Galangin’s Therapeutic Potential in Retinoblastoma: Inducing Apoptosis and Modulating RB Protein and Some MicroRNAs

Retinoblastoma is a type of cancer that develops in the retina, mainly affecting infants and young children under five years old. Research indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) can either promote or suppress cancer, significantly impacting its development. Galangin exhibits potential anticancer effects, but further research is necessary to confirm its benefits. In this study, the MTT assay was used to assess cell viability. Changes in microRNA expression were analyzed using real-time PCR. The apoptotic effect of galangin was determined using flow cytometry. Changes in RB protein expression due to galangin treatment were determined using Western blotting. A t-test and 2-ΔΔCT were used for data analysis. Statistical significance was considered at P < 0.05. An IC50 of 13.08 μM was determined for the 48-hour MTT assay. Galangin treatment decreased the expression of miR-106a-5p by about 1.41-fold (P value: 0.0375). An about 1.11-fold increase was also observed for mir-519a-3p (P value: 0.0207). The change in miR-192-5p expression was insignificant (P value: 0.4677). A decrease of approximately 1.87-fold was also shown for miR-21-5p (P value: 0.0072). The apoptotic effect of galangin at the IC50 concentration and a dose of 26 µM was 34.30% and 26.70%, respectively. RB protein expression increased 2.66-fold approximately (P value: 0.0045). Our study showed that galangin has an apoptosis-inducing effect in Y79 cell lines. The apoptosis-inducing effect can be dose-dependent and can be reduced by increasing the dose. The increase in RB protein due to galangin treatment is accompanied by an increase in apoptosis. Galangin also affects the expression of miR-106a-5p, miR-519a-3p, and miR-21-5p.