1. Tehran University, Faculty of biology science, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology 2. Tehran University, faculty of Biology science, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology 3. Kharazmi University, Faculty of Biology science, Department of Cell and Molecular Bioogy
Abstract
Introduction
The poor prognosis of breast cancer is due to its resistance to the conventional treatments. therefore, researchers are studying about herbs which have anticancer effects. silibinin, the major active component of silymarin extracted from milk thistle, has a strong antioxidant property and weak cytotoxic activity against many types of malignancies. caspases play key effector roles in apoptosis in mammalian cells. since there have been reports that cells undergo apoptosis when exposed to silibinin over time, we investigated the activity of caspase 3/7 on skbr3 cell line treated by silibinin.
Methods
In order to investigate the effect of silibinin on breast cancer cell line, skbr3 cells were treated with different concentrations of drugs (50-350 µm). cell viability was measured by mtt assay after 24, 48 and 72 hours of treatment and ic50 dosage was calculated (284 µm for 48h). then, skbr3 cells treated with selective doses of silibinin (150,250 and 350 µm for 48h) and activation of caspase-3/7 was measured using the caspase-glo® 3/7 assay kit. statistical analysis was performed by graphpad software.
Results
The mtt assay demonstrated that silibinin inhibited skbr3 cell growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner (p<0.01) and caspase 3/7 activity of skbr3 cells was enhanced after 48 h exposed to silibinin (p<0.001).
Conclusion
These results suggest that silibinin induced a loss of cell viability through apoptotic cell death in skbr3 cells by activating caspase 3/7-mediated apoptosis. overall, our data suggest a potential therapeutic value of silibinin to be further developed as an anti-cancer drug.
