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Adaptogenic activity of withaferin A on human cervical carcinoma cells using high-definition vibrational
Ewa Pięta1, Karolina Chrabąszcz1, Katarzyna Pogoda1
1Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342 Krakow, Poland.
Abstract:
Despite invaluable advances in cervical cancer therapy, treatment regimens for recurrent or persistent cancers and low-toxicity alternative treatment options are scarce. In recent years, substances classified as adaptogens have been identified as promising drug sources for preventing and treating cancer-based diseases on their ability to attack multiple molecular targets. This paper establishes the effectiveness of inhibition of the neoplastic process by a withaferin A (WFA), an adaptogenic substance, based on an in vitro model of cervical cancer. This study explores for the first time the potential of high-definition vibrational spectroscopy methods, i.e. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopic (RS) imaging at the single-cell level to evaluate the efficacy of the adaptogenic drug. HeLa cervical cancer cells were incubated with various concentrations of WFA at different incubation times. The multimodal spectroscopic approach combined with partial least squares (PLS) regression allowed the identification of molecular changes (e.g., lipids, protein secondary structures, or nucleic acids) induced by WFA at the cellular level. The results clearly illustrate the enormous potential of WFA in inhibiting the proliferation of cervical cancer cells. WFA inhibited the growth of the studied cancer cell line in a dose-dependent manner. Such studies provide comprehensive information on the sensitivity of cells to adaptogenic drugs. This is a fundamental step towards determining the rate and nature of adaptogen-induced changes in cancer cells.
Insights
Withaferin A (WFA), an adaptogen, shows significant potential in inhibiting cervical cancer cell growth. This study used advanced spectroscopy to reveal WFA
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Cervical cancer treatment options for recurrent or persistent disease are limited, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
- Adaptogens, a class of natural compounds, show promise in cancer therapy due to their multi-target molecular action.
- Withaferin A (WFA) is an adaptogen with potential anti-cancer properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the efficacy of Withaferin A (WFA) in inhibiting the neoplastic process in an in vitro cervical cancer model.
- To explore the application of high-definition vibrational spectroscopy (FT-IR and Raman imaging) for evaluating adaptogenic drug efficacy at the single-cell level.
- To identify WFA-induced molecular alterations in cancer cells.
Main Methods:
- HeLa cervical cancer cells were treated with varying concentrations of WFA over different incubation periods.
- Multimodal spectroscopic approach utilizing Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopic (RS) imaging.
- Partial least squares (PLS) regression was employed to analyze spectroscopic data and identify molecular changes.
Main Results:
- WFA demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation in the studied cervical cancer cell line.
- Spectroscopic analysis revealed significant molecular changes, including alterations in lipids, protein secondary structures, and nucleic acids, induced by WFA.
- The study successfully identified cellular-level molecular responses to WFA treatment.
Conclusions:
- Withaferin A exhibits considerable potential for inhibiting cervical cancer cell proliferation.
- High-definition vibrational spectroscopy is a powerful tool for assessing the cellular impact of adaptogenic compounds.
- This research provides a foundation for understanding adaptogen-induced cellular changes in cancer therapy.
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