Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Biosynthesis of a Flavonol from a Flavanone by Establishing a One-pot Bienzymatic Cascade
09:50

Biosynthesis of a Flavonol from a Flavanone by Establishing a One-pot Bienzymatic Cascade

Published on: August 14, 2019

The flavonol isorhamnetin exhibits cytotoxic effects on human colon cancer cells

Sara Jaramillo1, Sergio Lopez, Lourdes M Varela

  • 1Laboratory of Cell Wall and Functional Components of Foods, Instituto de la Grasa (CSIC), 41014 Seville, Spain.

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|October 7, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Isorhamnetin, a quercetin metabolite, effectively inhibits human colon cancer (HCT-116) cell growth by inducing cell death and altering the cell cycle. This study highlights its potential as a therapeutic and chemopreventive agent.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Quercetin metabolites, such as isorhamnetin, are investigated for their biological activities.
  • Colon cancer remains a significant global health concern, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of isorhamnetin on human colon carcinoma (HCT-116) cell proliferation, cell death, and cell cycle.
  • To explore the potential therapeutic and chemopreventive applications of isorhamnetin in colon cancer.

Main Methods:

  • MTT assay to determine antiproliferative effects and IC50 values.
  • Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy to analyze apoptosis, necrosis, and cell cycle distribution.
  • Incubation of HCT-116 cells with isorhamnetin under normal and serum-deprived conditions.

Main Results:

  • Isorhamnetin demonstrated potent, dose- and time-dependent antiproliferative activity against HCT-116 cells (IC50 = 72 μM at 48 h).
  • Isorhamnetin induced apoptosis and necrosis in HCT-116 cells.
  • Isorhamnetin treatment led to an accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle.
  • Serum deprivation enhanced isorhamnetin's effects on cell death and promoted cell cycle progression to G0/G1 phase.

Conclusions:

  • Isorhamnetin inhibits HCT-116 cell growth by perturbing cell cycle progression, potentially targeting G2/M checkpoints.
  • The findings suggest that isorhamnetin possesses significant antiproliferative, apoptotic, and necrotic properties.
  • Isorhamnetin shows promise for clinical therapeutic and chemopreventive applications in human colon cancer.

More Related Videos

Preclinical Assessment of the Bioactivity of the Anticancer Coumarin OT48 by Spheroids, Colony Formation Assays, and Zebrafish Xenografts09:20

Preclinical Assessment of the Bioactivity of the Anticancer Coumarin OT48 by Spheroids, Colony Formation Assays, and Zebrafish Xenografts

Published on: June 26, 2018

Immunofluorescence Imaging of DNA Damage and Repair Foci in Human Colon Cancer Cells05:18

Immunofluorescence Imaging of DNA Damage and Repair Foci in Human Colon Cancer Cells

Published on: June 9, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity01:25

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...