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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies

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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Colorectal Cancer | Research

Tumoricidal properties of thymoquinone on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells via the modulation of autophagy

Authors: Mohammad Saleh Moulana, Sanya Haiaty, Ahad Bazmani, Roya Shabkhizan, Marziyeh Sadat Moslehian, Fatemeh Sadeghsoltani, Mostafa Mostafazadeh, Mohammad Reza Asadi, Mehdi Talebi, Zahra Jafari, Mohammad Reza Morovati, Mohammad Hosein Farzaei, Reza Rahbarghazi

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is deadly anaplastic changes in the gastrointestinal tract with high-rate mortality. In recent years, the application of phytocompounds has been extended along with different therapeutic protocols. Here, we monitored the effects of Thymoquinone (TQ) on autophagy via mitochondrial function after modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells were treated with TQ (60 µM) and 15 µM Wnt3a inhibitor (LGK974) for 48 h. The survival rate was evaluated using an MTT assay. The expression of Wnt-related factors (c-Myc, and Axin), angiogenesis (VE-Cadherin), and mitophagy-related factors (PINK1, OPTN) was assessed using real-time PCR assay. Protein levels of autophagy factors (Beclin-1, LC3, and P62) were monitored using western blotting. Using flow cytometry analysis, the intracellular accumulation of Rhodamine 123 was evaluated. The migration properties were analyzed using a scratch wound healing assay.

Data indicated that TQ can reduce the viability of HT-29 cells compared to the control cells (p < 0.05). The expression of VE-Cadherin was inhibited while the expression of PINK1 was induced in treated cells (p < 0.05). Both LGK974 and TQ-treated cells exhibited activation of autophagy flux (Beclin-1↑, LC3II/I↑, and p62↓) compared to the control group (p < 0.05). TQ can increase intracellular accumulation of Rhodamine 123, indicating the inhibition of efflux mechanisms in cancer cells. Along with these changes, the migration of cells was also reduced (p < 0.05).

TQ is a potential phytocompound to alter the dynamic growth of human colorectal HT-29 cells via the modulation of autophagy, and mitophagy-related mechanisms.

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Title: Tumoricidal properties of thymoquinone on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells via the modulation of autophagy
Authors: Mohammad Saleh Moulana
Sanya Haiaty
Ahad Bazmani
Roya Shabkhizan
Marziyeh Sadat Moslehian
Fatemeh Sadeghsoltani
Mostafa Mostafazadeh
Mohammad Reza Asadi
Mehdi Talebi
Zahra Jafari
Mohammad Reza Morovati
Mohammad Hosein Farzaei
Reza Rahbarghazi
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-024-04432-2

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Tumoricidal properties of thymoquinone on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells via the modulation of autophagy

Abstract

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