The present study investigated the possibility of apoptosis-inducing activity in human leukemia U-937 and THP-1 cells by the flavonoid morin. The treatments were evaluated by using the MTT and LDH assays; analysis of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was evaluated by flow cytometry, cell death by apoptosis was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and by assessing the activity of caspases-3 and -6. The data indicated that the flavonoid morin has promoted a decrease in cell viability in a concentration-dependent way for both of the cancerous cell lines. An increase in the percentage of cell death caused by apoptosis was associated to a potential alteration in the mitochondrial membrane (ΔΨm) suggesting the involvement of cell death in intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Activation of caspases-3 and -6 confirmed the presence of apoptotic activity from morin. The results reinforce the antileukemic potential of flavonol morin.
Keywords: Morin; apoptosis; cancer; caspases; leukemia; vincristine.