Abstract
The effects of plant products on cancer cells has become a field of major importance. Many substancesmay induce apoptosis in anti-cancer treatment. Pectins, a family of complex polysaccharides, and their degradation products may for exasmple exert apoptotic effects in cancer cells. Apples and citrus fruits are the main sources of pectin which can be applied for anti-cancer research. The present study concerned an intact form of pectic-oligoshaccharide named pectic acid (poly galactronic acid). Inhibition of cell proliferation assays (MTT), light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy (acridin orange/ethidium bromide), DNA fragmentation tests, cell cycle analysis, annexin PI and Western blotting methods were applied to evaluate apoptosis. The results indicated that pectic acid inhibited cell growth and reduced cell attachment after 24h incubation. This did not appear to be due to necrosis, since morphological features of apoptosis were detected with AO/EB staining and cell cycling was blocked in the sub-G1 phase. Annexin/PI and DNA fragmentation findings indicated that apoptosis frequency increased after 24h incubation with pectic acid. In addition, the data showed pectic acid induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. These data indicate that apple pectic acid without any modification could trigger apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells and has potential to improve cancer treatment as a natural product.
Highlights
Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies and an important reason of death among women (Kociecka et al, 2010)
The results indicated that pectic acid inhibited cell growth and reduced cell attachment after 24h incubation
This did not appear to be due to necrosis, since morphological features of apoptosis were detected with Acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) staining and cell cycling was blocked in the sub-G1 phase
Summary
Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies and an important reason of death among women (Kociecka et al, 2010). Numerous studies suggest that products from plant origin may contain cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. These products as therapeutic agents should be able to induce apoptosis and arrest cell cycle as a result of cancer attenuation. Results: The results indicated that pectic acid inhibited cell growth and reduced cell attachment after 24h incubation This did not appear to be due to necrosis, since morphological features of apoptosis were detected with AO/EB staining and cell cycling was blocked in the sub-G1 phase. Conclusions: These data indicate that apple pectic acid without any modification could trigger apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells and has potential to improve cancer treatment as a natural product
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