Assessment of anti-cancer effects of koenimbine on colon cancer cells

Background: Recent studies have highlighted the role of natural elements in reduction of Cancer cell growth and Apoptosis. Koenimbine, a natural product isolated from Murraya koenigii (L) Spreng is a substance with cytotoxic effects on Cancer cells.

Aim: The effects of koenimbine on HT-29 and SW48 colon Cancer cells were evaluated by MTT and Annexin V assays. Expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin pathway genes were quantified by real time PCR.

Results: The IC50 values of koenimbine in HT-29 and SW48 was calculated to be 50 μg/ml based on the results of MTT assay. This value was 75 μg/ml in IEC-18 cells which were used as normal control. Annexin V assays revealed induction of Cell Apoptosis and Necrosis in HT-29 and SW48 cells but not IEG18 cells by koenimbine. Koenimbin treatment resulted in significant down-regulation of CYCLD1 expression in SW48 cell line, but up-regulation of this gene in HT29 cell line. Expression of TBLR1, DKK1, GSK3B and β-catenin was significantly decreased after koenimbin treatment in HT-19 cell line. Moreover, expression of DKK1 and GSK3B was significantly decreased after koenimbin treatment in SW-40 cell line. TCF4 expression was not detected in any of cell lines either before or after treatment with koenimbin.

Conclusion: The current in vitro study showed the cytotoxic effects of koenimbin on two colon Cancer cell lines and the effects of this substance on expression of selected genes from Wnt-β catenin pathway. Future in vivo studies are needed before suggestion of this substance as an anti-cancer drug.

Koenimbine; Wnt-β catenin; colon cancer.