Cytotoxic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Cuscuta chinensis on PC۳ and MCF۷ cancer cell lines

Objective: Chemoprevention of cancer by application of natural phytochemical compounds has been used to prevent, delay or suppress cancer progression. Cuscuta chinensis a traditional Iranian medicinal herb, has biological properties including anticancer, anti-aging, immuno-stimulatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, anti-proliferative effects of hydroalcoholic extract of C. chinensis on prostate (PC۳) and breast (MCF۷) cancer cell lines were investigated. Materials and Methods: In the current study, we investigated treatment of PC۳ cells with different concentrations of C. chinensis (۰, ۱۰۰, ۲۰۰, ۳۰۰, ۴۰۰, and ۵۰۰ µg/ml) for ۲۴ and ۴۸ hr; also, MCF۷ cells were treated with various concentrations (۰-۶۰۰ µg/ml) of C. chinensis for ۴۸ and ۷۲ hr and cell viability was assessed by ۳-(۴, ۵-dimethylthiazol-۲-yl)-۲, ۵-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. mRNA expression of BCL۲ Associated X (Bax), B-cell lymphoma ۲ (Bcl۲), Cysteine-aspartic proteases (Caspase۳) and Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Annexin V/PI staining and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity assay were used to detect apoptosis. Results: C. chinensis decreased PC۳ and MCF۷ cells viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner (p BAX/Bcl۲ ratio, Caspase۳ and PTEN increased in C. chinensis-treated cells compared to the control group. C. chinensis induced apoptosis (p <۰.۰۰۱) and LDH activity (p Conclusion: Our findings suggest that C. chinensis extract is able to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in PC۳ and MCF۷ cell lines. Therefore, C. chinensis extract exerts antitumor activity against cancer cells. 

Keywords:

Cuscuta. chinensis , Chemoprevention , Prostate cancer , Breast Cancer , Apoptosis