Growth inhibition and Induction of apoptosis in K562 Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia cells by the derivatives of dihydropyrano[c]chromenes family

Recently, the anti cancer effect of Chromene derivatives in different cell types has been reported. In this study, we report some derivatives of dihydropyrano[c]chromenes with growth inhibitory and apoptotic activity against K562, Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML).

The cells were seeded in 96-well plates at 1×105 cells/well and treated with different concentrations of the dihydropyrano[c]chromenes (4-PC, 4-CNC and 4-HC). Growth inhibition and viability determined by trepan blue exclusion test. Apoptosis was also detected by fluorescent microscopy and DNA fragmentation assay.

The 4-PC, 4-CNC and 4-HC inhibited growth and viability of the cells in dose- and time-dependent manner. These compounds were found to be highly active growth inhibitor with IC50 of 240, 180 and 160 μM, respectively. The results of Acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) double staining also revealed that the compounds induced apoptosis at respective IC50 value after 72 h of treatment.

As the effect of growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis in K562 Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia cells were observed, dihydropyrano[c]chromenes can be proposed as effective agents for more investigation in leukaemia treatment.