The effect of Oscillatoria Cyanobacterium extract on breast cancer cell line and study of apoptosis, necrosis and Noxa gene expression

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity, apoptotic effects and Noxa gene expression of Oscillatoria extract against human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line.

Methods: The MCF-7 cells were treated with different concentration of extracts ranging 1.56, 3.12, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 mg/mL for 24 and 48 hours. The cytotoxicity activity of Oscillatoria extract towards cancer cells were evaluated by using colorimetric MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) assay. The Noxa gene expression was measured via real time PCR technique. Finally, apoptotic and necrosis study of extract was analyzed using Flow-cytometry method.

Results: Cytotoxic results clarified that the desired extracts have a dose-dependent toxicity effect and viability of the cells significantly decreased. Noxa gene expression levels in MCF-7cells were increased to 33.93 ± 1.6 (P<0.001) compared to the control group. In addition, the flow-cytometry data revealed the 43.07 % apoptosis in breast cancer cell line ‏.

Conclusion: It seems that Oscillatoria extract has potential uses for treatment of breast cancer and it suggested that further investigations were performed for Oscillatoria pharmaceutical importance.