Exploring Mechanistic Insights and Apoptotic Gene Expression Induced by Myricetin Through In-Vitro and In-Silico Approaches

Abstract

Myricetin demonstrates considerable potential in the area of anticancer research. It is known to be recognized as a rich natural polyphenolic flavonoid found abundantly in diverse dietary sources. This study investigates the impact of myricetin on cellular processes, including cell death, cell cycle regulation, and the expression of apoptotic genes in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The cytotoxicity of myricetin was assessed using the MTT assay and cell cycle analysis on MCF-7 cells. Propidium iodide or Annexin V flow cytometric analysis was used to confirm apoptosis. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the gene expression linked to apoptosis in MCF-7 cells following a 24-hour myricetin administration. Molecular docking was employed to probe the binding of myricetin to BCL-2. The cytotoxicity of myricetin revealed an IC50 of 5.06 µg/100 µl at 24 hours. Myricetin induced apoptosis in the Sub G0/G1 phase (10.38%). The findings showed up-regulation of the antiapoptotic gene BCL-2, along with elevated expression of caspase-9 and caspase-7, while the caspase-3 gene exhibited down-regulation. In silico analysis further confirmed the efficient binding of myricetin to BCL-2. The findings suggest that Myricetin exhibits a potent apoptotic effect by inhibiting cell cycle progression, however, further in-vivo investigations are necessary to understand the complexity of this molecule.