Induction of Apoptosis by Acanthaster planci sp., and Diadema setosum sp., Fractions in Human Cervical Cancer Cell Line, HeLa

Cancer is an uncontrolled multiplication of cells. The desire efficacy and severe toxicity of current anticancer drugs urge exploring and investigating a better alternative to existing chemotherapeutics. Natural products of marine origin are excellent sources of potential new drugs of enhanced biological activities. OBJECTIVES: Thus, the cytotoxic effects along with investigating the mode of cell death exerted by fractions, AP-9, AP-THR, DS-8 and DS-9 fraction of Acanthaster planci, Diadema setosum sp., on the human cervical cancer cell line, HeLa. METHODS: The cytotoxicity of fractions has determined by using an MTS assay. The early and late apoptosis was studied by using the High content Screening (HCS) instrument. RESULTS: The four fractions produced effective cytotoxicity effects with IC(50) values at 72hr of less than 20 μg/ml in the order of AP-9 > DS-9 > APTHR-9 > DS-8. The fraction s exhibited cytotoxicity via mediating apoptotic mode of cell death. The early apoptosis by exposure of phosphatidylserine to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane and late apoptosis due to the presence of green stain (DNA fragmentation) in treated cells. CONCLUSION: The potent bioactive compounds might be responsible for inducing apoptosis in cancer cells and, thus, the potential to be a successful candidate for exploring upcoming chemotherapeutic drugs.