Purpose: Lung cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related cases and cancer-associated deaths. Tumor cells frequently acquire chemoresistance and, due to that, new therapies are always needed in the fight against cancer. Pharmaceutical plants continue to offer novel compounds as anticancer therapies.
Methods: We studied the action of N-p-coumaroyl-serotonin (CS), a natural compound from Centaurea seed and safflower on a lung adenocarcinoma cell line. Cytotoxic or antiproliferative effect was studied using the MTT assay. Cell cycle, caspase-8 activation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and expression of CD15/CD56/CD24/CD44/CD58/CD71 were studied by flow cytometry.
Results: CS exterted antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity, independent of mitochondrial membrane disruption. This compound caused S phase arrest and a decrease in the expression of CD24/CD44/CD58/CD71.
Conclusion: This is the first report on the in vitro action of CS against lung cancer, necessitating further studies towards its use as a potential anticancer agent.