Biochanin A Induces S Phase Arrest and Apoptosis in Lung Cancer Cells

Biomed Res Int. 2018 Oct 3:2018:3545376. doi: 10.1155/2018/3545376. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Lung cancer is among the most common malignancies with a poor 5-year survival rate reaching only 16%. Thus, new effective treatment modalities and drugs are urgently needed for the treatment of this malignancy. In this study, we conducted the first investigation of the effects of Biochanin A on lung cancer and revealed the mechanisms underlying its potential anticancer effects. Biochanin A decreased cell viability in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner and suppressed colony formation in A549 and 95D cells. In addition, Biochanin A induced S phase arrest and apoptosis and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in A549 and 95D cells in a dose-dependent manner. Our results of subcutaneous xenograft models showed that the growth of Biochanin A group was significantly inhibited compared with that of control groups. Finally, P21, Caspase-3, and Bcl-2 were activated in Biochanin A-treated cells and Biochanin A-treated xenografts which also demonstrated that Biochanin A induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in lung cancer cells by regulating expression of cell cycle-related proteins and apoptosis-related proteins. In conclusion, this study suggests that Biochanin A inhibits the proliferation of lung cancer cells and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis mainly by regulating cell cycle-related protein expression and activating the Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 pathways, thus suggesting that Biochanin A may be a promising drug to treat lung cancer.

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Genistein / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Mice
  • S Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Genistein
  • biochanin A