Death receptor pathway genes (Caspase and BID) expression analysis in cancerous cells in response to extracts of amla and turmeric

Pak J Pharm Sci. 2023 Mar;36(2):437-445.

Abstract

Plant extracts antiproliferative effects were determined by using mammalian cells along the expression profile of Caspases 3, 8 and the BID gene of the death receptor-induced pathway. Two medicinal plants viz., Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Amla (Emblica officinalis) extracts were examined for antiproliferative effect through Neutral Red-Dye uptake assay on Vero and MDA-MB 231 cell lines. A reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression of genes while GAPDH expression was used as an internal control. Expression of BID was up-regulated in methanolic turmeric extract-induced MDA-MB 231 cells while Caspases 3,8 expressions were the same in induced and uninduced MDA-MB 231 cells. Activated BID cleaved into tBID and activated the intrinsic pathway which caused death in methanolic turmeric extract-induced cancerous cells. Ethanolic extracts of turmeric exerted the strongest antiproliferative effects on Vero and methanolic extracts on MDA-MB 231 cells. The morphological studies of cell lines and gene expression analysis of turmeric methanolic extract-treated cells showed activation of apoptosis via converting BID into t-BID (intrinsic pathway) and activating Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 (extrinsic pathway). With the differential cytotoxicity and induction of apoptosis in induced cancer cells in comparison to uninduced cancerous cells, hence turmeric is a natural source of new anti-cancerous compounds.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Caspases* / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Curcuma
  • Mammals / metabolism
  • Phyllanthus emblica* / metabolism
  • Plant Extracts / analysis
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Death Domain

Substances

  • Caspases
  • Plant Extracts
  • Caspase 3
  • Receptors, Death Domain