Synthesis of 1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-4-(dimethylamino) pyridin-1-ium chloride and determination of cytotoxicity and apoptosis in human colon cancer cells

Abstract

BackgroundIn this experiment, we synthesized a new compound, 1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-4-(dimethylamino) pyridin-1-ium chloride (SM-9), and examined its toxicity and anticancer activity in human colon cancer (HCT-116) cells. MethodsWe uncovered the underlying mechanisms of cell toxicity and apoptosis due to SM-9 compound exposure in HCT-116 cells by using the MTT assay and protein profiling array and measuring gene expression levels using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. ResultsOur data show that the SM-9 compound activated the caspase-3, caspase-8, p21, p27, and p53 proteins involved in the apoptosis of HCT-116 cells, thereby inducing cytotoxicity, the formation of reactive oxygen species, and apoptosis. The results of this study show that the SM-9 compound has advantageous qualities and must be taken as an anticancer medication. We conclude that the SM-9 compound exerted an anticancer effect by inducing the apoptotic pathways in human colon cancer (HCT-116) cells.