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Scrophularia amplexicaulis increases anti-cancer potential of doxorubicin in gastric cancer cells
Reza Safavi1, Hossein Soltanzadeh1,2, Zahra Hojjati Bonab3
1Department of Genetics, Bonab Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bonab, Iran.
Abstract:
Increased drug resistance has reduced efficiency of chemotherapic drugs such as Doxorubicin (Dox). Scrophularia amplexicaulis (Scr) is one of the most important medicinal plants in Iran that has anti-cancer activity. The aim of this study was to investigate a novel approach to enhance therapeutic efficacy of Dox (as a chemotherapeutic agent) by co-administration of Scr (as a bioactive herbal compound) in gastric cancer treatment. In the present study, effects of Dox, Scr, and their combinations (Scr-Dox) were evaluated on viability and proliferation of two gastric cancer cell lines (AGS and MKN28). Moreover, morphological changes, invasion, migration, colony formation, and apoptosis rate in the treated cancer cells were evaluated. Expression of BAX, BCL2, SAMC, SURVIVIN, CASP9, P53, MMP9, and MMP2 in the treated cancer cells and untreated controls were evaluated by Real-Time PCR method. Treatments of cancer cells by Scr, Dox, and Scr-Dox significantly decreased proliferation, invasion, migration, and colony formation of gastric cancer cells. Treatments of cancer cells by Scr, Dox, and Scr-Dox significantly increased apoptosis rate as well as decreased cells mobility through modification of apoptosis- and metastasis-related genes expression. However, anti-cancer activity of Scr-Dox combination was significantly more than Scr and Dox treatments alone. In general, we demonstrated that Scr-Dox combination therapy exerts more profound anti-cancer effects on AGS and MKN28 cell lines than Scr and Dox monotherapy.
Insights
This study shows that combining the herb Scrophularia amplexicaulis (Scr) with Doxorubicin (Dox) enhances anti-cancer effects against gastric cancer cells. The Scr-Dox combination therapy is more effective than either treatment alone.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Cancer Biology
- Phytochemistry
Background:
- Chemotherapeutic drug resistance, exemplified by Doxorubicin (Dox), necessitates novel treatment strategies for gastric cancer.
- Scrophularia amplexicaulis (Scr), a medicinal plant from Iran, exhibits promising anti-cancer properties.
- Investigating synergistic effects of herbal compounds with conventional chemotherapy is crucial for improving therapeutic outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential of Scrophularia amplexicaulis (Scr) to enhance the efficacy of Doxorubicin (Dox) in gastric cancer.
- To assess the combined anti-cancer effects of Scr and Dox on gastric cancer cell lines (AGS and MKN28).
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the synergistic anti-cancer activity of the Scr-Dox combination.
Main Methods:
- Assessed viability, proliferation, morphological changes, invasion, migration, and colony formation of gastric cancer cells.
- Quantified apoptosis rates in response to Dox, Scr, and Scr-Dox treatments.
- Utilized Real-Time PCR to analyze the expression of key apoptosis- and metastasis-related genes (e.g., BAX, BCL2, MMP9).
Main Results:
- Scr, Dox, and Scr-Dox treatments significantly reduced proliferation, invasion, migration, and colony formation in gastric cancer cells.
- The combination therapy (Scr-Dox) demonstrated significantly greater anti-cancer activity compared to monotherapy with Scr or Dox.
- Scr-Dox treatment modulated the expression of apoptosis- and metastasis-related genes, leading to increased apoptosis and reduced cell mobility.
Conclusions:
- The combination of Scrophularia amplexicaulis and Doxorubicin exhibits enhanced anti-cancer effects against gastric cancer cell lines.
- Scr-Dox therapy presents a potent strategy for overcoming Doxorubicin resistance and improving gastric cancer treatment.
- This study highlights the potential of herbal-chemotherapy combinations in developing more effective cancer therapies.
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