Abstract
In this study, the ameliorative effects of apocynin against ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, and induction of apoptosis were studied in vitro. A2780 human ovarian carcinoma cells and Vero normal epithelial cells were treated with apocynin and subjected to cytotoxicity assays. Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status were quantified in apocynin-treated A2780 cells to assess the anticancer effect of apocynin. Staining techniques with DCFH-DA, Rhodamine-123, and AO/EtBr were done to analyze the ROS-induced apoptosis in A2780 cells. A wound scratch assay was performed to examine the effect of apocynin on cell migration. Flow cytometric analysis was done to analyze cell cycle arrest in apocynin-treated A2780 cells. To confirm the apoptosis in apocynin-treated cells, the apoptotic proteins were quantified using kits. Apocynin treatment significantly inhibited growth andpromoted oxidative stress and apoptosis in A2780 cells. The results of fluorescent staining assays clearly state that apocynin increases ROS levels and thereby induces lipid peroxidation, which leads to cell death. Apocynin treatment caused cell cycle arrest and promoted apoptosis in A2780 cells, which were confirmed by the flow cytometry results and an increase in caspases, bax, and a decrease in bcl2 levels, respectively. Apocynin treatment also inhibited cell migration, which was evidenced by our wound scratch assay. Overall, our findings confirm that apocynin significantly inhibits cell proliferation, cell migration, and induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer A2780 cells.