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Volume 8 Issue 12 (December, 2020)

Original Articles

Elucidation of in-vitro Anticancer Effects of Lutein on HeLa Cells
Alok Saxena, Anupama Mahajan, Suryakant Nagtilak, S.N. Bahuguna

Introduction: Since antiquity plants are considered as therapeutic agents in traditional medicine. Several clinical trials and research are being conducted on phytocompounds to validate their medicinal effects. It has been observed that these compounds may combat inflammation, mutagenicity, cancer, bacterial and viral diseases to a mild or severe extent. The carotenoids have been gained much attention due to their antioxidant properties and played a therapeutic role in cancer suppression and cardiovascular diseases. Lutein and zeaxanthin are only carotenoids present in the macula and lens of the human eye. They filter high energy blue light as well as act as an antioxidant. The role of lutein as anticancer agent in various cancers have been explored by several researchers but a very few studies have been conducted on cellular models. Based on the anticancer properties of lutein, a study was designed to elucidate its anti-proliferative and apoptotic properties on cervical cancer cells (HeLa) against a standard drug tamoxifen. Methods: Cultured HeLa cells (conditions: DMEM 5ml+10% FBS+1% penicillin, streptomycin in a CO2 incubator containing 5% CO2 at 37°C) were treated with nine different concentrations each of lutein and tamoxifen. MTT assay was performed to measure cell proliferation. Statistical analyses were done by Two-way independent ANOVA and Tukey Post Hoc with Bonferroni correction. The anti-proliferative potency of lutein on HeLa cells was evaluated by determining IC50 values. Further, annexin-V/FITC-PI staining coupled with flow-cytometry was used to mechanistically evaluate the concentration-dependent apoptosis induced by the drugs. Results: Lutein showed better potency after 48 hr incubation when compared to tamoxifen. Conclusion: Lutein was found as potent as tamoxifen in inhibiting cervical cancer cell proliferation in vitro. Keywords: Apoptosis, Cancer, Carotenoid, Tamoxifen

 
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