The anti-cancer effect of amygdalin on human cancer cell lines

Mol Biol Rep. 2019 Apr;46(2):2059-2066. doi: 10.1007/s11033-019-04656-3. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Abstract

Derived from rosaceous plant seed, amygdalin belongs to aromatic cyanogenic glycoside group, and its anticancer effects have been supported by mounting evidence. In this study, we objected to investigate amygdalin effect on two antiapoptotic genes (Survivin, XIAP) and two lncRNAs (GAS5, MALAT1) in human cancer cells (A549, MCF7, AGS). Employing RT-qPCR analysis, we compared the mRNA levels of the genes related to apoptosis in A549, MCF7, and AGS cancer cells between amygdalin-treated (24, 48 and 72 h) and un-treated groups. RNA was extracted from both cell groups and then cDNAs were synthesized. The changes in the gene expression levels were specified using ΔΔCt method. RT-qPCR analysis has revealed that the expression of Survivin, XIAP, GAS5 and MALAT1 in amygdala-treated cancer cells were significantly different, compared to the un-treated cells. However, these expressions were different depending on the treatment time. According to the results, amygdalin significantly inhibited the expression level of Survivin, and XIAP genes in treated via untreated group. Our findings suggest that amygdalin might have an anticancer effect due to the various gene expressions in A549, MCF7, and AGS human cancer cells, showing it's potential as a natural therapeutic anticancer drug.

Keywords: Amygdalin; Antiapoptotic genes; Cancer cell line; LncRNAs.

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells / drug effects
  • Amygdalin / metabolism
  • Amygdalin / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells / drug effects
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / genetics
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / metabolism
  • Survivin / drug effects*
  • Survivin / genetics
  • X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein / drug effects*
  • X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein / genetics

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • MALAT1 long non-coding RNA, human
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar
  • Survivin
  • X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein
  • XIAP protein, human
  • growth arrest specific transcript 5
  • Amygdalin