Apoptotic effect of eugenol in human colon cancer cell lines

Abstract

Eugenol, a natural compound available in honey and various plants extracts including cloves and Magnoliae flos, is exploited for various medicinal applications. Since most of the drugs used in the cancer are apoptotic inducers, the apoptotic effect and anticancer mechanism of eugenol were investigated against colon cancer cells. Antiproliferative effect was estimated using MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay]. Earlier events like MMP (mitochondrial membrane potential), thiol depletion and lipid layer break were measured by using flow cytometry. Apoptosis was evaluated using PI (propidium iodide) staining, TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling) assay and DNA fragmentation assay. MTT assay signified the antiproliferative nature of eugenol against the tested colon cancer cells. PI staining indicated increasing accumulation of cells at sub-G1-phase. Eugenol treatment resulted in reduction of intracellular non-protein thiols and increase in the earlier lipid layer break. Further events like dissipation of MMP and generation of ROS (reactive oxygen species) were accompanied in the eugenol-induced apoptosis. Augmented ROS generation resulted in the DNA fragmentation of treated cells as shown by DNA fragmentation and TUNEL assay. Further activation of PARP (polyadenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase), p53 and caspase-3 were observed in Western blot analyses. Our results demonstrated molecular mechanism of eugenol-induced apoptosis in human colon cancer cells. This research will further enhance eugenol as a potential chemopreventive agent against colon cancer.

Gelam Honey and Ginger Potentiate the Anti Cancer Effect of 5-FU against HCT 116 Colorectal Cancer Cells

“…Promoting apoptosis and suppressing cell proliferation are examples of mechanism by which honey could exhibit its anti-cancer property Jaganathan et al, 2011;Jaganathan, 2012;Ahmed and Othman, 2013). Despite accumulating evidence suggesting the potential of honeys in combating colorectal cancer, there is not much evidence regarding local Gelam honey having anticancer effect and especially colon cancer in particular.…”

Gelam and Nenas Honeys Inhibit Proliferation of HT 29 Colon Cancer Cells by Inducing DNA Damage and Apoptosis while Suppressing Inflammation

“…Tualang honey which consisted of high flavonoids, phenolic acid and hydroxymethylfurfural was also reported to cause apoptosis of breast and cervical cancer cells (Fauzi et al, 2011). A bioactive compound extracted from honey such as eugenol showed increased apoptosis of colon cancer cells by arresting cell cycle at sub-G1 phase and activation of p53 and caspase-3 (Jaganathan et al, 2010). Chrysin which is one of the polyphenols in honey also induced apoptosis on melanoma cells by activation of caspases cascade pathway (Pichichero et al, 2011).…”

Phenylpropanoids, Eugenol Scaffold, and Its Derivatives as Anticancer

“…EU 1 and its derivatives have been reported to inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation by arresting the cells in sub G1 phase, augment reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels that result in DNA fragmentation, which is a hallmark of apoptosis. It has been reported that EU is a phenolic compound that induces apoptosis in human colon cancer cells [16]. The antiproliferative activity of EU against melanoma [17], leukemia [18], gastric [19], skin tumor [20], and prostate cancer [21] cells has been confirmed by many researchers.…”

“…The results demonstrated molecular mechanism of EU -induced apoptosis in human colon cancer cells. This research will further enhance EU as a potential chemopreventive agent against of colon cancer [16]. Another research was conducted that EU combine with canola oil showed an antiproliferative effect against colon cancer cell lines depending on the concentration and the cell lines used.…”