Anti-cancer properties of Caulerpa racemosa by altering expression of Bcl-2, BAX, cleaved caspase 3 and apoptosis in HeLa cancer cell culture

Abstract

The main cause of cervical cancer is infection with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Loss of apoptotic control allows cancer cells to survive longer and allows time for mutation accumulation thereby increasing the ability to invade during tumor development. Treatment options for cervical cancer today are surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Toxicity to normal cells, adverse side effects, and drug resistance are the main barriers to the use of chemotherapy. Among marine organisms such as bacteria, fungi, actinobacteria, and seaweed have been used for the treatment of cancer. Caulerpa has bioactive metabolites, namely alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids and tannins and its bioactivity has been reported against many diseases including cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer activity of C. racemosa on HeLa cervical cancer cells. The study used a true experimental post-test only control group design to determine the effect of C. racemosa extract on HeLa cancer cells. C. racemosa extract was given in doses of 50 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL, 200 μg/mL, and 0 μg/mL as controls. Quantitative measurement of apoptosis was measured using flowcytometry and the expression of Bcl-2, BAX, and cleaved-caspase 3 as pro and anti-apoptotic proteins was measured using immunofluorescence. Trypan blue exclusion test was performed to measure cell viability. C. racemosa extract significantly increased the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins BAX and cleaved caspase-3 compared to controls. Annexin V-PI analysis showed the induction of apoptosis in treated cells and decreased HeLa cell viability at 24 hours and 48 hours post-treatment (p-value <0.05). C. racemosa extract has potential as an anti-cancer with pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative activity on HeLa cancer cells and can be explored further as a cervical cancer therapy.

Resistomycin Suppresses Prostate Cancer Cell Growth by Instigating Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Apoptosis, and Cell Cycle Arrest

“…These results indicate that resistomycin triggered the cell apoptosis in PC3 cells by regulating apoptosis-related molecules. In accordance with our results, Caulerpa racemosa extract, a marine seaweed, exerted significant anticancer activity by increasing the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 in HeLa cancer cells [51]. Lin et al [52] reported that actinomycin V triggered apoptosis in non-small-cell lung carcinoma A549 cells by upregulating both the protein and mRNA expression levels of p53, p21, and Bax.…”

Anticancer potential of grifolin in lung cancer treatment through PI3K/AKT pathway inhibition

“…2 A). Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase-3 are markers of apoptosis [ 21 ]. Grifolin downregulated Bcl-2 expression, upregulated the protein expression of Bax and cleaved caspase 3 in A549 and H1299 cells ( Fig.…”

Green algae Caulerpa racemosa compounds as antiviral candidates for SARS-CoV-2: In silico study

“…However, there may be further compounds of other types present in the green alga C. racemosa which still need to be identified and analyzed, for example through more advanced molecular approaches. Previous studies also highlight the use of algae in inhibiting the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 [ 21 , 22 ], and compounds or extracts from algae have also been found to be effective against other viruses [ 23 , 24 ]. Following these promising results, some studies under in vitro and in vivo conditions are now needed to further investigate the effectiveness of active compounds from C. racemosa in the treatment of COVID-19.…”