Investigation of antiproliferative effects of combinations of white and black garlic extracts with 5-fluorouracil 5-FU) on CACO-2 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells

Colon cancer is a digestive system problem with a high prevalence in recent years. Natural dietary products have been widely researched in the prevention and management of colon cancer. Garlic is a well-known spice that contains many bioactive components that are effective against colon cancer cells. For example, black garlic extracts have been found to induce cell cycle and apoptosis by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway. Besides, raw garlic extracts contributed to the apoptosis of cancer cells through mitochondria-dependent caspase-3 activity. BME, SET, and 5-FU were used alone or in combinations in the study. In the study, the best antioxidant activity, total phenolic substance content and total flavonoid substance amount were in SSU; the lowest was observed in SET. Although caspase-3 activity was higher in BME, BME+5-FU, SET, SET+5-FU and 5-FU treatments compared to control, the difference between them was not statistically significant (p>0.05). While BME+5-FU showed the highest caspase 8 activity compared to the control; the lowest caspase-8 activity was observed in SET, and these differences were statistically significant (p˂0.05). Increased NF-κB levels in Caco-2 cells treated with BME, BME+5-FU, SET and 5-FU compared to control; A decrease in NF-kB levels was observed in the SET+5-FU applied groups compared to the control group (p>0.05). Increased COX-2 activity in Caco-2 cells treated with BME+5-FU compared to control; A decrease was observed in COX-2 activities of the groups treated with BME, SET+5-FU, SET and 5-FU compared to the control group (p>0.05). Wound patency increased in groups of BME, BME+5FU, SET+5FU and 5-FU (p˂0.05).