Effect of flavonone hesperidin on the apoptosis of human mammary carcinoma cell line MCF-7

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of a natural citrus flavonoglycoside hesperidin on the human mammary carcinoma cell line (MCF-7) and its possible role in the induction of apoptosis. Human breast cancer cells were treated with different concentrations of hesperidin and its cytotoxicity effect was measured by MTT method and lactate dehydrogenase leakage assays. Apoptosis was analyzed by light microscopic studies and DNA fragmentation. The mechanism of apoptosis was studied with the expression of p53 and caspase-3 proteins. Glutathione content was also measured in MCF-7 cells after hesperidin treatment. The results revealed that hesperidin significantly inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Apoptotic morphology was observed in MCF-7 cells treated with hesperidin at the concentration of 60 and 80 μM. DNA fragmentation, accumulation of p53 and expression of caspase-3 proteins were observed in MCF-7 cells after the treatment with hesperidin. The depletion of GSH and an elevation of LDH were observed in MCF-7 cells treated with hesperidin. Therefore in conclusion, hesperidin induced cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells in vitro. Apoptosis of MCF-7 cells may be due to the DNA damage and expression of apoptotic proteins. Depletion of GSH may be involved in the induction of apoptosis of Michigan cancer foundation-7 cells.