Investigating the chromatin condensation and DNA damage induced by the Pteridium aquilinum extract on bladder carcinoma cells

Abstract

Transitional cell carcinomas (TCC), which make up 90% of all bladder cancers,<br><br>arise from the transitional epithelium of the bladder. Even though several drugs have been proven to<br><br>be highly effective chemotherapeutic agents for treating bladder carcinoma, TCC cells show<br><br>resistance to a wide range of synthetic and natural drugs. Therefore, enormous researches have been<br><br>directed towards finding anticancer agents against TCCs. In present study, dechloromethane extract<br><br>of Peteridium aquilinum was evaluated for its possible chromatin condensation and DNA damage<br><br>inducing effects on TCC cells.<br><br>RESULTS: The plant P. aquilinum was collected from Gilan province and its dichloromethane<br><br>extract was prepared. To study its possible DNA damage inducing effects, the TCC cells were<br><br>treated the extract for 24 hours and then examined for induction of chromatin condensation by<br><br>DAPI staining. These cells were also looked for DNA damage using alkaline single cell gel<br><br>electrophoresis approach (comet assay). Results obtained from DAPI staining shows that in<br><br>comparison with the control (DMSO treated) and untreated cells, dichloromethane extract of P.<br><br>aquilinum increased the chromatin condensation of the cells by 33%. Furthermore, results of comet<br><br>assay, which is a sensitive microscopy-based method for detection of a variety of DNA lesions,<br><br>revealed that the IC50 of the extract increased DNA damage by 41 %.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The ability of P. aquilinum to induce chromatin condensation and DNA damage on<br><br>TCC cells would make this plant a good candidate to be introduced as a potential natural source in<br><br>cancer studies.