Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Clinical effect of astragaloside IV on breast carcinoma cells based on MDR1: A randomised trial

Liangdong Chen¹ , Deqiang Zhuo², Hongyin Yuan¹

¹Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan430071, Hubei Province, China; ²Department of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan430071, Hubei Province, China.

For correspondence:- Liangdong Chen Email: cp8ly4@163.com Tel:+8613871419532

Accepted: 27 October 2021 Published: 30 November 2021

Citation: Chen L, Zhuo D, Yuan H. Clinical effect of astragaloside IV on breast carcinoma cells based on MDR1: A randomised trial. Trop J Pharm Res 2021; 20(11):2311-2316 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v20i11.12

© 2021 The authors.
This is an Open Access article that uses a funding model which does not charge readers or their institutions for access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and the Budapest Open Access Initiative (http://www.budapestopenaccessinitiative.org/read), which permit unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited..

Abstract

Purpose: To study the clinical effect of astragaloside IV on breast carcinoma cells (BCCs), and its potential mechanisms with respect to multiple drug resistance-1 (MDR1)

Methods: The cytotoxicity of astragaloside IV to BCCs was determined using CCK-8 test, and values of its half inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) were determined. Transwell assay and flow cytometry were performed to determine the effect of astragaloside (13 μg/mL) on cell invasion and apoptosis. The contents of MDR1 mRNA in BC tissues and cells were determined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), while the protein expression levels of MDR1 in BC cells were determined using western blot assay.

Results: The IC₅₀ of astragaloside IV for MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 BCCs were 12.57 μg/mL and 13.91 μg/mL, respectively. Transwell experiment showed significantly inhibited invasive capacity and enhanced apoptotic potential of the BCCs after astragaloside IV intervention. However, invasive capacities of the BCCs were markedly enhanced, while their apoptotic capacities were inhibited after transfection with si-MDR1, when compared with controls (p < 0.05). Results of qRT-PCR revealed that the mRNA content of MDR1 in BC tissues and cells (0.42±0.11) was significantly lower than that in normal tissues (0.95±0.18; p < 0.05). Results from western blot assay revealed that the relative expression levels of MDR1 protein were decreased, with values of 0.21±0.05, 0.32±0.07 and 0.74±0.15 for MCF-10A, MCF-7, MAD-MB-231 and MCF-10A, respectively (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Astragaloside IV regulates the metastasis and apoptosis of BCCs through regulation of MDR1. It also inhibits cell invasion but enhances the apoptosis of BC cells transfected with si-MDR1. These results highlight the prospects of the compound for the treatment of BC.

Keywords: Astragaloside IV, Multi-drug resistance gene, Breast carcinoma, Metastasis, Apoptosis