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Chia Seed (Salvia hispanica) Attenuates Chemically Induced Lung Carcinomas in Rats through Suppression of
Naglaa A Ali1, Ghada H Elsayed1,2, Safaa H Mohamed1
1Hormones Department, National Research Centre, El-Bouhoths St., Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt.
Abstract:
In 2022, 2.5 million cases of lung cancer were diagnosed, resulting in 1.8 million deaths. These statistics have motivated us to introduce a new natural product which is feasible in lung cancer therapies. This comprehensive study was performed to study the effects of chia seed extracts (70% ethanol and petroleum ether) on lung cancer in vitro and in vivo models. The invitro cytotoxicity activity of the chia extracts was studied in lung cancer cell lines (A549 cells). After 48 h, chia alcohol and ether extracts showed more inhibitory influence (IC50, 16.08, and 14.8 µg/mL, respectively) on A549 cells compared to Dox (IC50, 13.6 µg/mL). In vivo, administration of chia alcohol and ether extracts (500 mg/kg/day, orally for 20 weeks) recovered 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)-induced lung cancer, as a significant reduction in the lung cancer biomarkers, including the relative weight of the lung (20.0 and 13.33%), ICAM(31.73 and 15.66%), and c-MYC (80 and 96%) and MMP9(60 and 69%) expression genes, and improvement in these changes were observed by histopathological examinations of the lung tissues compared to the lung control. Chia seeds fought lung cancer via suppression of proliferation, angiogenesis, inflammation, and activation apoptosis. These activities may be attributed to the chemical composition of chia, which is identified by LC-Mass, such as caffeic acid, vanillic acid, kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide, and taxifolin. Finally, we can conclude that chia seeds have an anti-lung cancer effect with a good safety margin.
Insights
Chia seed extracts show significant anti-lung cancer effects in vitro and in vivo. These natural compounds effectively reduced lung cancer biomarkers and improved tissue health, offering a promising therapeutic option.
Area of Science:
- Natural Products Chemistry
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally.
- There is a critical need for novel, effective, and safe therapeutic agents for lung cancer treatment.
- Natural products offer a promising avenue for developing new anti-cancer drugs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anti-lung cancer potential of chia seed extracts (70% ethanol and petroleum ether).
- To evaluate the efficacy of chia seed extracts in both in vitro and in vivo lung cancer models.
- To identify the key bioactive compounds in chia seeds responsible for the observed anti-cancer effects.
Main Methods:
- In vitro cytotoxicity assay using A549 lung cancer cell lines to determine inhibitory concentrations (IC50).
- In vivo study using 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)-induced lung cancer model in rodents.
- Assessment of lung cancer biomarkers (relative lung weight, ICAM, c-MYC, MMP9 expression) and histopathological examination.
- Chemical profiling of chia seed extracts using LC-Mass spectrometry.
Main Results:
- Chia seed extracts demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against A549 cells, with IC50 values comparable to Doxorubicin.
- In vivo administration of chia extracts significantly reduced lung cancer progression, indicated by decreased lung weight and biomarker expression.
- Histopathological analysis confirmed tumor reduction and improved lung tissue integrity in treated groups.
- LC-Mass identified key compounds like caffeic acid, vanillic acid, kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide, and taxifolin in chia extracts.
Conclusions:
- Chia seed extracts possess potent anti-lung cancer properties, acting through suppression of proliferation, angiogenesis, inflammation, and induction of apoptosis.
- The anti-cancer activity is attributed to the rich phytochemical composition of chia seeds.
- Chia seeds represent a safe and effective natural product for potential use in lung cancer therapy.
