Effect of Small Molecule Inhibitor Fisetin over Proliferation of Human Non-Small Cell Pulmonary Carcinoma

The percentage of cancer-related deaths attributable to diet and tobacco globally is reported to be as high as 60-70%. A large number of dietary compounds have gained research interest and tested to determine their chemopreventive / antiproliferative effects on in-vivo/in-vitro models. The present study effect of flavonoid fisetin on proliferation of human lung carcinoma cells A549 and NCI-H460 was investigated. The effect of fisetin on cell growth was investigated by MTT, Crystal violet, XTT, LDH release, and colony forming assays. Cell proliferation was assessed by BrdU incorporation test. Further, cell morphology and cytopathology was analyzed by crystal violet test and hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results of study revealed that fisetin treatment exerted a dose dependent decrease in the growth of A549 and NCI-H460 cells with IC50 values of 190µM and 210µM respectively. It also inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation in both A549 and NCI-H460 cells. Cytopathology studies exhibited features such as nuclear fragmentation, cytoplasmic vacuolation, karyorrhexis, chromatin condensation, which were suggestive of apoptotic cell death. Results of the study indicate growth inhibitory, anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of fisetin on lung carcinoma cells