Antiproliferative and Anticancer Activity of Chrysin on Human A549 Lung Cancer Cell Lines; Possible Clinical Application

: The current study aimed to assess the anticancer properties of Chrysin (Chr) as a potential therapeutic option for cancer. For this purpose, we analyzed both its toxic effects on the cells and the levels of genes related to apoptosis following treatment with Chr. The effect of Chr on cell proliferation and the expression levels of apoptosis-related genes in the A549 lung cell line was evaluated using the MTT assay and qPCR, respectively. The findings from the cytotoxicity test revealed that the IC50 of Chr for A549 lung cancer cells was 20 μM. This result indicates that Chr exhibits significant cytotoxic effects at this concentration, underscoring its potential as a powerful anticancer agent. Furthermore, the real-time PCR analysis showed significant changes in gene expression after treatment with Chr. Specifically, Chr was found to decrease the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and Bcl2, both associated with cell growth and survival. Conversely, Chr increased the expression of Bax, a gene that promotes apoptosis. These molecular changes suggest that Chr may induce apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells by altering the balance between anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic factors. In conclusion, the findings from this study indicate that Chr effectively inhibits the growth of A549 lung cancer cells through its cytotoxic properties and the regulation of apoptosis-related gene expression. This property positions Chr as a promising candidate for further investigation and development in cancer treatment strategies, and additional studies are necessary to understand its mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic benefits.