Induction of Bax and Caspase-۳ Genes Expression by Simultaneous Administration of Phycocyanin and Citrullus Colocynthis Extract in Human Colorectal Cell Line (HT-۲۹)

Introduction: In this study the effect of C. colocynthis extract and phycocyanin on the growth of colon cancer cells, and the expression of Caspase ۳ and Bax were investigated.Materials & Methods: colon cancer cells (HT۲۹) were treated with different concentrations of C. colocynthis and phycocyanin extracts for ۲۴, ۴۸ & ۷۲ hours. The percentage of cell survival was then measured by MTT assay. Expression of Caspase ۳ and Bax genes was investigated by real-time PCR. At the end results were analyzed by SPSS software.Results: Significant differences were observed in the average percentage of dead cells with ۲ to ۳۰ g/μL concentration of extract, phycocyanin, extract + phycocyanin after ۲۴, ۴۸ and ۷۲ hours (p<۰.۰۵). The combination of extract and phycocyanin as well as phycocyanin alone showed stronger inhibitory effects on growth of cancer cells compared to extract (p <۰.۰۵). The expression of Bax gene was significantly increased by treatment of combination of extract and phycocyanin (۲.۵۵-fold) and also C. colocynthis extract alone (۱.۶۷-fold) (p <۰.۰۱). In addition, the combination of extract and phycocyanin and Abujahl watermelon extract significantly increased the expression of caspase ۳ gene (۲.۱۵ and ۱.۷۵), respectively (p <۰.۰۱).Conclusion: The anticancer effect of Citrullus Colocynthis extract, as well as phycocyanin can be applied by increase the expression of Bax and caspase ۳ genes and as a result, apoptosis induction in cancer cells.

Keywords:

Citrullus Colocynthis Extract (Abujahl Watermelon) , Phycocyanin , Bax , Caspase ۳ , Colon cancer