Download Volume 47, Issue 8, August 2009, Pages 1909

Food and Chemical Toxicology
Volume 47, Issue 8, August 2009, Pages 1909-1913
Role of caspases and Bax protein in saffron-induced
apoptosis in MCF-7 cells
Mousavi, S.H.ac , Tavakkol-Afshari, J.bc, Brook, A.bc, Jafari-Anarkooli, I.d
a Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacological Research Centre of Medicinal Plants, School of Medicine,
Mashhad, Iran
b Immunogenetic and Cell Culture Department, Immunology Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad,
Iran
c Medical Toxicology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
d Department of Anatomical Science, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
View references (29)
Abstract
Saffron (Crocus sativus), widely used as a spice in Middle Eastern cuisine and is known for anti-cancer properties.
The mechanism of saffron-induced cytotoxicity, in tumor cells has not been adequately explored. Therefore, we
investigated the role of caspases and Bax protein in saffron-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, a commonly used cell
culture system for in vitro studies on breast cancer. Cells were incubated with different concentrations of saffron
extract. Cell viability was quantitated by MTT assay. Apoptotic cells were determined using PI staining of DNA
fragmentation by flow cytometry (sub-G1 peak). Role of caspase were studied using the pan-caspase inhibitor. Bax
protein expression was analysed by western blotting. Saffron extract (200-2000 μg/ml) decreased cell viability in
MCF-7 cells as a concentration- and time-dependent manner with an IC50 of 400 ± 18.5 μg/ml after 48 h. Analysis of
DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry showed apoptotic cell death in MCF-7 cell treated with saffron extract. Saffroninduced apoptosis could be inhibited by pan-caspase inhibitors, indicating caspase-dependent pathway was induced
by saffron in MCF-7 cells. Bax protein expression was also increased in saffron-treated cells. Thus saffron exerts
proapoptotic effects in a breast cancer-derived cell line and could be considered as a potential chemotherapeutic
agent in breast cancer. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Reaxys Database Information
|
Author keywords
Apoptosis; Bax protein; Caspase; Crocus sativus; Saffron
Indexed Keywords
EMTREE drug terms: 3 (4,5 dimethyl 2 thiazolyl) 2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide; caspase; caspase inhibitor; DNA;
plant medicinal product; propidium iodide; protein Bax; saffron; unclassified drug
EMTREE medical terms: animal cell; antineoplastic activity; apoptosis; article; breast cancer; cancer cell culture; cell
strain MCF 7; cell viability; concentration response; controlled study; Crocus; DNA determination; DNA fragmentation;
flow cytometry; human; human cell; IC 50; in vitro study; mouse; nonhuman; protein expression; signal transduction;
Western blotting
MeSH: Apoptosis; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Blotting, Western; Caspases; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Crocus;
DNA Fragmentation; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Indicators and Reagents; Plant Extracts; Tetrazolium Salts;
Thiazoles
Medline is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.
Species Index: Crocus sativus
Chemicals and CAS Registry Numbers: 3 (4,5 dimethyl 2 thiazolyl) 2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide, 298-93-1;
DNA, 9007-49-2; caspase, 186322-81-6; propidium iodide, 25535-16-4;Caspases, 3.4.22.-; Indicators and Reagents;
Plant Extracts; Tetrazolium Salts; Thiazoles; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; thiazolyl blue, 298-93-1
Manufacturers:Drug manufacturer: Novin Zaferan, Iran.
ISSN: 02786915 CODEN: FCTODSource Type: Journal Original language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2009.05.017 PubMed ID: 19457443Document Type: Article