Vicenin-2: a potential radiosensitizer of non-small cell lung cancer cells

  • Mol Biol Rep. 2018 Oct;45(5):1219-1225. doi: 10.1007/s11033-018-4275-8.
Taranga Jyoti Baruah  1  2 ,  R N Sharan  2 ,  Lakhan Kma  3
Affiliations
  • 1. Cancer and Radiation Countermeasures Unit, Department of Biochemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, 793022, India.
  • 2. Radiation and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, 793022, India.
  • 3. Cancer and Radiation Countermeasures Unit, Department of Biochemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, 793022, India. [email protected].
PMID: 30099686 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-018-4275-8
Abstract

Non-small cell lung Cancer (NSCLC) is a major form of Cancer and is resistant to chemo- and radio-therapy. Vicenin-2 (VCN-2) is a flavonoid obtained from Ocimum sanctum L. and it has been reported to have radioprotective and anti-cancer properties. This study was conducted to check for the radiosensitizing potential of VCN-2 in the NSCLC cell line, NCI-H23. NCI-H23 cells were exposed to VCN-2 singularly, and to X-rays with and without prior VCN-2 treatment. Cytotoxicity assay, cell proliferation assay, Caspase-3 activity assay, DNA fragmentation assay and Western blotting for Rad50, MMP-2 and p21 were performed to investigate the radiosensitizing properties of VCN-2. Fibroblast survival assay was performed using HEK293T cells to check for any adverse effects of VCN-2 on normal fibroblast cell line. VCN-2 singularly and in combination with radiation reduced the surviving Cancer cells, increased Caspase-3 activity, increased DNA fragmentation, increased the levels of Rad50 and lowered levels of MMP-2 and p21 proteins while being non-toxic and radioprotective to the fibroblast cells. VCN-2 showed a potent radiosensitizing property while also showing a chemotherapeutic property against NSCLC cell line NCI-H23.

Keywords
Caspase-3; MMP-2; P21; Rad50; Radiosensitization; Vicenin-2.
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