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Antiproliferative Activity of Crocin Involves Targeting of Microtubules in Breast Cancer Cells

Rupali R Hire1,2, Shalini Srivastava1, Melissa B Davis2

  • 1Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076 India.

Scientific Reports
|March 25, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Crocin, a saffron component, inhibits cancer cell proliferation by targeting and disrupting microtubules. This natural compound interferes with cell division, offering potential as an anticancer therapeutic agent.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Crocin, derived from saffron, exhibits known anticancer properties.
  • The specific molecular targets and mechanisms of crocin's anticancer activity remain largely unelucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the molecular targets of crocin's anticancer effects.
  • To investigate how crocin affects cancer cell proliferation at the cellular and molecular level.

Main Methods:

  • Cell proliferation assays using multiple cancer cell lines (HCC70, HCC1806, HeLa, CCD1059sk).
  • Microtubule depolymerization and spindle formation analysis.
  • In vitro tubulin assembly assays and electron microscopy.
  • Biochemical assays to determine crocin-tubulin binding site.

Main Results:

  • Crocin inhibited the proliferation of various cancer cell lines.
  • Crocin depolymerized interphase and mitotic microtubules, induced multipolar spindles, and inhibited mitosis.
  • In vitro studies demonstrated crocin's inhibition of tubulin assembly and induction of tubulin aggregation.
  • Crocin binds to tubulin at the vinblastine-binding site, suggesting a direct interaction.

Conclusions:

  • Crocin inhibits cancer cell proliferation primarily by disrupting the microtubule network.
  • The findings identify tubulin as a key molecular target of crocin.
  • Crocin's mechanism of action involves interference with microtubule dynamics and cell division.

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