DNA fragmentation. The mRNA expression level of Bcl-2 and p53 was significantly decreased and increased respectively in cancer cells treated by luteolin.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested that Luteolin isolated from Avicennia marina could probably induce apoptosis on breast cancer cell line by the regulation of p53 and Bcl-2 pathways.
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technologies, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
Amir Abbas
AA
Momtazi-Borojeni
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technologies, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
Mandana
M
Behbahani
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Hojjat
H
Sadeghi-Aliabadi
Apoptosis; Avicennia marina; Cytotoxic activity; DNA fragmentation; MDA-MB 231 cell line