Effect of Echinacea purpura’s extract on the expression of VEGF-A gene and antiproliferative, induction of apoptosis, inhibition of cell migration, and colony formation on gastric cancer cell line AGS

Abstract

Background Echinacea purpura extract, one of the main compounds of which is caffeic acid, has anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic properties. In the present study, the anticancer effect of E. purpur’s extract was investigated on the growth of gastric cancer cell line AGS, induction of apoptosis and inhibition of cell migration, and colony formation as well as the expression level of VEGF-A gene. Methods E. purpura’s extract was extracted using Soxhlet device and HPLC chromatography was used to confirm the presence of caffeic acid in the extract. Cell proliferation was detected using MTT and colony formation assay. In vitro invasion of cancer cells was measured using scratch assay. Apoptosis assay was performed using AO/EB double staining. The anti-angiogenesis effect of the extract was an investigation of VEGF-A gene expression after treatment with the extracts using Real-time PCR. Results The result showed that the cell viability percentage after-treatment of the plant extract in a concentration of 2.0, 2.75 and 3.25 mg/ml and standard caffeic acid in a concentration of 600, 750 and 850 mM were 80, 50 and 26% as well as 81, 49, and 27%, respectively. In AGS cells treated with the concentration of 2, 2.75, and 3.25 mg/ml, dose-dependent the orange-red fluorescence was increased and indicating the emergence of apoptosis. The assessment of the wound healing area showed no significant differences between 24 and 48 h compared to 0 h in the treatment groups (P>0.05). E.purpura’s extract supressed the formation of colonies in AGS cancer cells in a dose dependent manner. The expression level of the VEGF-A gene at a concentration of 2.0, 2.75 and 3.25 mg/ml the plant extract reduced by 0.9, 0.87 and 0.85 fold, respectively. Conclusion E. purpura’s extract could effectively inhibit AGS gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, colony formation, and reduce VEGF-A expression and induce apoptosis.

An in silico comparative study of curcumin and 2‐deoxyuridine nucleoside derivatives: Reveals the role of angiogenin in ER stress‐induced apoptosis signaling

“…The CYRAMZA (Ramucirumab), an anti‐angiogenic injection targeting VEGF, in combination with Erlotinib (an anticancer molecule that targets EGFR), was approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for NSCLC (Cheng et al, 2021). In addition to chemical anti‐angiogenic combination, a combination of nanotechnology with anti‐angiogenic inhibitors is being used to enhance the anti‐angiogenic effect to treat cancer (Jahanban‐Esfahlan et al, 2018) and investigation of anti‐angiogenic extract targeting VEGF in gastric cancer cell lines emphasizes the importance of anti‐angiogenic therapy in cancer (Moradian et al, 2020). Hence, an anti‐angiogenic combination was found to be a crucial component in proposing a combination therapy for NSCLC.…”