In Vitro evaluation of p-coumaric acid and Naringin combination in Human Epidermoid Carcinoma Cell Line (A431)

Abstract

Abstract Cancer is considered most detrimental due to high mortality worldwide. Among them skin cancers play a major part by affecting one in three cancer patients globally. About 2-3 million and 1,32,000 cancer cases were reported to be non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers, respectively. Although chemotherapeutic drugs act on cancer cells but results in long lasting morbidities which affects one’s quality of life and also works only in the initial stage of the cancer. Hence, an idea of traditional medicine to cure the disease efficiently with less side effects was emerging among the researchers. We have assessed the combination effect of p-coumaric acid and naringin in exerting anticancer activity using A431 (Epidermoid carcinoma) cells. The MTT analysis of the combination on A431 cells showed the least IC50 concentration of 41 ± µg/ml which is effective than the standard drug Imiquimod with IC50 concentration of 52 ± µg/ml. Further, flow cytometric analysis were carried out to identify the molecular mechanism behind the anticancer effects of the combination. The results revealed that the combination arrested the A431 cell cycle at S phase, induced apoptosis as induced by more early and late apoptotic cells when compared with the control, further reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential in A431 cells. Hence, the result clearly shows the anticancer potential of p-coumaric acid and naringin combination against the skin cancer (A431) cell line. The observed effects may be additive or synergistic effects in inducing ROS generation, apoptosis and reduce the viability of A431 cells.