Investigation of antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of cynarin on lung cancer cell line (A549) and malignant melanoma cell line (G361)

In contemporary times, balanced nutrition and a healthy lifestyle play a crucial role in the prevention of chronic diseases. Phytochemicals derived from plant sources are recognized as modulators of lifestyle-related diseases due to their antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties. One such compound, cynarin, has attracted attention for its therapeutic effects on health. Apoptosis is a critical process in the regulation of cell proliferation and the maintenance of homeostasis, and its disruption is a significant factor in cancer development. In recent years, the potential effects of natural compounds in cancer treatment have been increasingly investigated, particularly in the development of alternative therapeutic strategies for malignancies such as lung cancer and melanoma. In this study, the effects of cynarin, one of the major phenolic compounds of artichoke, on cell proliferation, morphological alterations, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis were examined at the molecular level in epithelial-derived A549 and G361 cell lines. Different doses of cynarin were applied to these cell lines, and MTT assay, neutral red staining, and cell proliferation analyses were conducted. Additionally, the expression levels of apoptotic markers including Bcl-2, Bax, p53, Caspase-3 and TNF-α genes were determined using Real-Time PCR analysis. The findings indicated that in A549 cells, apoptosis was not fully triggered at lower concentrations of cynarin, suggesting that it may have been inhibited or that cell death occurred through non-apoptotic mechanisms. In G361 cells, activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway was observed at higher doses of cynarin; however, this activation appeared to be limited. Other obtained data were also consistent with these results. These findings suggest that cynarin may exhibit dose-dependent effects in both cell lines. In conclusion, further molecular and clinical studies are needed to better understand the anticarcinogenic potential of cynarin.