Combined effects of two phytoalexins, brassinin and camalexin, on the cells of colorectal origin

Anna Sierosławska; Anna Rymuszka

doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107283

Combined effects of two phytoalexins, brassinin and camalexin, on the cells of colorectal origin

Toxicon. 2023 Oct:234:107283. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107283. Epub 2023 Sep 7.

Authors

Anna Sierosławska¹, Anna Rymuszka²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Animal Physiology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, 1I Konstantynów Str., 20-708, Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: anna.sieroslawska@kul.lublin.pl.
² Department of Animal Physiology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, 1I Konstantynów Str., 20-708, Lublin, Poland.

PMID: 37683699
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107283

Abstract

Brassinin and camalexin belong to phytoalexins, plant compounds generated in the response to stress. Both compounds are known to be cytotoxic to several cancer cell lines, mainly by inducing oxidative stress and subsequent apoptosis. In the presented study, cytotoxic effects of brassinin and camalexin, individually and, for the first time, after combined exposure, on the cells of normal (CCD-Co18) and cancer (Caco-2) lines originated from colorectal tissues and their proapoptotic impact on Caco-2 cells were studied. The determined IC₅₀ values indicate a clearly higher sensitivity of cancer cells to the tested substances, as well as a stronger cytotoxic effect of camalexin than brassinin. The synergistic effect of both phytoalexins was also demonstrated. Caspase-dependent and independent mechanisms were involved in the final effects. Both tested phytoalexins caused evident, concentration-dependent symptoms of oxidative stress in cancer cells, leading to apoptosis, but in the highest concentrations, also to necrosis. In case of camalexin, signs of pyroptosis were additionally detected.

Keywords: Brassinin; Camalexin; Cancer; Cytotoxicity; Necrosis; Regulated cell death.