Antiproliferative Activity and Apoptosis Induction of Crude Extract and Fractions of Avicennia Marina

  Objective(s): Regarding the presence of many active biological constituents in Avicennia marina, the present investigation was carried out to study cytotoxic activity of crude methanol leave extract and column chromatographic fractions of A. marina against MDA-MB ۲۳۱ cell line (human breast cancer cell) and HEK (Human embryonic kidney cell) line .   Materials and Methods: The anticancer activity of crude methanol extract and sub-fractions were evaluated, using MTT assay. The induction of apoptosis was determined by analyzing DNA fragmentation in breast cancer cells treated with active fraction of crude methanol extract using agarose gel electrophoresis. To investigate molecular mechanism of apoptosis, gene expression levels of p۵۳ and Bcl-۲ were measured using quantitative real time PCR. Results: Fraction ۱۰ was the most active fraction and was detected with HPLC as luteolin. The ۵۰% cell cytotoxic concentration (CC۵۰) of crude methanol extract and luteolin was ۲۵۰ and ۲۸ μg/ml, respectively. This fraction was found to be an apoptotic agent against MDA-MB ۲۳۱ cells, which leads to causing DNA fragmentation. The mRNA expression level of Bcl-۲ and p۵۳ was significantly decreased and increased respectively in cancer cells treated by luteolin. Conclusion: The results suggested that Luteolin isolated from Avicennia marina could probably induce apoptosis on breast cancer cell line by the regulation of p۵۳ and Bcl-۲ pathways.