Anticancer study of porcupine bezoar extracts on human breast and lung cancer cells

Abstract

Breast and lung cancer have highest mortality rate among female and male respectively. Even though with the availability of advanced treatment, the mortality rate is still increasing. Thus, this study aims to elucidate the potential Malayan porcupine bezoar (PB) in exhibiting anticancer effects on the breast (MCF7) and lung (A549) cancer cells. Porcupine Bezoar extracts were tested with optimized IC50 for its potential ability in inhibiting cell growth, changing morphology, inducing apoptosis and cell arrest. The PB extract showed the growth inhibitory effect with IC50 value at 19.0 µg/ml (MCF7) and 13.5 µg/ml (A549) respectively. The morphology assessment upon PB extract treatment at 72 hours displayed possible apoptosis features of pyknosis and karyorrhexis. Further investigation with Annexin-V/7AAD revealed PB treated cell induced early and late apoptosis with a presence of dead cells in 72 hours. Further test has shown, PB may have altered cell cycle regulation and arrest in G1 for both cells. Possible signaling pathway at a molecular level for both cells was investigated. The result revealed induction of apoptosis following intrinsic pathway by initiating the release of Cytochrome C from mitochondria thereby activating caspase cascade. The above claims were supported by downregulation of Bcl-2 which suggest PB extracts triggered apoptosis. Furthermore, the investigation was conducted on cell cycle regulator genes, revealed the up-regulation of p21 and down-regulation of cyclin D suggesting cell arrest in G1 phase. Additionally, finding demonstrate PB extracts was selective in inducing significant effect on cancer cells MCF7 and A549 compared to normal fibroblast 3T3-L1 and HGF-1. This research report unveil the potential medicinal properties of porcupine bezoar in anticancer perspectives.