Digoxin Effectively Decreased Proliferation of LiverCancer Cell Line

Introduction: Cardiac glycosides such as digoxin have been considered recently asanticancer drugs based on some epidemiological evidences. However, controversiesresults have been obtained in several experimental and clinical researches following usingthem. Therefore, in the present study the antiproliferative properties of digoxin and itsmechanisms on the liver cancer cell line have been studied.Methods: HepG2 cell line was cultured with different concentrations of digoxin for 6, 12,24 and 48 hrs. The cell proliferation and viability were determined with MTT assay andtrypan blue respectively. Also, hematoxilin staining was applicated for nucleusmorphology.Results: Cell proliferation and viability were decreased after treatment of the cells withdigoxin in all groups compared to control. Colony formation decreased significantly ingroups received digoxin. Also, nucleus morphology showed apoptotic changes in the cellsafter digoxin especially after 48 h.Conclusions: Digoxin decreases the cell proliferation and viability in liver cancer cellline. It is suggested that digoxin exerts its antitumor properties through antiproliferativeproperties and apoptosis. Since, digoxin is cytotoxic on the cells, finding the doses thathave the minimum toxicity in the patients are necessary. In vivo studies in future help us toknow more about the mechanisms involve in antitumoral effects of glycosides

Keywords:

ApoptosiCancerDigoxinHepG2 cell line