Assessing effects of caffeic acid on cytotoxicity, apoptosis, invasion, GST enzyme activity, oxidant, antioxidant status and micro-RNA expressions in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells

Abstract

In developed western countries, colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancer types. Natural bioactive compounds attract attention due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and therapeutic activities. Caffeic acid (3,4-dihydroxycinnamic) is one of the one of the most common phenolic acids found in many foods and plants such as coffee, honey, blueberries, herbs, potatoes, apples. The aim of the study is investigating cytotoxic, apoptotic, anti-invasive, oxidant, antioxidant, GST inhibitory activities of caffeic acid in colon cancer cells. Another aim of this study is to demonstrate a mechanistic approach by investigating the expression changes of mRNA and micro RNAs that play a role in these cellular mechanisms. In this context, MTT, Annexin-V, Matrigel invasion, TAS-TOS, GST enzyme activity assay and Real-Time PCR experiments were performed under in vitro conditions. According to results, caffeic acid have exhibits antiproliferative, apoptotic and anti-invasive activity in HCT116 cells. It caused changes expression of apoptosis, cell cycle and invasion-related genes and microRNAs. Caffeic acid also reduced oxidative stress and GST enzyme activity. Taken together, all these results reveal that caffeic acid may be a therapeutic agent in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. This study will shed light on future comprehensive studies. (c) 2023 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.