Gelidiella acerosa Compounds Target NFκB Cascade in Lung Adenocarcinoma

In carcinogenesis, increased metabolism, abnormal functioning of mitochondria, peroxisomes, aberrant cell signaling, and prolonged inflammation can result in the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In turn, excess ROS can upregulate the expression of various signaling pathways including the MAP kinase, PI3K/Akt, and NFκB cascades in cancer. The constitutive expression of NFκB causes drug resistance in lung cancer. Hence, drugs that can enhance the antioxidant activity of enzymes and regulate the NFκB activity are of prime target to manage the drug resistance and inflammation in cancer. This study evaluated the effect of compounds present in ethyl acetate extract of Gelidiella acerosa on inflammation and on antioxidant enzymes in lung cancer. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined under in silico and in vitro conditions. The in silico analysis showed that the phyto-constituents of G. acerosa inhibit the IKBα-NFκB-p65-p50 complex in a similar way as that of doxorubicin and dexamethasone. Similarly, G. acerosa treatment enhanced the efficiency of antioxidant enzymes peroxidases and superoxide dismutase in A549 lung cancer cells. Furthermore, the results of in vitro analysis showed that G. acerosa can decrease the activation of NFκB and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and upregulate the expression of IL 10. As inflammation causes cancer progression, the inhibition of inflammation inhibits tumorigenesis. Hence, based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that G. acerosa exerts anti-inflammatory activity by decreasing the expression of NFκB cascade and moreover, the phyto-constituents of G. acerosa may have the potential to regulate the inflammatory response.