Total flavone extract from Ampelopsis megalophylla induces apoptosis in the MCF‑7 cell line

Abstract

Ampelopsis megalophylla has been found to demonstrate anticancer activities in human cancer cells; however, the effect of total flavone extract (TFE), commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, remains unclear. Furthermore, there is limited information on its effects on breast cancer cell lines. The present study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of TFE in different human cancer cell lines. In addition, the underlying mechanisms and the signaling pathways involved were also investigated by determining tumor cell morphological changes, and differences in the cell cycle, apoptosis, mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and related protein expression levels in a breast cancer cell line. It was found that TFE inhibited proliferation in seven cancer cell lines (HeLa, A549, MCF-7, HepG2, A2780, SW620 and MDA-MB-231 and demonstrated a strong inhibitory effect on MCF-7 cell proliferation. Cell morphological changes were also observed and arrested at the G 2 /M phase following treatment with TFE at different concentrations. In addition, TFE disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential and upregulated the expression level of apoptotic proteins, including caspase-3, -8 and -9, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and Apaf-1 in time-dependent manner. These results indicated that TFE induced apoptosis of the MCF-7 cells via a mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic pathway. In conclusion, TFE is potentially effective in treating breast cancer.

Antitumor Effect of Poplar Propolis on Human Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma A431 Cells

“…The antitumor activity of propolis has attracted much attention. In recent years, the antitumor effects of propolis on cancer and the relevant mechanisms have been reported in in vitro studies on colorectal, lung, breast, melanoma, gastric, lymphoma, tongue, and skin [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Many active ingredients in propolis, such as flavonoids and caffeic acid phenylethyl ester, inhibit tumor activity.…”

“…Among them, caffeic acid phenylethyl ester has a specific and targeted killing effect on docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer cells [10]. Flavonoids block the cell cycle and then inhibit the proliferation of a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) [11]. There are selective antitumor effects of propolis on normal gingival fibroblasts and tongue cancer cells [12].…”