Abstract
Significant evidence indicated that flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) possesses various positive health aspects such as reducing the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The fatty acids are considered to be responsible for these benefits of flaxseed. Herein, the in vitro effects of flaxseed extract on the growth and apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells were investigated. The MCF-7 cells treated with flaxseed extract showed a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability. The flaxseed extract induced reactive oxygen species and the flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that flaxseed fatty acids triggered apoptosis of MCF-7 cells, which was also shown by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase cascade reaction. Thus, the flaxseed extract regulated the growth of MCF-7 cells and induced apoptosis. Eventually, the flaxseed could be used as a dietary supplement to prevent breast cancer.
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Key Points
The aim of present study was to investigate the in vitro effect of flaxseed extract on the growth and apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and to explore the possible molecular mechanisms.
The results of the present study provide molecular basis for understanding the anticancer activities of flaxseed. Apoptosis is a process of regulated cell death, which is an active dedicated molecular process to keep the balance between cell replication and cell death. The results showed the molecular mechanisms underlying flaxseed-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. It was found that the flaxseed extract inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. It was also found that the flaxseed extract could increase the apoptosis of MCF-7 cells at the early and late stages which indicated the flaxseed extract might regulate the growth of MCF-7 cells through the process of apoptosis. The present study investigated flaxseed extract-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Future work will focus on elucidating the precise mechanisms of the flaxseed extract-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells.