Effects of Silymarin-Loaded Nanoparticles on HT-29 Human Colon Cancer Cells.

Maryam Mombeini,Layasadat Khorsandi,Ghasem Saki,Neda Bavarsad

doi:10.3390/medicina54010001

Maryam Mombeini, Layasadat Khorsandi + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina54010001

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Abstract

Background and objective: Previous studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer effects of silymarin (SLM). However, the low bioavailability of SLM has restricted its use. This study investigated the toxic effect of nanostructured SLM encapsulated in micelles (Nano-SLM) on the growth of the HT-29 human colon cancer cell line. Materials and methods: HT-29 cells were treated with 25 μM/mL of SLM or Nano-SLM for 48 h. MTT and colony formation assays were used to assess the cytotoxicity and proliferation of HT-29 cells, respectively. The cells were stained with annexin V/PI for assessment of apoptosis. Results: MTT assays revealed that Nano-SLM treatment was able to exert a more pronounced toxic effect on the HT-29 cells as compared to free SLM treatment (p < 0.01). In the Nano-SLM-treated cells, colony numbers were significantly reduced in comparison to the free SLM-treated cells (p < 0.01). Apoptotic and necrotic indexes of Nano-SLM-treated HT-29 cells were also significantly increased in comparison to those of the free SLM-treated cells (p < 0.01). The viability, proliferation and apoptosis of healthy cells (NIH-3T3 cells) were not changed in response to Nano-SLM or SLM. Conclusions: Our results indicate that Nano-SLM enhances the anti-cancer effects of SLM against human colon cancer cells.

Highlights

IntroductionChemotherapy and radiotherapy have many untoward side effects on healthy cells and the cancer cells are often drug resistant [1,2]
Colon cancer is one of the most diagnosed cancers
Li et al (2009), micelles significantly elevated the amount of silybin in liver tissue [10]. The objective of this project was to compare the cytotoxic effects of SLM and nanostructured SLM (Nano-SLM) on HT-29, a human colon cancer cell line

Summary

Introduction

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy have many untoward side effects on healthy cells and the cancer cells are often drug resistant [1,2]. Previous studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer effects of silymarin (SLM). This study investigated the toxic effect of nanostructured SLM encapsulated in micelles (Nano-SLM) on the growth of the HT-29 human colon cancer cell line. Results: MTT assays revealed that Nano-SLM treatment was able to exert a more pronounced toxic effect on the HT-29 cells as compared to free SLM treatment (p < 0.01). In the Nano-SLM-treated cells, colony numbers were significantly reduced in comparison to the free SLM-treated cells (p < 0.01). Apoptotic and necrotic indexes of Nano-SLM-treated HT-29 cells were significantly increased in comparison to those of the free SLM-treated cells (p < 0.01)

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Conclusion